June 14, 2019
REVIEW: XV’S DAY ONES EP (JUNE 2019) Wichita’s ONLY Hip Hop & Urban Entertainment Magazine DAY ONES EP • I NEED COLOR • DAY ONES • CUT GRASS
• GIVE UP SONG
S
ummertime just got
here and it’s already heating up. Wichita’s lovechild from Squaria stopped by to drop off “Day Ones.” It’s XV’s latest EP project since the “Awesome EP!” which was released in May 2012 under Warner Bros. Records. The last music project made available to the public was the 2014 release of “March Madness Volume 4: Final Four.” If you have no clue about the significance of XV to Wichita’s music history and Hip-Hop scene, then you’ve got no right to skip this part! XV started his music career at the age of 15 and used street promotion to push his music, putting it right into the hands of consumers. He gained fans through the release of several CD mixtapes and performances in and around town. XV created a Squarian world that rebelled against conformity and celebrated differentness. Long before Squarians existed, Royalty did. The Marvel Comic loving “Kid with the Green Backpack” was itching for a label stamp. By July 2010 XV signed a major recording contract and was rubbing elbows with J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa and producer Just Blaze. He went on tour and garnered an even larger audience who stayed in touch with him through his various social media platforms. His song, “Awesome,” was featured on the NBA 2K12 game. And let’s not forget how he represented his city in front of millions of viewers during the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher.
Now that you’ve digested XV’s bio in under 60 seconds, wipe your mouth and let’s move on to the “Day Ones” review! After years of radio silence, XV’s die-hard fans can say that Christmas came early. They were excited about his announcement and many of them felt it was overdue. XV is now free from the creative strains that many artists infamously feel are the downside of signing with a label. This time he’s releasing music independently under Squarian Entertainment, LLC. XV Top Fan Lucas
Challen commented via Facebook, “Welcome back, Vizzy! Squaria hasn’t been the same without you.” Another Top Fan by the name of Alexander Bond said, “Finally I thought [you] was just a past memory of my childhood lol.” Instagram user @givememyeggobak joked under XV’s posting of the EP artwork, “STOP TEASING US! JUST RELEASE IT AND NO ONE GETS HURT!” Freddy High, long-time friend and fellow recording artist notified the IG fan that it was not a drill—and that the EP was out now. In 4 tracks totaling 12 minutes and 57 seconds, XV brings us up to speed with where he’s at mentally and it’s clear that all is still good with his Day Ones. The track that the EP is aptly named for features independent New York artist Yonas and is produced by GeeKue, Win Money and ! llmind. Yonas sings, “Someone please take my Crown and pass the shit around/I be riding thru the city with my day ones/Since day one you held me down/ Every time I’m in my town.” The beat is infectious and so is the ambiance of the track. The remaining tracks give us mixed emotions about what’s ahead for our Squarian friend. He clears out snakes and fakes on “Cut Grass.” In one of my favorite lines, he boasts, “I’m a chill nigga/Don’t do clubs or chinchillas/But for Dinero I’ll meet Fockers/Cause I’m Ben Stiller/No one been realer.” I would hope that line hasn’t gone over the heads of any Pop Culture fans. XV would be disappointed in you. On the Seven produced track titled “I Need Color” the Squarian says that all everyone on the outside sees is black and white—and the need for color. He expresses his frustration with time in relation to his career. “Got a little time/And father-time ain’t got no soul.” He adds, “No time to create/No time just to paint.” If this is any indication of what’s to come, it means he may have given his music career an expiration date. But stay with me. I wasn’t too thrilled to see a track titled “Giving Up Song” on
@siralexavier to @xtothev on IG “I’m happy I remained a fan and kept telling niggas ‘”XV coming back one day’” the song list and I’m sure that real XV fans who have patiently waited on his return are with me on this. On the Big Jerm produced track he says, “I don’t want no inspiration/no information/no congregations/no confirmations/Fuck all that fake shit/Fuck all the waiting.” Could our Squarian be tapped out? Have hot pocket music artists with less flow, less lyrical content and ABC rhymes taken the artistry out of artistry? For an artist as metaphorical as XV—it had to have crossed his mind. It’s what the labels are pushing out these days. Anyone meeting resistance towards their goals is bound to feel like a hamster on a wheel. But I damn sure hope this isn’t a farewell project. Have a listen for yourself. “Day Ones EP” is available on iTunes, Tidal and SoundCloud and soon the full “Day Ones” album project will be on streaming platforms. Tell me what you think @theemamarazzi. Anyone in Wichita or the surrounding area is invited to the “Day Ones” official album release party at The Wave (650 E. 2nd St. N.) on Friday, June 21. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. For more information about XV, please visit www.wearesquarians.com.
