XV

With a pinch of Lupe Fiasco's outsider edge and a dose of Kanye West's humor, Wichita, Kansas, rapper XV delivers an entertaining 13-cut collection on "Complex". The wistful "Cruise" features XV detailing his feelings on the industry, while "Give U Everything" talks about a lady he adores though she seems more concerned with his money. XV's concepts are strong and his confidence on the mic makes him a formidable presence. The albums' stellar sample-heavyproduction, from Michael "Seven" Summers, arrives with major-label quality. Unlike his darker work with Tech N9Ne and others, Seven provides XV with crisp, soulful beats that could give Kanye West and Just Blaze a run for their money. With a vocal presence equal to established acts and top-notch beats, XV could become a major rap force as long as people don't dismiss him because of his similarities with his more famous contemporaries. - The Source Magazine

What would you say if I told you that a guy named Donavan from Wichita, Kansas just released an album that might make hip-hop Kansas’ most popular export next to wheat? Scoff, would you? Guffaw, perchance?

Those of you who answered yes, read on. Those of you who answered no, I commend you for your openness, but please keeping reading just the same.

Complex is the captivating, accomplished first major-scale album from 21-year-old XV (born Donavan Johnson). XV, who released his independent debut The Legacy at the age of 16, spent the majority of his latter teen years building his own record label (Royalty Recordz) while simultaneously cultivating and honing his talent, and the work has paid off. As rapper, co-lyricist and co-producer, XV shines in every hat he wears, offering up an album that is just as much telling of his influences (Jay-Z, Mos Def and Talib Kweli to name a few) as it is of his personality. Not every track on the album is a homerun, but for the most part Complex walks a steady line between catchy singles-to-be like the cleverly sampled “Give You Everything” and introspective tracks like “Boy from Kansas.”

It is XV’s willingness to expose himself on songs like “Boy from Kansas” and the socially aware “This Side of Town” that make the album and the MC especially appealing. This is not an album full of superficial posing. XV lyrically presents a fully-fleshed out image of a person who, like the album, is really likeable and, at the risk of sounding trite for stating the obvious, complex. - OkayPlayer.com

Kansas Citys XV checks in with his promising debut, Complex, and shows hes got the potential to one day become a breakthrough artist like Rhymefest or Lupe Fiasco. Hes at his best on humble, down-to-earth songs like Feels Like The First Time, When I Dream and especially Boy From Kansas, although its his tale of racially divided cities and segregation on Other Side Of Town (featuring a killer guitar riff made famous by Rodney O & Joe Cooley) that impresses most. Once you get past Complexs biggest deficiencies XVs unhealthy fascination with Jay-Z (which mirrors The Games obsession with Dr. Dre) and his producers overuse of pitched up vocal samples what youll discover is a highly gifted MC with the skill set to take it to the next level. Whether hell get that chance or not remains to be seen Download: Other Side Of Town, You Got Me, Cruise [Bradley Miller] - Urbnet.com

According to many an attention-starved up-and-comer, hip-hop is in need of saving. Exactly who "stole" it and when remains uncertain, but "bringing it back" looks to be of higher priority than ever. Even Nasty Nas has come to the conclusion that it's long "dead," making the predicament at least SEEM more official. The validity of hip-hop's supposed demise is, of course, debatable, but I'll say it again and again: if anyone's saving anything it'll be coming from the Midwest. America's own melting pot and the last major region to receive significant nationwide shine, they eat up everything hip–hop has to offer, and spit it back out with as much street soul and wit as any other locale.

The latest in a line of recently impressive Midwestern hip-hoppers, Kansas' XV looks to grab the mic and run. Truly sponge-like, he borrows from far and wide to create a balanced attack; there's a tad of Game (read: name dropping), a dash of Lupe just with the calm tone of voice, and with an impressive hand behind the boards, he's the closest thing to Kanye without being a "College Dropout." XV knows this, and acknowledges it on "You Got Me," telling us to "take "Illmatic," "Stillmatic," "Ready To Die,"" adding up the influences that supposedly shape his style. It isn't that XV sees himself at that level; he's merely showing you where he comes from.

"Complex" is a people-friendly album, and X is a people-friendly character. If there's one thing rap fans love, it's an emcee with half of his swagger. Arrogant? Maybe a little, but he sounds more confident than egotistic. It's with this charm XV is able to make the most well-rounded Midwest release of the year. By all means, "Complex" is a more cohesive affair than "Food & Liquor;" Where Lupe showcases his ability to write a mind-bending verse, XV is superior in the art of crafting a song. With a familiar flow and production that flat out beats nearly anything this year, mainstream success would seem inevitable.

XV tries to make the most of his musical exposure, but when he's on his game, he's decidedly very Kanye. "Give You Everything," while a great song, consists entirely of your essential K. West elements. The beat (courtesy of Michael Summers): sped-up soul, cheerful horns, and the widely bitten Kanye snare/clap. The rhymes: about a sexy, covetous, and overly demanding female (hmm...), all through a delivery that shifts from cool flow to near-whisper. What's more, "When I Dream" is the conceptual equivalent to "Family Business," even closing out the album. At least X raps about HIS own family.

As a lyricist he's fairly concise and rarely loses you, but in getting caught up in himself, he can get aggravating. Contrary to what he might have you believe, he's producer first and rapper second, but he might be too far ahead of himself to admit it. His bombastic air results in songs like "Boy From Kansas:" part braggadocio, part life summary, all blah. Putting himself on ever higher pedestals, he questions, "let em know, yo, who flow like X?" But like he clearly stated before, lots of dudes do. It isn't like he's counting Grammy's before the nominations, but he crosses lines that Kanye never would. While West calls black America into question, XV is "hoppin' on the track" and "turnin' his hat to the side." While Kanye laughs at his shortcomings to empathize with his audience, XV talks about how "humble and cool" he is. These themes rarely dominate, however, and whatever obstacle he throws in front of himself, XV still runs away with quite possibly the most fun, no-strings-attached record of 2006.

If XV farted into the mic for 48 minutes there would always be the highly skilled production team, who clearly listen to a great deal of Kanye and Just Blaze. X is especially tight; quite obviously a fan of 70's soul, his sampling is superb. His percussion never fights the samples and at least four songs on "Complex" are MTV-worthy.

With Rhymefest and Lupe now at Common and Kanye's coat tails, the Midwest, while still hopelessly outnumbered, hit the battlefield with what is more than likely the illest weaponry. With XV coming heavily strapped and all of Kansas behind him, things are bound to get ugly. Expect heavy casualties. - RapReviews.com