PlvXid Talks New Single, Upcoming Album, Working with Noname and More !!!
I have had the pleasure of having a one on one talk with rapper and producer known as PlvXid. We discussed his new single, as well as his upcoming album, going solo, working with Noname and more! Lets start off by diving into who PlvXid is behind the music. Born Craig Vincent Jr in Chesapeake, VA, PlvXid (pronounced placid) created a rap persona for himself that directly reflected how he saw himself. Placid means not easily upset, or in other words, easy going. This name carries weight not only in his personal life, but in his music. PlvXid began to explore music with his longtime friend Ryan Luc, as they formed a teen rap group title Dope Kidz in high school. This group really gave PlvXid the platform he needed to truly navigate through music, and encouraged him to begin to make music of his own. With the people close to him encouraging him to release some of his solo projects, PlvXid eventually did go solo as the group gracefully ended. He embarked on what is now his amazing solo career in 2013 with his debut song, Le Capricorn 1.5, produced by Carigamist.
Over the years in music, we have seen our favorite group acts transition to solo careers. Some proved to be wildly successful and some did not. But most times, whether the artist is successful or not, the transition is difficult. Surprisingly, for PlvXid this is not the case. He describes his transition into his solo career as very easy and exciting. It was very convenient as well.
"We would do sessions at my house so I had all the equipment… I just recorded extra music in my spare time and all my friends liked it."
To add a happy ending to the transition into his solo career, PlvXid and former DopeKidz member, Ryan Luc, remain great friends and continue to make music together.
Going into his solo career in 2016, it was important for PlvXid to stay on top of his music and make sure that he stayed relevant. His first EP after he decided become a solo artist needed a feature.
"Instead of using my refund check for paying back my loans like you’re supposed to, I took it and spent it on a feature… I contacted a lot of artists and Noname's manager got back to me first."
From there, PlvXid sent Noname the song and she loved it enough to grace it with a verse, which you can check out on his song titled Found My Flow. The single soon took flight with over 47k lays on Soundcloud alone.
"It was a great experience… it took a lot of networking but it was worth it."
Breathe, released on August 1st of this year, is the newest single from PlvXid’s debut solo album, Eastside.
"Its about loss. Its relatable because its about losing people close to you… Life is so short and we don't even realize it. Embrace every moment.”
The song incorporates the obvious rap elements as well as hidden elements of jazz, r&b and funk. The combination of instrumental elements and lyricism intertwine to create a musical experience that is calming and fulfilling. According to PlvXid, the beat itself is called Exhale. It fits perfectly with the theme of the song and carries the message well. "I hope that people can vibe to it."
The single Breathe is only a sneak peak of the talent and hard work that will be showcased in his upcoming album, Eastside, set to release in September. I asked PlvXid about his experience creating this album and allowed him to expand on what it means to him. He described the session as very "high energy".
"It was a lot of staying up late and high energy all the time."
The album itself is meant to tell a story. "Its personal." The east side is where PlvXid is from, therefore its what he relates to. The personal touch on this album is evident. Its been a work in progress for years, simmering until it was just perfect enough for release. That’s what makes this album release so special. It is a large introduction not only as a solo artist, but as a artist with something to say, period. PlvXid describes this album as "in home", meaning that in some ways, it’s a lot deeper than just rapping.
All hardworking artists understand the struggle of balance. Between music, social life and more, it can be hard to stay centered. As stated previously, PlvXid was in college during his Noname feature, and now he works on something other than his music for a living. So the question then becomes, how does he find a balance? According to the artist, a balance between social life and musical aspirations comes easy.
"My social life revolves around my music."
PlvXid states that his friends are all in someway involved with his music or they also make their own music. This allows for his music life and social life to be virtually the same thing. The challenge comes when its time to balance work and music. Both a truly full time jobs, but PlvXid is still finding the time in between to buckle down on his passion.
So whats next from PlvXid? Along with the album dropping next month, collection 4 of his clothing line will be dropping. There will also be more shows, events and music to expect so stay tuned in and be on the look out!
Advice For The Lovelace Family
As always, I asked the artist for some advice because at Lovelace, its all about helping others and constantly pulling each other up.
"Be yourself in whatever you’re doing… don’t show off. Be level headed and find that perfect balance for yourself. Most importantly, keep the peace, love and creativity."
Keep in touch with the artist, stay up-to-date with upcoming music and events and vibe with PlvXid anytime through his social media!
