Fatal Lucciauno’s sophomore album, Respect, will be released February 21st, but first, the Seattle emcee is excited to release his collaborative EP with distinguished producer and fellow Seattleite Jake One. Fatal and Jake are offering the EP, titled The Message, to fans free of charge.

For Fatal, The Message EP serves as his most personal work to date, showcasing a collection of stories that show listeners a deeper side of Fatal. “I poured my soul onto the songs,” explains Fatal. “The have-nots, the hustlers – we have real stories that transcend pain and beauty, and this music is a bridge to the new me.” In keeping with the personal nature of the EP, Fatal chose to keep features to a minimum. “If the person I had on the song wasn’t emotionally capable of reaching into their soul,” notes Fatal, “they aren’t on the EP.”

Jake One handles production for the EP, and the chemistry that the two developed while working on “Amazing (the lead single from Respect), is on full display throughout. “Working with Jake is the best; he don’t require shit, just that I be creative and honest in my music,” explains Fatal. “The Message couldn’t be illustrated without Jake One’s help.” And that message, says Fatal, is, “We are here – and we ain’t going nowhere.” But there’s more to the message than that, remarks Fatal, “and if you listen, you’ll hear it.”