Boston native Mel Reign (born Melissa), joined Show and Tell Boston to dive into the story behind her sound, her cultural foundation, and the self-confidence that took years to claim. Raised in a strict Jamaican household and first singing in church at just five years old, Mel says music didn’t feel like a choice — “it chose me.”
Growing up in a deeply rooted Jamaican family in Boston, Mel’s earliest musical memories began in church — partly inspired by the chance to tag along on field trips with her cousins. With a mother who instilled strong morals and discipline, Mel learned to take herself seriously from an early age.
By middle school, she was recording hooks and writing verses for her male peers through Melav’s music program. “At first, I was just the girl who wrote lyrics for the boys,” she recalled. But it wasn’t long before a producer encouraged her to rap — and she discovered she had something more to say. The name Mel Reign was born from her first name, Melissa, and “Reign” as a symbol of royalty.
Though she sings, Mel confidently identifies as a rapper first. “I’m a natural entertainer,” she said. Growing up, she was the class clown and theater kid, capable of accents and dramatic flair — but behind the jokes was someone grappling with “nervous energy” and the pressure to dim her shine.
Citing influences like Eve, Lil’ Kim, Lauryn Hill, Nas, and Biggie, Mel’s approach to music is as layered as her personality. She juggles confidence with vulnerability, humor with introspection, and ambition with a deeply rooted sense of peace.
Mel says ideas often strike when she’s in motion — driving, running errands — and she captures them quickly via voice notes. But when it’s time to record, she admits she’s a perfectionist. “I’m not someone who just drops a take and calls it done,” she shared.
Her mother only recently acknowledged Mel’s musical gifts — a meaningful shift that happened when Mel turned 29. That moment reinforced how long she’s been quietly pushing against expectations.
Mel refuses to be boxed into a single genre. Her upcoming project Dimensional is a sonic showcase: part dancehall, part R&B, with doses of hip-hop and rap woven throughout. “People call my music indecisive,” she said. “But nobody’s just one thing.”
She has a string of releases and performances lined up, including a collaboration with Boston’s Cold Quan, a May 4th show with Infamous A, and a headlining slot this summer at The Jungle. One song she’s excited about? A Jamaican-influenced track titled “Stucky,” which she says captures both her heritage and her artistic evolution.
Fashion, for Mel, is a form of respect — something deeply embedded in Jamaican culture. “Even to go to the supermarket, you’ve got to look right,” she laughed, recalling how her father’s outfits always matched down to the socks.
Though she admits to having “bum days,” Mel still sees style as a reflection of self-worth. “How you present yourself is your first impression,” she noted.
When asked what she’d tell her younger self, Mel reflected on a long journey of self-doubt and silence. “I was always being told I was too much, so I started believing it,” she admitted. But she wouldn’t change anything. “I was a hard-headed kid. I had to learn everything the hard way.”
That same headstrong nature became her armor. Mel recalled a childhood moment where she had to confront her fear of heights. Her family insisted she go down a towering slide. “It terrified me,” she said. “But once I did it, I realized that’s what courage is — doing it scared.”
Mel knows what it’s like to be judged before she opens her mouth. “People assumed I was aggressive because I’m tall and confident,” she said. “But I’m actually peaceful — unless you cross me.”
She embraces being underestimated now. It fuels her. Her message to others: don’t shrink for anyone. “Live life on your own terms, not by someone else’s standard,” she said.
What’s Next?
With momentum building, Mel is focused on visibility — performing, dropping music, and growing her fan base across platforms. “I’ll just be outside, very much so,” she smiled.
You can stream her music on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, and more under the name Mel Reign. And don’t forget to check out The Mel Reign Show for a closer look at her world.
