Cities Aviv | |
|---|---|
 Cities Aviv in 2014. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wilbert Gavin Mays [1] |
| Born | 1989 (age 34–35) [2] |
| Origin | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels |
|
| 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. He is also the founder of the record label Total Works aka D.O.T.
Gavin Mays was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. [5] He attended Overton High School and Cordova High School. [5] In middle school he started listening to Non Phixion and Necro but also At the Drive-In and Deadsy. [6] At the age of 20, he dropped out of the University of Memphis, [7] where he studied journalism. [8]
Prior to his career as a rapper, Mays was the lead singer of a hardcore punk band, Copwatch, as well as a roadie for his friend's bands. [9] [10] During his involvement with the band, he began experimenting with hip hop music, eventually making the full leap into the genre. [9] An early project of Mays, called Black Savior, consisted of him rapping over beats he found on the internet. [10] 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 moved to New York [11] and released his follow-up mixtape, Black Pleasure, through streetwear company Mishka NYC's record label before signing to Young One Records. [2] Mays describes his initial intent behind the album as "trying to make pop record" as well as being inspired by My Bloody Valentines 1991 album Loveless to bury his vocals in the mix. [6]
After releasing the "URL IRL" single in 2013, he released his debut studio album, Come to Life , on Young One Records in 2014. [12] Shortly thereafter the label went bankrupt leaving Mays a free agent. [13]
He subsequently released his sophomore album Your Discretion Is Trust on Collect Records in 2015, but had mixed experiences with the label. The next three years he spent couch surfing in Harlem, NYC. [13]
In 2018 he moved back to Memphis and released Raised for a Better View. [14] This also marked the launch of Mays own record label Total Works aka D.O.T. (Division of Total). Since then all of Cities Aviv output as well as an eclectic array of other artist's projects has been distributed by the label. [13]
In 2019, Mays and frequent collaborators started a musical project called Unit Creative Power Group. They would host warehouse shows and play live sets using a wide array of instruments, subsequently releasing that music via DOT. [10] [13]
Mays released three full-length albums (Accompanied by a Blazing Solo, Gum, and Immortal Flame) in 2020. In a 2021 interview he states, the material on these records was almost entirely made at the same time with the process consisting of making beats, jamming and freestyle-rapping. He compares this approach to John Frusciante while making Smile from the Streets You Hold. [10]
In 2021 Mays released The Crashing Sound Of How It Goes via DOT. The album has been described as "an hour-long meditation". Compared to its predecessors The Crashing Sound saw Mays focus more on writing again. A limited run of cassettes designed by Geng PTP was sold after the initial release. [10]
Sometime between early 2021 and 2022 Mays moved back to Queens, NYC. In 2022 he put out both Man Plays The Horn and Working Title For The Album Secret Waters. They notably feature samples from '70s soul and jazz music. Secret Waters was in large parts inspired by a four-day therapy retreat he attended in early 2022. [13]
In 2024, Mays released Archive & Practice 001, a 14-track album containing instrumentals and beats, some of which were previously released on SoundCloud.
Cities Aviv is known for his eclectic production style. [9] His songs sample various artists of different genres. [9] His influences include Boris, J Dilla, Madlib, [10] 8Ball & MJG, Black Moon, [2] Big Pun, Non Phixion, and soul music, [9] as well as rock music acts such as Joy Division and Deftones. [5] Critics also noted post-punk influences on his works, [15] [16] accompanied by lyrical references to Joy Division and Psychic TV. [16] [17] He cites Boris as influence not just in musical style but especially in regards to their approach to art, saying "[Their art] is never going to be dictated by other people's expectations". [10]
Cities Aviv's rapping style and flow has been compared to those of RZA [18] and MC Ride of Death Grips. [19]
Studio albums
EPs
Mixtapes
| Singles
|
| 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 | |
| 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) | — | |
Paul Duane Beauregard, known professionally as DJ Paul, is an American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia and the half-brother of rapper Lord Infamous. DJ Paul is also the half-brother of convicted drug lord Craig Petties. He is also a part owner of FaZe Clan.
William Braunstein, professionally known by his stage name Ill Bill, is an American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York City. Having gained fame in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his diverse lyrics and as the producer, founder and CEO of Uncle Howie Records. His brother Ron is rapper and producer Necro.
Malik Deshawn Cox, known by his stage name Memphis Bleek, is an American rapper. He is best known for his affiliation with fellow New York City-based rapper Jay-Z, with Cox often described as his hype man and protégé. Cox signed with his Roc-A-Fella Records label imprint in the late 1990s, through which he has released four major label studio albums: Coming of Age (1999), The Understanding (2000), M.A.D.E. (2003), and 534 (2005). He has since founded his own labels: Get Low Records in 1998, and Warehouse Music Group in 2016—through which he signed rapper Casanova.
Mario Sentell Giden Mims, known professionally as Yo Gotti, is an American rapper and music executive. In 1996, he released his debut album Youngsta's On a Come Up under the alias Lil Yo. He went on to release From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game (2000), Self-Explanatory (2001), Life (2003), Back 2 da Basics (2006), Live from the Kitchen (2012), I Am (2013), The Art of Hustle (2016), I Still Am (2017), Untrapped (2020), and CM10: Free Game (2022).
Tyree Cinque Simmons, known professionally as DJ Drama, is an American disc jockey (DJ), record executive and music promoter. He initially gained recognition as the DJ for Atlanta-based rapper T.I., and continued to gain prominence hosting mixtapes for other hip hop artists. His trademark Gangsta Grillz series is present on releases of which he has compiled; it has been popularized by artists including Lil Wayne, Tyler the Creator, Snoop Dogg, Yo Gotti, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Fabolous, Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Gucci Mane, among others. Alongside record producer and fellow Philadelphia native Don Cannon, he co-founded the record label Generation Now in 2015, an imprint of Atlantic Records which has signed artists including Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow.
Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr., better known by his stage name Jay Rock, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he signed with local independent label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005. He secured a major label joint venture deal with Warner Bros. Records and Asylum Records to release his 2008 debut single, "All My Life ". Failing to chart, the mergers fell through and Rock departed from both of the latter labels shortly after. He then signed with Missouri rapper Tech N9ne's label Strange Music in a joint venture deal with TDE in 2011.
Justin Lewis Scott, better known by his stage name Big K.R.I.T., is an American rapper and record producer. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he began his musical career in 2005. He was signed to Def Jam Recordings by Sha Money XL in 2010, and first gained recognition following the release of his single "Country Shit" in September of that year. The following year, he guest appeared on T.I.'s promotional single "I'm Flexin'", which became Scott's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
Ariyan Arslani, professionally known as Action Bronson, is an American rapper, professional wrestler, chef, songwriter and television presenter. Born and raised in Queens, New York, he released his debut mixtape Bon Appetit ..... Bitch!!!!! in January 2011 and independently released his debut album, Dr. Lecter, in March 2011. In August 2012, Arslani signed his first major-label deal with Warner Bros. Records, but was later moved to the Atlantic Records-distributed label Vice Records.
Live. Love. ASAP is the debut mixtape by American rapper ASAP Rocky, who released it as a free digital download on October 31, 2011. It features production by Clams Casino, ASAP Ty Beats, DJ Burn One, and SpaceGhostPurrp, among others. The mixtape also features guest rappers Schoolboy Q and Fat Tony, as well as members of ASAP Mob, ASAP Rocky's hip hop collective.
Malcolm James McCormick, known professionally as Mac Miller, was an American rapper from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Miller began his career in Pittsburgh's local hip hop scene in 2007, at the age of 15. In 2010, he signed a record deal with independent label Rostrum Records and released his breakthrough mixtapes K.I.D.S. (2010) and Best Day Ever (2011). Miller's debut studio album, Blue Slide Park (2011), became the first independently distributed debut album to top the US Billboard 200 since 1995.
Nayvadius DeMun Cash, known professionally as Future, is an American rapper and singer. Known for his mumble-styled vocals and prolific output, Future is considered a pioneer of the use of Auto-Tuned melodies in trap music. Due to the sustained popularity of this musical style, he is commonly regarded as one of the most influential rappers of his generation.
Keith Farrelle Cozart, better known by his stage name Chief Keef, is an American rapper and record producer. Born and raised in Chicago's South Side, he began his recording career as a teenager and initially garnered regional attention and praise for his mixtapes in the early 2010s. Cozart is often credited with popularizing the hip hop subgenre drill for mainstream audiences, and is considered a progenitor of the genre. Stereogum has referred to Cozart as a "modern rap folk hero". Chief Keef is also considered one of the most prominent Black Disciples members of his generation. Sociologist R. L'Heureux Lewis-McCoy described Chief Keef’s mentality as a member, "Chicago’s Black Disciples is central to who he is and who he should be".
Freebandz is an American record label founded by American rapper Future in 2011. The label's releases are distributed through Epic Records. Freebandz has signed artists including Real Boston Richey, Lil Double O, Doe Boy, Young Scooter, and Future's personal mixtape compiler, DJ Esco.
Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., better known by his stage name Young Dolph, was an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He first garnered mainstream attention for his guest appearance on O.T. Genasis' 2015 single "Cut It", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, he released his debut studio album King of Memphis (2016), which peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200. His fifth album, Rich Slave (2020), peaked at number four on the chart.
Jeffery Lamar Williams, known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper. Known for his eccentric vocal style and fashion, he is considered an influential figure in modern hip hop and trap music, and a pioneer of the mumble rap microgenre. Williams embarked on a musical career in 2011, releasing a series of mixtapes beginning with I Came from Nothing. In 2013, he signed with fellow Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane's 1017 Records and gained further attention and praise for his debut mixtape with the label, 1017 Thug, released in February of that year.
Digital Lows is the debut mixtape by American rapper, Cities Aviv. It was released on May 2, 2011, through Fat Sandwich Records. Produced by various artists including Muted Drone, RPLD GHOSTS and Danny Dee, the mixtape earned attention and critical acclaim from various music publications.
Hugh Anthony Allison, better known by his stage name Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he debuted with the release of his first mixtape, The Big Fat Kill, in 2008. Allison would follow-up with what is considered to be his breakout project, the mixtape Lost in Translation, released by Mishka NYC in 2011. He signed his first major-label record deal with Universal Republic Records, in 2012, which he subsequently left. In 2017, with the release of Allison's fourth EP Brainiac, he launched Chocolate Rabbit, his own record label imprint. His self-titled debut studio album was independently released in 2019.
Trinity Laure'Ale Home , better known by her stage name Tink, is an American rapper and R&B singer from the Chicago area in Illinois. She is best known for the single "Treat Me Like Somebody" and for the collaboration with singer and producer Jeremih on "Don't Tell Nobody". Since 2012, she has released seven mixtapes and has gone independent due to label issues regarding the release of her debut album. Her 2014 mixtape, Winter's Diary 2: Forever Yours, was featured as a top 10 R&B album in both Rolling Stone and Billboard magazines.
Lola Chantrelle Mitchell, known professionally as Gangsta Boo, was an American rapper. She rose to prominence as a member of Three 6 Mafia, which she joined at the age of 14. After releasing six albums, she left the group and its record label after the release of her second solo album, Both Worlds *69 (2001), due to financial disputes and issues regarding promotion of the album. She subsequently released several solo albums and became known for collaborating with artists such as Eminem, Run the Jewels, La Chat, Latto, GloRilla, Outkast, Foxy Brown, Tinashe, Lil Jon and Yelawolf.
Mariel Semonte Orr, known professionally as Trouble, was an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He released eight independent mixtapes until receiving recognition for his guest appearance alongside Migos on YFN Lucci's 2016 single "Key to the Streets," which received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The following year, he signed with Mike Will Made It's EarDrummer Records, an imprint of Interscope Records to release his debut studio album Edgewood (2018), which entered the Billboard 200 and was supported by the single "Bring It Back". In 2020, he entered a joint venture with Def Jam Recordings to release his second album, Thug Luv in April of that year, which failed to chart. He was shot and killed on June 5, 2022 during a home invasion.
| Authority control databases: Artists |
|---|
