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For the next Colectivo Digs feature, we would like to call your attention to Memphis’ Gavin Mays aka Cities Aviv. Shout outs to Memphis for this fantastic submission into the eclectic hip-hop landscape. The Memphis rapper draws inspiration from a wide variety of music, ranging from soul to minimal wave. 90’s hip-hop is no stranger in his creative mood board. Although surrounded by three six [mafia] albums, Memphis rap, and other underground rap influences, Mays, spent his time listening to metal, alternative rock and punk, and even became part of a hardcore band–Copwatch. After Copwatch disbanded, Mays, decided to give writing rhymes his full attention. As per his profile on tumblr and facebook, his mission statement is to make pop music for the unpopular.
The 22-year-old idiosyncratic Memphis rapper’s main body of work can be heard in the debut CD, Digital lows. In digital lows, cities hits us with an uncommon flow, precise wit, and amusement-laced ferocity from an outsider/insider perspective onto hazy tracks and the occasional jaggy boom-bap beat. Cities aviv brings some serious personality and originality, evident in his references to 90’s cult bands, 90’s hip-hop, rhythms and witty rhymes. Digital lows won’t be anything you can pigeonhole either; it is intended to be all over the place, just like the scatterbrained rapper.
So now that you know what’s up, keep track of Cities Aviv via his twitter: @citiesaviv and be on the lookout for his next batch of old school inspired, twisted, and future searching beats & rhymes.
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