XV (rapper)
XV | |
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Warner Bros. | |
Website | squarians |
Donavan LaMond Johnson[1] (born July 9, 1985)[citation needed] better known by his stage name XV is an American rapper, singer and songwriter from Wichita, Kansas. He first gained major attention after the release of his twelfth mixtape Everybody's Nobody, for which he received two awards from DJBooth.net.[2]
His name, XV, refers to the age (15) at which he began his musical career.
Music career
XV knew he wanted to pursue a career involving music. However, he did not become serious about the venture until a close friend died prior to him entering high school. His
After releasing Everybody's Nobody, XV received national attention and subsequently signed a recording contract with
Mixtapes
- The Square in the Circle
On July 8, 2008, XV released the mixtape Planet Squaria: The Square in the Circle as a free download.
- 40 Days & 40 Nights
XV released a new song every morning and night for 40 days (80 tracks total) as a project for his blog. Afterwards he compiled the series into a mixtape available as a free download which featured both the morning and night songs in chronological order of their release dates. amongst others. There were 15 original tracks mixed in with the remixes and freestyles recorded over already-made beats.
- Everybody's Nobody
XV's released Everybody's Nobody on July 31, 2009. The mixtape was hosted by
Everybody's Nobody was the first mixtape that helped XV gain fame outside of Kansas. Although the mix tape did not receive immediate acclaim, it has now been downloaded over 30,000 times.[14] XV said of it, "I think that Everybody’s Nobody was it. I felt it was before I made it, I felt it was before it was released, when I sat there and watched the comments, and I saw the posts – and I still see, to this day, people sayin’, “I just heard of this dude XV. Download Everybody’s Nobody – this sh*t is crazy!" Like, seeing that on different days, and that came out July 31, and it's 2010, and people are still finding it – I feel like, that's what skyrocketed me to become XV. That was the project."[15]
It has been stated that DJ Benzi will be remixing the mixtape under the new title Everybody's Nobody: We Got the Remix!.[16][17]
- Vizzy Zone
XV teamed up with DJ Ill Will & DJ Rockstar to produce
- Zero Heroes
On April 15, 2011, XV released Zero Heroes. Critics have said it is the best XV release to date, and one of the top 2011 mixtapes. The mixtape features
- Popular Culture
On June 15, 2012, XV released Popular Culture. The mixtape features
. The mixtape has received over 90,000 downloads.- Madness Begins (EP)
On March 18, 2014, XV released Madness Begins (EP). The mixtape has no feature but really good productions from
- March Madness Vol.2 : Sweet Sixteen
On March 21, 2014, just 2 days after Madness Begins (EP), XV released March Madness Vol.2 : Sweet Sixteen. On this mixtape, XV spits 16 new verses over 16 different bars and takes beats from
and more.Musical style and influences
XV's musical style employs the use of
Discography
Studio albums
- Complex (2006)
- The Dude with the Strap Back Dad Hat (2019)
- Winter Wolves (with Mike Summers) (2022)[19]
EPs
Title | EP details |
---|---|
Awesome EP! |
|
Day Ones |
|
Mixtapes
- 2006: The Definition
- 2006: The Definition II
- 2006: The Complex Experiment, Vol. 1
- 2007: The Definition III
- 2007: The Complex Experiment, Vol. 2
- 2007: The Complex Experiment, Vol. 3
- 2007: The Definition IV
- 2008: Recycle Bin
- 2008: Planet Squaria: The Square in the Circle
- 2008: 40 Days/ 40 Nights
- 2009: Please, Hold
- 2009: Everybody's Nobody
- 2010: 30 Minute Layover
- 2010: Vizzy Zone
- 2011: Thanks For The Donuts
- 2011: Zero Heroes[21]
- 2012: Popular Culture[22]
- 2012: Squarians Vol. 1
- 2014: Madness Begins
- 2014: March Madness Vol. 2 Sweet Sixteen
- 2014: March Madness Vol. 3 Elite Eight
- 2014: March Madness Vol. 4 Final Four
Singles
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Awesome"[23] (XV featuring Pusha T) |
2011 | Zero Heroes and Awesome EP! |
References
- ^ a b c d Highfill, Samantha (September 30, 2010). "Up-and-coming rapper 15 brings a fresh sound to hip-hop". Vox Magazine. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
- ^ Best New Artist (Unsigned/Independent) of 2009. DJBooth.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-10.
- ^ Source, The (July 26, 2007). "XV Signs To Warner Bros". The Source. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Needham, Rob (February 24, 2010). "XV Interview: SXSW 2010". Spinner. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Graham, Nadine (October 17, 2011). "XV Confirms Just Blaze Will Executive Produce "The Kid With The Green Backpack"". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on December 21, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- ^ Koroma, Salima (July 26, 2010). "XV Signs With Warner Bros". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
- ^ "The Square in the Circle free download". TheCoolUniverse.com.
- ^ XV: 40 Days and 40 Nights complete Archived January 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine at TheCoolUniverse.com
- ^ Everybody's Nobody Archived January 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine at TheCoolUniverse.com
- ^ XV profile at TripleTimeX1.com
- ^ DJ RTC XV: Everybody's Nobody Cover Art/Tracklisting. 21 July 2009
- ^ XV: Mirror's Edge at DJBooth.net
- ^ Review of Everybody's Nobody at DJBooth.net
- ^ XV – Everybody's Nobody Hosted by DJ Enuff, DJ Benzi // Free Mixtape @. Datpiff.com (2011-12-05). Retrieved on 2011-12-10.
- ^ a b XV Interview. Djbooth.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-10.
- ^ XV – Mirror’s Edge (prod. Seven) [Radio Rip] | 2dopeboyz Archived July 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. 2dopeboyz.okayplayer.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-10.
- ^ XV feat. Freddie Gibbs & Shawn Chrystopher – Me, You (Remix). Nah Right (2010-01-06). Retrieved on 2011-12-10.
- ^ XV – Vizzy Zone Hosted by Dj Ill Will & Dj Rockstar // Free Mixtape @. Datpiff.com (2011-12-05). Retrieved on 2011-12-10.
- ^ Winter Wolves by XV & MIKE SUMMERS, 2022-03-04, retrieved 2022-03-13
- ^ "iTunes – Music – Awesome EP! – EP by XV". iTunes Store. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
- ^ XV. "Zero Heroes". MixBoot. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ^ XV. "Popular Culture". MixBoot. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ^ "iTunes – Music – Awesome (feat. Pusha T) – Single by XV". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved November 5, 2012.