During my freshman year at the University of Memphis, I remember seeing this guy around campus that reminded me of The Cool Kids. He was always clad in skinny jeans, bright-colored Nikes, and had the bill of his hat flipped up.
I would later find out he was an artist that went by the name of Cities Aviv.
In spring 2011, I got a chance to see him perform at Young Avenue Deli in Cooper Young. Other artists on the lineup that Friday night were Knowledge Nick, Red Eye Jedi, and Jason Da Hater. And the headliner was DJ Quickie Mart.
I remember being impressed by how different but dope Cities Aviv’s music was, along with the high-energy performance he provided. Some of the cuts he performed would later be featured on his 2011 debut, Digital Lows.
Digital Lows was littered with eclectic production, dated samples, and hard-edged lyrics centered on the mindframe and experiences of someone “born in the city where they killed the King.”
One of the highlights off the project is the apathetic “F*ckeverybodyhere,” which boasts a sample of Steely Dan’s “Midnight Cruiser.”
Stream it below.
Throwback Thursday: Cities Aviv’s “F*ckeverybodyhere”
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