Layven

For a hip-hop industry that has questioned the authenticity of the modern landscape, please say Hello to LayVen. LayVen's introspective rhymes are drenched in pain, loss, suffering, glory, serenity, and the journey between each. Born Michael L. Gibson in Chester, PA, LayVen's music is a narration of his upbringing and adult life in Dayton/Cincinnati Ohio, an area notorious for narcotics and human trafficking. His rap interest surfaced at the age of 11 as a mechanism for mourning his late brother. To hone his lyrical skills, LayVen took to the stages of local Dayton and Cincinnati events. He quickly realized he had a gift for captivating crowds with gripping tales of poverty, foster living, and the necessary streetwise hustling for survival. Upon leaving college at Wright State University to pursue his career, LayVen released several singles under the moniker Vito between 2014-2017. Through the path to musical success, he stayed true to himself, following the blueprint of independence. Polished, refined, and revamped, LayVen has emerged to take the industry by storm. He addresses deeply personal struggles and successes in his music. His unique rap style, influenced by his jazz musician mother, bears semblance to industry giants such as 2Pac, Scarface, and Outkast as well as the rebellious rage of East Coast street philosophers and Midwest Drill Music. LayVen is Unapologetic. LayVen is Unfiltered. LayVen is the gimmick-free rapper that hip-hop fans desperately deserve.