Mo' Mega
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Mo' Mega
| type = studio
| artist = Mr. Lif
| cover = Mo Mega.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2006|06|13}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=40|s=42}}
| label = Definitive Jux
| producer = El-P, Mr. Lif, Edan, Nick Toth
| prev_title = I Phantom
| prev_year = 2002
| next_title = I Heard It Today
| next_year = 2009
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Mo' Mega
| type = studio
| single1 = Brothaz
| single1date = {{Start date|2006}}
| single2 = The Fries
| single2date = {{Start date|2006}}
}}
}}
Mo' Mega is the second solo studio album by American hip hop artist Mr. Lif. It was released by Definitive Jux on June 13, 2006. It peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, as well as number 31 on the Independent Albums chart.
Title
In the album's liner notes, Mr. Lif wrote: {{blockquote|Mo' represents the dialect of the Black slave in America. Mega represents the hyper-modernized world we live in. As the cost of living increases at an exponential rate, more of us are finding it difficult to keep pace. I feel that the term Mo' extends beyond race to describe the masses whom have not achieved elite levels of wealth. Mo' Mega is the juxtaposition of the slave and the elite with no common ground between the two.}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 75/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/momega/mr-lif|title=Mo'Mega by Mr. Lif|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/mo-mega-mw0000763770|title=Mo' Mega - Mr. Lif|work=AllMusic|first=John|last=Bush|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
| rev2 = The A.V. Club
| rev2score = A−{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/review/mr-lif-emmomegaem-8893|title=Mr. Lif: Mo'Mega|work=The A.V. Club|first=Nathan|last=Rabin|date=June 21, 2006|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev3score = B+{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2006/06/23/mo-mega|title=Mo' Mega|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Will|last=Hermes|date=June 23, 2006|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
| rev4 = HipHopDX
| rev4score = 4.0/5{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.659/title.mr-lif-mo-mega|title=Mr. Lif - Mo' Mega|work=HipHopDX|author=J-23|date=July 5, 2006|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
| rev5 = IGN
| rev5score = 8.3/10{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/07/06/mr-lif-mo-mega|title=Mr. Lif - Mo' Mega|work=IGN|first=William|last=Fry|date=July 6, 2006|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
| rev6 = Pitchfork
| rev6score = 7.9/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9121-mo-mega/|title=Mr. Lif: Mo' Mega|work=Pitchfork|first=Peter|last=Macia|date=June 15, 2006|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
| rev7 = PopMatters
| rev7score = {{Rating|6|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/mr-lif-mo-mega/|title=Mr. Lif: Mo Mega|work=PopMatters|first=Michael|last=Frauenhofer|date=June 14, 2006|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
| rev8 = Slant Magazine
| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/mr-lif-mo-mega|title=Mr. Lif - Mo' Mega|work=Slant Magazine|first=Jimmy|last=Newlin|date=June 12, 2006|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
| rev9 = Stylus Magazine
| rev9score = B−{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/mr-lif/mo-mega.htm|title=Mr. Lif - Mo' Mega|work=Stylus Magazine|first=Andrew|last=Iliff|date=June 12, 2006|accessdate=April 20, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330021529/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/mr-lif/mo-mega.htm|archivedate=March 30, 2014}}
| rev10 = XLR8R
| rev10score = favorable{{cite web|url=https://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/2006/08/mo-mega/|title=Mr. Lif - Mo' Mega|work=XLR8R|first=Derek|last=Beres|date=August 1, 2006|accessdate=April 20, 2016}}
}}
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 75, based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
John Bush of AllMusic wrote: "With political tracks and comedy and confessionals, Lif easily covers more ground than virtually any other rapper on record, and he makes his tracks entertaining, but he occasionally falls prey to a common trap -- educating the listeners but not enlightening them."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Collapse
| extra1 = El-P
| length1 = 2:32
| title2 = Ultra Mega
| extra2 = El-P
| length2 = 2:36
| title3 = Brothaz
| extra3 = El-P
| length3 = 4:28
| title4 = The Fries
| extra4 = El-P
| length4 = 3:38
| title5 = Take, Hold, Fire!
| note5 = featuring Aesop Rock and El-P
| extra5 = El-P
| length5 = 3:40
| title6 = Murs Iz My Manager
| note6 = featuring Murs
| length6 = 4:19
| title7 = Washitup!
| extra7 = Mr. Lif
| length7 = 2:56
| title8 = Long Distance
| extra8 = El-P
| length8 = 4:04
| title9 = Mo' Mega
| note9 = featuring Blueprint and Akrobatik
| extra9 = El-P
| length9 = 4:15
| title10 = Lookin' In...
| extra10 = El-P
| length10 = 2:47
| title11 = For You
| extra11 = Nick Toth
| length11 = 5:27
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|type=booklet|title=Mo' Mega|others=Mr. Lif|publisher=Definitive Jux|year=2006|id=DJX129CD}}
{{Div col}}
- Mr. Lif – vocals, production (6, 7)
- El-P – production (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10), vocals (5), additional vocals (9)
- DJ Relm – turntables (2, 4)
- Aesop Rock – vocals (5)
- Murs – vocals (6)
- Edan – co-production (6)
- Blueprint – vocals (9)
- Akrobatik – vocals (9)
- DJ Big Wiz – turntables (9)
- Nick Toth – production (11)
- Michelle Shaprow – additional vocals (11)
{{Div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
!scope="col"| Chart (2006) !scope="col"| Peak |
| {{Album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|27|artist=Mr Lif|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 9, 2018|refname=heatseekers}} |
| {{Album chart|BillboardIndependent|31|artist=Mr Lif|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 9, 2018|refname=independent}} |
References
{{Reflist}}