Trailblazing Odessa, TX-based hip-hop artist Jvn steps up to claim his territory in the rap game with his latest release In Due Time. The 7-track EP underscores Jvn's experiences as a young man balancing the trials and tribulations of life with art. Over pounding and cinematic soundscapes, he shows off his rap skills utilizing various literary devices, and styles while seamlessly blending traditional and modern rap aesthetics.
The EP opens with "Intro," where Jvn proceeds to wreak havoc on the microphone with boastful raps and raw confidence over an anthemic beat comprising ethereal vocal samples and thumping drums. Lines like "fake bitch, think she sneaking but I peeped it/Won't hesitate for niggaz reaching, I got defense/I gotta play the field and watch for weak shit, niggaz leeches" encapsulate his laser-focused mindset which bleeds into the standout track "B2B." The track is split into two different halves that showcase Jvn's versatility and nuanced style. The first half is bolstered by scratched vocal samples, a cinematic texture and punchy boom-bap drums forming the perfect backdrop for Jvn's unapologetic demeanour and lucid lyrical schemes while the second half switches into a thumping trap sound. Here Jvn changes up his flow to accommodate lovers of dark trap with a little twist at the top.
"Fast & Furious" lives up to the title as audiences are trusted into a menacing and urgent-driven backdrop ripe with brooding strings and pulsating 808 bass trap drums. Lyrically Jvn stands on business as he sends direct shots to the haters and detractors. This is followed by the AAP Deno-assisted "Angels In Texas," here Jvn reflects on blossoming love and the ups and downs of being vulnerable to some degree. I must add, that this track showed him in a different light as Jvn was able to project his emotions clearly without sounding cliche or over the top. On the flip side, AAP Deno adds an extra layer to it with his animated melodic flows reminiscent of Ty Dolla $ign. In a nutshell, it's a universally appealing love song about trust between two individuals who are trying to take things further. Things get thick with the anthemic "Diplomatic JVN" and "Regulators." The former utilizes drill soundscapes with pitched-up vocal samples and soulful chops underpinned by Jvn's expressive flow while the latter pays homage to the classic Warren G and Nate Dogg song of the same name. It uses the same sample but reimagined with a modern hip-hop aesthetic and sees Jvn reflecting on his journey thus far, and world-builds from the experiences and characters that helped him on his way. The final track "High Form" starts with the most infamous Mike Tyson post-fight interview with a brooding piano riff that swiftly leads into a mid-tempo cinematic trap beat laced with trepidation and urgency. As the title suggests, Jvn is in rare form and lyrical peak as he embodies the spirit of the relentless warrior decimating anything in the path of his goal.
Jvn is also celebrating a major milestone in his career, having performed as the only local act selected for a sold-out arena show with Lil Uzi Vert and G Herbo at the Toyota Pavilion Center. Looking ahead, Jvn is working on new music and hopes to secure a spot as tour support for a major artist.
