Forget everything you know about LV8R. His latest project, Going Up 3, is a testament to the artist’s hunger to progress his art without compromising his vision. All over this project, we see LV8R challenging himself to find fresh ways to package and deliver his boastful songwriting. Brain Bakery was gifted a first listen to the project and Going Up 3 did not disappoint.
Right off the bat, LV8R burst through the door with the high energy spitting he has become known for. Track one is titled “I almost lost this song bc Ableton crashed”, and thank god he didn’t. LV8R begins chanting adlibs that interact with the main melody, creating a harmonious segway into this trailblazing track. On track one, we are reminded that LV8R is a rapper and vocalist before anything else, and his raps sound crisper than ever.
It is not too long after track one that we get a glimpse into the deeper psyche of the artist. In the song “Blessed and Depressed” we see LV8R battling one of the more feared juxtapositions, having everything while feeling nothing. One of the more personal songs on the album, LV8R is able to change the mood of the project very quickly to an introspective look at the artist’s mental state. Hovering in the limbo of making it big but still having to grind can wear a person down, LV8R expresses that full range of motion.
The theme of Going Up 3 seems to be duality. All over this project, we see LV8R going back and forth between high octave anthems to sweet ballads meant to ease your mind. Right in the middle of this mix of emotions is an artist trying to figure it all out. LV8R is bolder and more vulnerable than ever.
Brain Bakery sat down with LV8R to discuss the process of how Going Up 3 came together and how his environment can influence the work he produces.
Look out for the highly anticipated release of Going Up 3 on April 22nd.
What is the origin of your name?
LV8R means “elevator” and I’m always GOING UP! The name came from my own record label “Elevator Jams.” I also knew people would mispronounce my name and stuff so I wanted to create a “6lack” effect where my true fans call each other out for not knowing how my name is pronounced. Love Victory!
What does the phrase “Going Up” mean to you?
It’s really a lifestyle. When you’re in outer space, there’s no left, right, down, it’s just UP in all directions. There are always “highs and lows” in life, but certain people have a mindset that an L isn’t a loss, but rather a lesson… that’s what GOING UP embodies. A constant progression UPWARDS no matter if the situation is great or not so ideal.
How does Going up 3 compare to the first two installments?
Man, the energy on this one is just different. The articulations are punchier, yet smoother. My voice is harsh, yet silky. You really need to just listen front to back to get the whole picture. I feel like GU1 was a pretty sad project as I was coming out of a depressive episode and propelling myself UP. During GOING UP! 2, I was actually in a way darker place and I was just angry at…the world, myself, everything. GOING UP! 3 I’m acknowledging my feelings, processing them, and spitting them back out on the microphone. It’s my most cohesive project, and truly I feel like the entire series together flows like human emotion does…. sadness, anger, acceptance.
What was the feeling in the studio when recording this project?
For starters, I recorded this album bouncing around from Charleston to New York City. The feeling was a mix of freedom and frustration, to be honest. I wanted to really outdo myself, and now that I’m settling down with my woman and starting a family, I needed to evolve from just talking about sex, money, and drugs. I’m still talking about it, but I just feel like it’s a lot classier and more creative. During the entire process, I was definitely under pressure from myself, my peers, and my people to make something timeless.
I don’t particularly like anyone in my studio sessions. I prefer to be completely alone. One of the biggest reasons I went to NYC was so I could isolate myself from everyone and everything for a short period of time, and remind myself that I indeed am the hottest artist to hit the speakers since they were invented. It also let me know that I really have to budget and allot time for myself to have these personal creative hiatuses where it’s just me, myself, and the mic.
We spoke before and you said you wanted to make Going Up 3 feel like a more concise album compared to the first two, did that change up your creative process at all?
Yeah for sure. We actually spoke way back when about my creative process when it comes to the tracklisting, and that was my biggest challenge on this project. I make a lot of music and sometimes it’s tough to cut songs and leave out some hits for the album… but just because Usain Bolt is the fastest runner in the world, doesn’t mean he’d make a good shortstop. You can have different vibes, but they all have to have something in common. You’ll see what I mean when I follow up on this project with some Extended Plays.
I know you recently moved to New York, how was that change for you?
I’m going to be honest, it’s amazing. I love the fast-paced environment and the soul of the city. I had two shows my first week in the city… and they loved me! The hardest part is being away from the family I’m building, so I decided I’m not making a permanent move, but rather opening a channel there that I can bounce back and forth from the same way I did with St. Louis, Orlando, Miami. You get the idea. For me, family comes first, and on the same note it’s like a paradox because I have to fully bloom into the artist I’m becoming and take care of myself and do right by myself so that I can truly provide a comfortable life of wealth and happiness to my girl and to my child that’s on the way. (Oh yeah, surprise! Big UP got Lil UP on the way!)
You do a lot of the recording process by yourself, from the beats to the mixing. Do you find collaboration brings something different out of you creatively?
Yeah absolutely. As you know, I’m super picky when it comes to my production. Skynevastop, formerly known as Fireskie, has consistently been my secret weapon. He’s a 15-year-old English producer, and he was 14 when he produced my hit song FYE FYE FYE. I love being able to just be a rapper sometimes. That’s honestly how I started out. I only started producing beats and mixing songs because nobody around me could do it when I was starting out. I never let anybody touch my mix though… not any more haha!
The first single “LAYIN LOW” was a different vibe than you’re usually on, how did that song come about?
So the first single was technically BOUNDLESS. For that one, $ilver sent me a beat and I sent him a record fifteen minutes later. Then he sent me a pack, and that’s when I heard the beat from BOUNDLESS and I SPAZZED. I came on with a southern flow, and I was consciously trying to rap about something other than bitches and hoes…and you know me, I freestyle everything. That has to be one of my most lyrical songs period.
LAYIN LOW came about because I really, really wanted to make a drill record. Drill is like hip-hop dance music. It really gets people moving and dancing which as a Colombian, I love dancing. When I came across those rage chords with the sliding subs, I was like THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT I NEED! and the rest is history.
When did you decide that Going Up 3 was going to be your proper debut? Did that change your approach to creating the music at all?
I had dropped two singles in January and waited all the way till the last day of February to drop again. During February, I felt stuck and I didn’t know what I was going to do next… I dropped UP:date on Christmas because once I finished my 70-song album…. I hated it and wanted to start over. It’s not like I didn’t make good music, but I felt like the people weren’t ready for a biblical level flood on that level just yet. I wanted to get more attention, more eyes on me so my hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. So when right before I dropped BOUNDLESS, I decided it was time for GU3! I told my closest friends it was album mode, and I stopped letting everyone hear my unreleased tracks. Approaching the mic while you’re in album mode is like going to the club with your freshest fit on. You know you’re gonna be swaggin on everyone, and you don’t even gotta flex because the drip speaks for itself. I told myself, GOING UP! 3 is literally going to be a classic, so I just hit the mic with extra confidence and urgency, knowing I have to make the hottest, hardest hits anyone’s ever heard.
Going Up 3 is finally out, what is your first thought when it releases. What is that feeling like?
“We going UP with this one!” The feeling when I drop a new project is like spiritually shitting on every rapper alive. Now everyone will finally have new stuff to copy. But on a serious note, it’s truly a spiritual release. It’s a moment frozen in time forever. We’ll look back on this project and talk about how it was ahead of its time. I truly feel like this project could put me and my city on the map.
Why does now feel like the right time to release a proper debut album?
It’s just been a long time coming. GOING UP! 2 era was a whole unit of time last year, and the surrounding singles and EPs all happened right when they had to. Looking back on it, I’ve always released big projects in April even back in the old days. With 2022 blooming a whole new era of underground music, I’m making this my come UP year. I want GOING UP! 3 to be what everyone looks back on when they think of one of the best years and summers for partying and getting turnt on some 2016 shit how people think back on Lil Uzi Vert’s come up.
Is there a song on Going Up 3 that you have a particular love for?
Truthfully I love all my songs close to equally. I will say though, on PONDERING, I just go STUPID. Also, PAXTON PEARLS and I almost lost this song bc ableton crashed just makes me feel good and happy inside. They’re feel-good songs. BENDIN OVER BACKWARDS is a deeply personal song too. I love that one. You really gotta listen to the whole thing front to back, I hope anybody who is reading this also finds it difficult to pick their favorites because I worked really hard on making it a cohesive project with different vibes that all lock in together perfectly for GOING UP! 3 as an album.
What is the main thing you want people to take away from this project?
The show goes on. You gotta show up to blow up and I think that really I just want people to take that UP feeling from the music and apply it to their daily lives. Nobody can stop you but yourself, and you gotta keep going no matter what anybody says, thinks, or does because at the end of the day, you’re going to grow up and you’re either gonna feel satisfied or disappointed with your life. You’re either gonna say, I did enough or I could’ve done more. I hope everyone sees this project as a whole unit of time… Spring/Summer 2022, post-covid, real, raw, and good vibes.
