Bard boy rapper

Julie Gilbert • Published 9 Dec 2009 12:00

A RAPPER who says he is the "Rabbie Burns of hip hop" is looking to re-launch his career.

Gav Livz - formerly known as Da BlinGz - was signed by a record label at 16, put out an album and even went on tour with influential American hip hop group De La Soul.

But the whole experience overwhelmed 'Da BlinGz' and he took a step back from the limelight following a fallout with his management.

After re-inventing himself as Gav Livz, the "Bard of hip hop", the 21-year-old has released a new album, Double 6's, with his producer MC-VA, and it is something he feels much more comfortable with.

It is a collection of mainstream hip hop offerings, that he hopes will be Scotland's answer to English artists N Dubz and Tinchy Stryder.

Now living in Clydebank, Gav Livz - real name Gavin Livingston - told the Post: "I used to write more personal stuff when I was younger but now I'm doing more mainstream tunes for clubs.

"This is my first major release for about three years. In 2006 I released an album called The Octagon which was available in HMV and sold ten thousand copies.

"I had just left school then and I went to a management team down south.

"I also went with De La Soul out to the Czech Republic and other places in Eastern Europe.

"The first few gigs we did were in front of about a hundred people and then we played to about fifteen hundred. The shows were more or less sold out and the crowds out there really appreciate the music.

"But it was quite hard because I wasn't able to bring anyone with me.

"It was the first time I had been away from my parents so I definitely did struggle.

"When I came back I really took a step back and thought - is this really what I want to do?"

However, after years of working out his sound, dropping his dodgy American rapping voice and deciding to rap with his native Scottish accent, Gavin is ready for another shot at the big time.

He said: "I would love the chance to go on tour again - I would appreciate it more now.

"I really want to concentrate on making it now. I'm just putting myself out there and doing lots of gigs. And a channel called AKA - which is really supportive of unsigned acts - is going to be playing my video."

Gavin's new album is called Double 6s, and anyone wanting a listen can contact Gavin through www.myspace.com/gavinlivz.

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