Cities Aviv

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Cities Aviv
Cities Aviv in 2014.
Background information
Birth nameWilbert Gavin Mays[1]
Born1989 (age 34–35)[2]
OriginMemphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • record producer
Years active2008–present
Labels
  • D.O.T.
  • Total Works
  • Young One
  • Mishka NYC
  • Ormolycka
  • Collect
  • Fat Sandwich
Websitecitiesaviv.bandcamp.com

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]

  • 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)
  • "Black on Earth / Thorns" (2018)
  • "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

References[edit]

  1. ^ "A MILLION SMILES". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lymangrover, Jason. "Cities Aviv - Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Herrington, Chris (December 2, 2011). "That Modern Man Sound". Memphis. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Bromwich, Jonah (September 27, 2013). "Cities Aviv "URL IRL"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  10. ^ Lin, Yu-Cheng (March 1, 2018). "Hip-Hop Mixtapes of the Month: February 2018". Red Bull. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ a b Cohen, Ian (November 26, 2012). "Cities Aviv: Black Pleasure". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Soderberg, Brandon (June 23, 2011). "Cities Aviv: Digital Lows". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  15. ^ Jeffries, David. "Come to Life - Cities Aviv". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  16. ^ "THE CRASHING SOUND OF HOW IT GOES". Bandcamp. Retrieved 18 September 2021.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cities_Aviv&oldid=1221868669"