Born and raised on the Northeast side of Wichita, Kansas, XV (born Donavan Johnson) was not your average kid on the block. Suffering from an incredibly rare phobia known as Excelsiorophobia, he is deathly fearful of placing a hat firmly upon his cranium. He has fought this fear his entire life, as you can clearly see, placing baseball caps at various angles atop his head. Despite suffering from this career and personality defining phobia, he has persevered to establish a life that resembles some normalcy. Of course he played basketball, rode his bike and reenacted scenes from Power Rangers, like any other youthful spirit would. But his interests varied from those of his three brothers. With a born love for music like his father, who was a record label A&R and an employee at BET, XV began writing songs at the age of 9. Though he was raised by his Mom and Step-Father, the love of music was instilled in him, as well as various other talents such as, writing screenplays and designing websites.
"When I said I wanted to be something, I mean't it! My Grandmother would take me to the library on the weekends and get me every book I needed to learn how to make a movie. I was far from your average kid. When kids were at recess, I would be in class using the school camera to shoot fake news reports. I'm a big dreamer."
The desire to be bigger than his body was fulfilled when XV found Hip-Hop. Being able to express emotions, fantasies, and dilemma's using a clever sense of wordplay makes XV the extraordinary lyricist he is today. His ability to display the perils of the street life, the consciousness of a purist, and relate to suburban youth, stems from his socialness in school. Having friends who were gangbangers, preacher's kids, and rich white boys, allowed XV to break the boundaries many rappers place themselves in, and explore artistic ways to speak to all types of people. Acquiring the moniker, XV, from the roman numerals of "15", the age he was when he decided to begin taking his craft seriously and producing his own music. Inspired by mostly east coast MC's such as Jay-Z, Biggie, Mase, Mos Def, Cam'ron and Talib Kweli, XV recorded, produced, and released his first independent album in 2002. In 2003, his album, "The Answer", received rave reviews on various hip-hop websites.
Without any industry help or management, XV continued to work hard to create a buzz for himself and his record label, Royalty Recordz. Though he got his start performing live at his high school's talent shows, XV went on to opening up for The Ying Yang Twins, Mike Jones, Lil' Rob, Jon B., and defeated four local Hip-Hop acts with over 600 votes to open up for G-Unit. XV then went on to placing a song on Midway's NARC videogame, which led to XV creeping slowly out of the Kansas boundaries in search of a larger base of recognition. That recognition came after XV began making his mark on the mixtape scene with the "Royalty City" Mixtape series and "The Definition" mixtapes, featuring labelmates Bling and Sez Batters. Acknowledgement came from artists such as The Game, Paul Wall, Maino, Sheek Louch and DJ's such as Whoo Kid and On Point. The base has been built, now it's time to strengthen the foundation.
"The title 'COMPLEX' was created when I was trying to describe my album to Bling. It was like being told to describe a three-dimensional piece in two-dimensional form. The title also reflects a characteristic carried amongst most prodigies. I feel the most abstract and idealistic people in the world are complex, because there's so many different layers to them. Albert Einstein was complex, Picasso was complex, Tupac was complex. This album is basically my search for clarity."
With 13-tracks laced with thought-provoking, clever and sometimes cocky lyrical content, XV's search seems to come to a happy medium. His fresh and original topics vary from stereotyping to the differences in urban and suburban america. COMPLEX will be the first major-scale album from XV, and features production from himself, Seven and Benjamin Kash. The album's lead single, "Give You Everything", produced by Seven, is a charming, and sometimes humorous, narrative about a materialistic girlfriend that XV can't seem to break up with. The song that is sure to be a radio smash and bring clarity to the complexity of XV is, "Boy From Kansas". "It was the last song I wrote for Complex, so I feel like it's the most open song about me. My next album is going to be called, 'Clarity', and 'Boy From Kansas' was a step towards that. No matter where you're from, you can relate to that song."
It is a constant struggle for an artist to find himself, and many get lost in the search. It's also a battle for a brand new artist to come out and just be themself. XV is proof that it is a battle that you can win. With an album filled with honesty, positivity, humor, vulnerability and hardly any obscenities, finding clarity may not be an issue for XV any longer. "I'm a regular human-being. I get mad in traffic, I curse, I think about sex 98% of the day. But, in the end. When they read about me or find my time capsule 500 years from now. I want them to say that I was a positive dude. And that's who I am in my music."
Familiar
XV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look, since the day that I opened your ears
I know that it's weird, it feels like you've known me for years
When all I had was my songs, I was hoping you'd hear
Then you became a fan then I feel like I owe you a beer
So when you at my shows, I throw you a cheers
Couple of meet and greets and take a peek and hope I appear
And it's hard when you close to the fear that
And I know, I know, I know it's all part of my career
To be a star on the track and the final frontier
Don't gotta ask for a thing, people just volunteer
In return for some daft and they call it our square
But it's hard when I'm chilling, trying to talk to my peers
And my friends and people just interfere
Like where's your backpack? When you getting on Gears?
I love the love but I hope that I'm making it clear
[Hook:]
'Cause it's hard in a room full of people I don't know
And every single one feeling just like me
And sometimes it's cool 'cause they just might be
But really knowing me is so unlikely, you ain't familiar, you ain't familiar
You ain't familiar, it's difficult when all the people that feel ya
Just don't look familiar, I'm so unfamiliar
[Verse 2: XV]
Girls backstage, hanging out, my crew cool so they safe as sound
As they wait it out for the minute I finish and then I take a bow
The ho agent daydreaming of us making out
I get off stage and Sez tells me to take a towel
I can't, now I'm taking pictures while my face is drowned
And it's the best feeling when they say X is killing them shows
It's excellent to know that they mess with it but niggas be on that extra shit
Asking if the girl I'm sitting next to is who I'm messing with
When people call me by my real name, they don't know me from 21 Jump Street
It just feel strange, I'll never change, please mark my words
The dressing room will never re-do "not disturb", I will never tell you to curve
I just want you to observe the fact that I'm reserved
[Hook]
[Verse 3: XV]
I will shake every hand, make every fan feel like they the man
'Cause they gave me a chance, may who I am as they hang from the stands
Screaming Vizzy, Vizzy, Vizzy is my favorite jam
And blowing up was always part of the plan
So it shouldn't be strange that all this began
Sawed up the Earth, heart of the land, that's all I tried to be in the end
But everything I'm not made me all that I am
Everything I never got is all in my hands
Trying to blow up out the pot, not a flash in the pan
So I holla when I can, I hope you understand
When I can't re-tweet every tweet, reply to every demand
My clone hasn't got here, I'll tell you when it lands
Until then, it's Flyboy Club so fuck the wagon, join the band
[Hook]
In the song "Familiar," XV talks about his struggles with fame and how it affects his relationships with fans and friends. He expresses gratitude for his fans' support, but also acknowledges the difficulty of connecting with people who feel like they know him through his music. He mentions the pressure to maintain a certain image and the frustration of constantly being interrupted when trying to talk to his peers.
XV also touches on the topic of groupies and the unwanted attention they bring. He describes how he handles the situation and remains respectful to the people around him. XV emphasizes the importance of staying true to himself and not letting fame change who he is.
Overall, "Familiar" provides a glimpse into the complexities of being a successful musician and the struggles that come with it. XV's introspective lyrics and raw honesty make the song relatable to anyone who has experienced the pressure of living up to expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Look, since the day that I opened your ears
Since I first reached your heart with my music
I know that it's weird, it feels like you've known me for years
It's strange that you feel a connection to me despite not knowing me personally
When all I had was my songs, I was hoping you'd hear
I hoped that my music would be enough to catch your attention
Then you became a fan then I feel like I owe you a beer
Now that you're a supporter of my work, I feel a sense of gratitude towards you
So when you at my shows, I throw you a cheers
I show appreciation for my fans by toasting to them at my concerts
Couple of meet and greets and take a peek and hope I appear
I attend meet and greets in hopes of interacting with my fans
And it's hard when you close to the fear that
It can be difficult when I'm anxious and fearful
The more that you're near that, the less it's sincere
The closer we get, the less genuine our connection might feel due to external factors
And I know, I know, I know it's all part of my career
I understand that these challenges come with being a public figure and artist
To be a star on the track and the final frontier
My goal is to be successful in my music career, on and off the stage
Don't gotta ask for a thing, people just volunteer
My fans support me and offer their help willingly
In return for some daft and they call it our square
I exchange their loyalty for a shared experience and appreciation for my music
But it's hard when I'm chilling, trying to talk to my peers
It can be challenging to have a regular conversation with my friends and acquaintances due to my fame
And my friends and people just interfere
Others can sometimes disrupt my personal time with their demands and expectations
Like where's your backpack? When you getting on Gears?
People may ask me irrelevant questions about my personal life or irrelevant projects
I love the love but I hope that I'm making it clear
I appreciate my fans, but I also hope they understand that my personal life is separate from my career
'Cause it's hard in a room full of people I don't know
It can be challenging to connect with people in unfamiliar social settings
And every single one feeling just like me
Even though we might share similar interests, hobbies, and appreciation for my music, it can still be challenging to connect with my fans
And sometimes it's cool 'cause they just might be
I enjoy connecting with my fans who are similar to me, but it can still be challenging
But really knowing me is so unlikely, you ain't familiar, you ain't familiar
It's unlikely that my fans truly understand who I am as a person, despite their appreciation for my music
Girls backstage, hanging out, my crew cool so they safe as sound
I spend time with girls backstage after my shows in a safe environment with trustworthy friends
As they wait it out for the minute I finish and then I take a bow
My female fans wait for me to finish my show and take my final bow before meeting me backstage
The ho agent daydreaming of us making out
An overzealous female representative might fantasize about a romantic connection with me
I get off stage and Sez tells me to take a towel
My friend Sez reminds me to clean up and freshen up after my performance
I can't, now I'm taking pictures while my face is drowned
I'm busy taking photos with my fans and sweating profusely from my performance
And it's the best feeling when they say X is killing them shows
It's a great feeling to hear that my fans enjoyed my performances
It's excellent to know that they mess with it but niggas be on that extra shit
It's great that they appreciate my work, but some people take it to an extreme level
Asking if the girl I'm sitting next to is who I'm messing with
People might ask if I'm romantically involved with the female friends I hang out with
When people call me by my real name, they don't know me from 21 Jump Street
When people use my real name, they often forget that I am a musician and not the character from a TV show
It just feel strange, I'll never change, please mark my words
It feels odd to be addressed by my real name when I am used to being called by my stage name
The dressing room will never re-do 'not disturb', I will never tell you to curve
I will never ask for privacy and I will never reject my fans' requests for an interaction
I just want you to observe the fact that I'm reserved
I hope my fans understand that I am a reserved and private person despite my public persona
I will shake every hand, make every fan feel like they the man
I try my best to interact with and appreciate every single one of my fans
'Cause they gave me a chance, may who I am as they hang from the stands
My fans have given me a chance to pursue my passion and make a name for myself, and that means a lot to me
Screaming Vizzy, Vizzy, Vizzy is my favorite jam
My fans love my music and have their favorite songs that they enjoy screaming along to
And blowing up was always part of the plan
My goal has always been to achieve success and recognition for my music
So it shouldn't be strange that all this began
It should not come as a surprise that my hard work and dedication have led me to where I am now
Sawed up the Earth, heart of the land, that's all I tried to be in the end
My music and my career are my legacy, and I hope to leave a lasting impact on the world
But everything I'm not made me all that I am
I have learned and grown from my weaknesses and flaws to become the person I am today
Everything I never got is all in my hands
I have worked hard to achieve the things I never had growing up
Trying to blow up out the pot, not a flash in the pan
I want to become successful in the long-term, not just have a brief moment of fame
So I holla when I can, I hope you understand
I try to stay connected with my fans as much as possible, but I hope they understand that I cannot always respond to every request or message
When I can't re-tweet every tweet, reply to every demand
I may not have the time or capacity to respond to every request or message on social media
My clone hasn't got here, I'll tell you when it lands
I am still the only version of myself, and I will let you know when there are updates or changes
Until then, it's Flyboy Club so fuck the wagon, join the band
Until then, I will continue to focus on my music and my fans, and I invite you to join me on this journey
Contributed by Xavier K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeanette Flores
Padrísimo!! 👏👏👏👍👍👍
sergio Arauz
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