Cities Aviv
Cities Aviv | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Wilbert Gavin Mays[1] |
Born | 1989 (age 34–35)[2] |
Origin | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2008–present |
Labels |
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Website | citiesaviv |
Wilbert Gavin Mays (born 1989), better known by his stage name Cities Aviv, is an American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee.
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]
Mixtapes[edit]
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Singles[edit]
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Guest appearances[edit]
Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"She's a Buddhist, I'm a Cubist" | 2012 | Lushlife | Plateau Vision |
"Torn Victor" | 2013 | Knifefight | Knifefight |
"Number One" | 2014 | Mr. Flash | Sonic Crusader |
"Moshin in the Front" | Mykki Blanco | Gay Dog Food | |
"Home Box Office" | 2016 | Nasty Nigel | El Ultimo Playboy: La Vida Y Los Tiempos De Nigel Rubirosa |
"Stress" | 2017 | Show Me the Body | Corpus I |
"Rise" | Beach Fossils | Somersault | |
"Had a Choice" | 2018 | Lukah | Chickenwire |
"Diamond Wizard" | Beans | Wolves of the World | |
"Top Friction" | 2020 | NAH | Mortal Glitch |
"Big Silence Muted" | |||
"Immaculate Conception" | 2021 | Lukah | Why Look Up, God's in the Mirror |
"Rare Forumlaz" | 2022 | Raw Extractions |
Production Credits[edit]
Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album | Co-Producer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
"1 Million Limos" | 2013 | Antwon | In Dark Denim | — |
"Still Guarded" | — | |||
"During Mimis" | 2014 | Heavy Hearted in Doldrums | — | |
"No static" | 2017 | Remy Banks | Champ Hoody Music Ep. 1 | — |
"Joy Luck Club" | Big Baby Gandhi | 27 | — | |
"Magic" | 2018 | XHOSA | Lvl 9 | — |
"Amazon Wishlist" | 2021 | Antwon | Balikbayan Box | Shawn Kemp |
"Trap Olympics !" | 2022 | Bear1Boss | Star Status* | Popstar Benny |
"Biskhit - Plank !" | ||||
"Body Paint" | Sharc | |||
"Black Belt Jones" | Lukah | Raw Extractions | — | |
"Fractures" | — | |||
"Rare Formulaz" | — | |||
"Spooks Blues" | 2023 | Permanently Blackface (The 1st Expression) | — |
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.
External links[edit]
- Cities Aviv at Bandcamp
- Cities Aviv discography at Discogs
- 1989 births
- Living people
- Rappers from Memphis, Tennessee
- Musicians from Memphis, Tennessee
- African-American male rappers
- American male rappers
- African-American record producers
- American hip hop record producers
- Alternative hip hop musicians
- American punk rock singers
- African-American rock musicians
- 21st-century American rappers
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- 20th-century African-American people