Interview: XV – (9/9/10) Speaks on Vizzy Zone
Download: XV – Vizzy Zone (Mixtape)
XV dropped his Vizzy Zone mixtape at 12AM today, immediately before the Midwest emcee took the stage as headliner of DatPiff’s NYC showcase. After the show, HipHopAtLunch.com spoke to XV about recording with K-Saalam and Beatnick for his upcoming album, how the Vizzy Zone mixtape artwork came about, getting a major record deal without having to leave Kansas, the reasons why “Familiar” is his favorite song off of Vizzy Zone, and the story behind his new track featuring both Mike Bigga and Mac Miller.
I wasn’t expecting to hear XV say that he replaced Scarface’s part on “May The Force Be With You” with a verse from Mac Miller, ha! I guess Mac’s Justin Bieber meets Jadakiss comment isn’t too far off after all.
Shout out to Mina Kwon for turning XV’s concept of the Vizzy Zone into the impressive final mixtape artwork! An eye-catching mixtape cover, like XV’s, seems to attract attention from both record labels and fans. The Kansas emcee no longer needs this extra label attention, however, now that the Wichita native has signed a deal with Warner Bros. As mentioned in the interview, XV being able to land a major record deal without moving away from his small city is a very rare and inspirational feat!
Below is the track that has now replaced “Fall Out The Sky” as XV’s favorite song in his catalog.
XV – “Familiar”
Thoughts on Vizzy Zone?
Artists Tagged
XV
Donavan Johnson
Label: Warner Bros.
Hometown: Wichita, KS
XV’s stage name represents the age at which he first started to pursue a career in hip hop, fifteen. Despite coming up in the small city of Wichita, Kansas, this video game and comic book fanatic was able to grow a nationwide fan base through a string of successful mixtapes and online promotions. On July 31, 2009, XV released his biggest project to date in the Everybody’s Nobody mixtape hosted by DJ Enuff and DJ Benzi.
Almost a year later, on July 26, 2010, XV announced that he had signed a record deal with Warner Bros. and would finally have a chance to release his long awaited album, The Boy With The Green Backpack. The debut album’s title comes from the high school nickname given to XV by kids who didn’t know his real name.
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Da
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Anonymous
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http://hiphopatlunch.com/2010/09/xv-vizzy-zone-mixtape-no-dj/ XV – Vizzy Zone (Mixtape) No DJ | Hip Hop At Lunch – The Latest Hip Hop News And Emerging Artists
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http://itsnancieyo.tumblr.com Nancie
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http://hiphopatlunch.com/2010/12/xv-the-flying-video/ XV – “The Flying V” (Video) | Hip Hop At Lunch – The Latest Hip Hop News And Emerging Artists