Against the odds, Meek Mill continues to thrive, just as he rightfully deserves. Hot on the heels of his fan-friendly 2023 joint album with Rick Ross comes HEATHENISM, the erstwhile Maybach Music Group rapper’s first independent EP. Though “Came From the Bottom” starts out like a potential return to the existential catharsis of his infamous “Dreams and Nightmares” intro, he boisterously dismisses any suspicion of this being a sad song. Instead, it hits with a triumphant beat-switch halfway through as he describes luxe living in the company of a bevy of baddies. Clearly he’s thriving, evident via the casual flexes of “Big Boy” and emboldened threats of “Times Like This.” On the feature front, drill don Fivio Foreign drops in to match his energy on “Whatever I Want,” while his reliable repeat collaborator Future serves the base from 30,000 feet in the air on “Giving Chanel.”