Wilbert Gavin Mays (born 1989), better known by his stage name Cities Aviv, is an American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee.
Cities Aviv | |
|---|---|
 Cities Aviv in 2014. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wilbert Gavin Mays[1] |
| Born | 1989 (age 34–35)[2] |
| Origin | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | citiesaviv |
Early life edit
Gavin Mays was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee.[5] He attended Overton High School and Cordova High School.[5] At the age of 20, he dropped out of the University of Memphis,[6] where he studied journalism.[7]
Career edit
Prior to his career as a rapper, Mays was a lead singer of a hardcore punk band, Copwatch.[8] During his involvement with the band, he began experimenting with hip hop music, eventually making a full leap into the genre.[8] In 2011, he released his debut mixtape, Digital Lows, which received positive reviews from music publications such as Pitchfork and Spin.[2]
In 2012, he released his follow-up mixtape, Black Pleasure, through streetwear company Mishka NYC's record label before signing to Young One Records.[2] After releasing the "URL IRL" single in 2013, he released his debut studio album, Come to Life, on Young One Records in 2014.[9] In 2018, he released Raised for a Better View.[10]
Musical style and influences edit
Cities Aviv is known for his eclectic production style.[8] His songs sample various artists of different genres.[8] His influences include Three 6 Mafia,[2] 8Ball & MJG,[2] Black Moon,[2] Big Pun,[8] Non Phixion,[8] and soul music,[8] as well as rock music acts Joy Division and Deftones.[5] Critics also noted post-punk influences on his works,[11][12] accompanied by lyrical references to Joy Division and Psychic TV.[12][13]
Cities Aviv's rapping style and flow was compared to those of RZA[14] and MC Ride of Death Grips.[15]
Discography edit
Studio albums edit
- Come to Life (Young One Records, 2014)
- Your Discretion Is Trust (2015)
- Immortal Flame (2020)
- Gum (2020)
- Accompanied by a Blazing Solo (2020)
- The Crashing Sound of How It Goes (Total Works / PTP, 2021)[16]
- Man Plays the Horn (2022)
- Working Title for the Album Secret Waters (2022)
Mixtapes edit
- Digital Lows (2011)
- Black Pleasure (2012)
- Raised for a Better View (2018)
Singles edit
- "Coastin'" (2011)
- "Wet Dream" (2011)
- "Flex Your Gold" (2012)
- "I Want All" (2012)
- "URL IRL" (2013)
- "Melanin Drop" (2016)
- "If I Could Hold Your Soul" (2017)
- "Say No More" (2018)
- "Get up with Time" (2018)
- "Accompanied by a Blazing Solo" (2020)
- "love. fool. revue." (2021)
- "Episodes" (2021)
- "WAYS OF THE WORLD" (2021)
- "CINEMA CLUB" (2022)
Guest appearances edit
- Lushlife - "She's a Buddhist, I'm a Cubist" from Plateau Vision (2012)
- Knifefight - "Torn Victor" from Knifefight (2013)
- Mr. Flash - "Number One" from Sonic Crusader (2014)
- Mykki Blanco - "Moshin in the Front" from Gay Dog Food (2014)
- Nasty Nigel - "Home Box Office" from El Ultimo Playboy: La Vida Y Los Tiempos De Nigel Rubirosa (2016)
- Show Me the Body - "Stress" from Corpus I (2017)
- Beach Fossils - "Rise" from Somersault (2017)
- Lukah - "Had a Choice" from Chickenwire (2018)
- XHOSA - "Magic" from Lvl 9 (2020)
- NAH - "Top Friction" and "Big Silence Muted" from Mortal Glitch (2020)
- Lukah - "IMMACULATE CONCEPTION" from Why Look Up, God's In The Mirror (2021)
- Lukah - "RARE FORMULAZ" from Raw Extractions (2022) (with Jason Da Hater, Dame Mufasa, Suni Katz, Deener, The Derelick, J Royal and Yasin Allah AKA Mmilk)
Productions
- Antwon - "During Mimis" from Heavy Hearted in Doldrums (2014)
References edit
- ^ "A MILLION SMILES". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Lymangrover, Jason. "Cities Aviv - Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ "20 Alternative Hip-Hop Artists Who Are Making Things Interesting: Cities Aviv". Pigeons and Planes. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ "Cloud Rap: The Spacey, Cyber-Born Hip-Hop Subgenre". Highsnobiety. June 25, 2015. Archived from the original on May 21, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c Milam, Chris (July 14, 2011). "Another Cup of Coffee with Cities Aviv". The Vinyl District. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ Billings, Lane (June 13, 2012). "12 Tennessee Bands You Should Listen to Now". Paste. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ Herrington, Chris (December 2, 2011). "That Modern Man Sound". Memphis. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Minsker, Evan (September 20, 2011). "Rising: Cities Aviv". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ Bromwich, Jonah (September 27, 2013). "Cities Aviv "URL IRL"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ Lin, Yu-Cheng (March 1, 2018). "Hip-Hop Mixtapes of the Month: February 2018". Red Bull. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (December 5, 2012). "Mixtape Of The Week: Cities Aviv Black Pleasure". Stereogum. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ a b Cohen, Ian (November 26, 2012). "Cities Aviv: Black Pleasure". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ Soderberg, Brandon (November 14, 2012). "Rap Release of the Week: Cities Aviv's 'Black Pleasure'". Spin. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ Soderberg, Brandon (June 23, 2011). "Cities Aviv: Digital Lows". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ Jeffries, David. "Come to Life - Cities Aviv". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ "THE CRASHING SOUND OF HOW IT GOES". Bandcamp. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
External links edit
- Cities Aviv at Bandcamp
- Cities Aviv discography at Discogs