Melly Mike Drops Debut EP 'TIME4WAR' on Epic Records

Melly Mike has released his debut EP, TIME4WAR, on Epic Records. The eight-track project is out now and centers the Minneapolis rapper's journey from U.S. Army veteran to signed artist, building on the momentum of his breakout single "Young Black & Rich."

What Is on TIME4WAR and Where to Stream It

TIME4WAR runs eight tracks: "Cut Throat," "Pride B4 The Fall," "All I Need," "Ain't Sweet," "Turnin Your Back," "Young Black & Rich," "F**ked Up," and "I'm So Glad." The project is available now on major streaming platforms through Epic Records. No producer credits were listed in the official release materials.

The EP opens with "Cut Throat" and moves through themes of loyalty, betrayal, and self-accountability. "Ain't Sweet" is described as an uptempo cut heavy on wordplay. "God's Time" was written after the death of Melly's friend Jorge Munoz-Pederson and deals with faith and grief. "Turnin Your Back" addresses people who left during hard times and returned once success arrived. The closing tracks, "F**ked Up" and "I'm So Glad," round out a project that stays in personal territory throughout.

"To me, TIME4WAR is about having something worth fighting for," Melly Mike said in the release. "The biggest battles aren't always against other people. They're the ones you face within yourself when taking risks without knowing how things will turn out. I want people to hear this project and remember that where you start doesn't determine how far you can go."

Melly Mike signed with Epic Records in 2025. TIME4WAR is his first project under that deal.

Who Is Melly Mike and How 'Young Black & Rich' Went Viral

Melly Mike was raised in a small Minnesota town by Liberian immigrant parents. He has spoken about growing up with financial hardship at home while attending a school where he felt out of place socially. He found an outlet in manga and music during library visits after school.

After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Army and served for six years. According to the release, he earned Soldier of the Year honors twice and was on track for a promotion to sergeant before leaving the military to pursue music full time.

By 2024, Melly described himself as being at a low point. He rebuilt through a daily discipline routine that included early mornings, cold showers, and running. "Young Black & Rich" came out of that period as a personal affirmation, not initially intended for public release.

The song reached a global audience after an 11-year-old Indonesian boat racer named Rayyan Arkan Dikha danced to it during the Pacu Jalur race. The clip spread widely and sparked what became known as the "aura farming" trend. According to the press release, participants included Travis Kelce, streaming personality iShowSpeed, KSI, and clubs Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. Coverage followed in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Post. Complex later named it one of the best viral moments of 2025, according to the release.

The release states "Young Black & Rich" generated tens of millions of streams and reached the top 50 of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also inspired a Fortnite emote. The wave of attention led to Melly Mike being named Global Ambassador for the Pacu Jalur festival, bringing him to Indonesia as part of that role.

No additional tour dates or live appearances were listed in the release materials. If Melly Mike announces Los Angeles shows, we will update this story. Keep an eye on the [Something Dope events calendar](/events) for any local dates.

What Independent Artists Can Take from This Campaign

Melly Mike's path to a major label deal did not start with a label investment. "Young Black & Rich" was a self-directed track built during a period of personal rebuilding, and it found its audience before Epic was involved. The song connected with a global moment it had nothing to do with creating. That is worth sitting with.

The "aura farming" wave was not manufactured by a label or a marketing team. It started with a boat race video in Indonesia and spread because the record fit what people wanted to feel in that moment. Melly did not control that. What he controlled was having the song ready, having it accessible, and being the kind of artist whose story gave the moment more weight once people started looking him up.

For independent artists building right now, the lesson is not "go viral." It is that catalog matters, that discipline builds the work, and that the story behind the music is part of the music. If you are working on your own project and want to get it in front of the LA community, you can [submit your music here](/submit) or bring it to [Pass the Aux](/pass-the-aux) and let the room decide.

TIME4WAR is out now on Epic Records.