By Curtis Dinwiddie Staff Writer
Underground rapper Nile Ross released his anticipated mixtape Year of th3 V on Mar. 14 as a collaboration with his crew mates Brian Taylor and Montie. The Victory after Victory (VAV) rappers are on their grind as they continue to make positive progress with rap. The VAV team is growing and they are artists to watch for this year.
The title track introduces the squad by saying they’ll own this year due to non-stop grinding and working. They call themselves “Slayers” because they’re here to take over and slay the competition. VAV addressed the fans and individuals who make them “Feel That Way” by creating a new aura of energy inside their souls and vice versa.
“This mixtape is Fire! Much diversity in the songs. The VAV crew; each musician has their own style which makes their working together so much more interesting,” said senior Jason Benford.
Three interludes take place interchangeably on the mixtape; all three members reflect on their careers and they encourage everybody to chase their dreams. The fourth track “Do It For the Team” explains Nile’s passion about rapping for his friends, family and fans. The fans enjoy the VAV collective as dedication to export good music. That’s why they take no days off in “No Recess” because they’re too focused to slip off their game.
“We want to set an example through our struggles and future successes that anyone can make anything happen if they put their minds to it and never give up. It’s not about the money and fame; it’s about the experiences you go through once you win over your goals and struggles,” said Ross.
The ruthless beat on “Burn” shows the ego of VAV as they proclaim that they’re the hottest trio in their city as independent artists. No label makes them more impressive because they’ll turn the tables from being underrated to mainstream. The last track “Celebration” has VAV embracing love, struggle and time on Earth for their work ethic and positive acclaim.
Phoenix Rising rates this 3.8 out of five stars for its honest lyric content and independent production. Each musical style merged into one collective makes pretty good wordplay.
