Album Review: XV’s ‘Awesome EP!’

Everyone knows that sweet feeling when you press play and you can immediately tell that an artist truly knows what he is doing. XV is one of those artists. Just ask any Squarian and they will certainly agree. That’s a fact.

The Awesome EP! is a collection of five new tracks that XV chose to release in anticipation of The Kid With The Green Backpack, his biggest album to date, due out early 2013. The cool thing is that it has taken 16+ mixtapes for XV to get where he is today, releasing his first project officially available for purchase nationwide.

“Awesome” brings that bouncing hype that XV has become notorious for while playing around with words and similes that would make any artist in the industry step back and take notice. “Awesome,” which features a super chill Pusha-T verse, leads off the EP and is an excellent intro to start off with if you’re late to the XV party.

On “Chains, Whips & Bars,” you get a taste of how much more confident XV is now that he is where he is as he raps, “I spit out my soul / You just spit out your spit.” While he’s not the type of person to say he’s better than you, he is the type of person to outwork all those he sets his targets on. I might get flack for this, but I think he sounds like a young Lupe on this one.

His glitchy product titled “Swervin’,” is just that—glitchy. A deeper look is given inside the mind of someone who is in a rut, “trying to find out where the lanes go.” XV is as honest as they come: “I don’t really smoke but this was just one of those days yo.” Clearly XV isn’t the type to drink and drive, but the point is certainly made about where his mind is at on this track. Another very catchy tune right here even though the producer accidently mixed the wrong hook into the song.

Now, for a brief outline, Vizzy combines old school beats with an abundance of orchestral additions to create something awesome, and most importantly, refreshing. Rock and hip-hop blend smoothly come together for the Wichita, Kansas native. What stands out most, however, is his ability to slather his futuristic, crisp voice all over these multi-genre-fringed beats, which allows the world to hear what an innovator he has become— the next big thing in my opinion.

It’s admirable to see the persona that XV has taken on as a rapper, performer, and as a person. He’s had to work harder than most to get noticed in an industry full of duds and up and comers. It really comes through in every project he attacks.

Creativeness and nonconformity are the cornerstones of his movement that have come to be through his unrelenting resolve. Support artists who can only do well for an industry that always has openings for people who have something positive to promote. The EP came out a few months ago, I know, but its not to late to grab it in anticipation of his new album dropping only a few short months from now.

8.5/10