High school track star. Division I runner for Pitt with full scholarship. Three year team captain with All-Big East Honors. Pitt Graduate. Addiction and behavior therapist. Rapper and entertainer?
No, there was no stuttering there. Hip Hop artist SV is a serious jack of all trades and representing Pitt and our city in more than one positive way. With the release of his single this week “All My Diamonds,”the two of us (Jennifer and Derilyn) sat down to talk to him and learn about him and his music career as he prepares for his first album entitled Life After Education, which is set to release this summer.
The man clearly has drive and passion, although it was not initially with music. Raised outside of Williamsport, PA – yep, the very home of the Little League World Series, SV’s passion resided in track and field. After an impressive high school track career, Pitt recruited him on a full scholarship. His hard work was undeniable as he often trained by running up to 80 miles a week. “I thought I was going pro, man. You couldn’t tell me nothin’,” recalls SV.
When this didn’t happen, though, SV remembers coming back for his fifth year as a regular student. He was no longer the star, no longer in the spotlight. As he sits comfortably in a chair at a corner booth at the Panera on Forbes, he describes the depression he felt at this point in his life. Accepting his life was going in a different direction was tough, especially with all this pent up energy. He needed an outlet. In 2008, he found that outlet in music.
“At first, it sucked, all of it,” he jokes about the first songs he wrote. It was refreshing to hear his honesty, as well as the truth about the hard work and dedication that goes into creating truly fresh songs. “The content wasn’t good at all, but I kept practicing, took my critiques, and I tried to capitalize from them. And here I am now,” SV told us.
Here he is, indeed! SV is a must-listen for any music lover, especially those of us who love a good beat but also crave something of substance; those of us who desire artists with a message, a goal. Where are the artists who embrace their stardom and channel it to create positive change both within and outside of their music? We want them. SV feels the same way and will be using proceeds from his album Life After Education is to assist a troubled teen in attending college.
SV doesn’t plan on forgetting how much this city has given him, either. “I feel like I’ve been giving back ever since,” he explains. “Life After Education is to give back and to pay homage to Pittsburgh- the city that gave me a chance to attain a higher education.” The opportunities that opened up to him by attending college are something he hopes to be able to provide for others. His album will also include three songs that focus on political and social issues like war and overcoming negative environments.
An eclectic blend of musical talent, determination, the desire to help others, and that magnetic “It Factor”, SV’s potential appears endless. Using his talents, he has created an abstract vision through his music that combines his message of social harmony with beats and lyrics that are impossible not to nod your head with. His personal inspirations like Drake and Nas leave us highly anticipating the rest of his album. As he sits with HerCampus in Panera, his easy smile shows a confident calm within him. The diamond studs in each ear reflect the light as he talks animatedly about his appreciation for Pittsburgh rappers, Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller.
“I don’t care how many rappers come from Pittsburgh, but those two just did it real. They made it. I have nothing but love,” he says.
Talking about his position in life now, he explained, “It’s more about, ‘Ok, I’ve experienced success and now it’s time to use it to help others.’ I would feel so much more privileged if I could give somebody a $1000.00 scholarship to go to college,” he explains. “They’ll never forget me for that, and I’d never forget giving that to them.”
The breakthrough reputation of the Pittsburgh hip hop scene is living up to its name with SV. With a performance scheduled at the Rex Theatre in Southside for March 4th and a video for the single “Parallel Park It” set to shoot March 23rd, SV’s message is only growing. He recognizes this too.
“Hip hop is probably one of the biggest cultures in the country,” he states. “Through it, we have the opportunity to market a message that’s important. Taking on the responsibility to put out a message that’s meaningful whether it’s about social harmony, our troops, or just staying humble, I do think that’s important for hip hop.” SV seems to have found the perfect balance between carefree fun and educated servitude to channel his talent and energy. And after all, isn’t that the balance we’re all striving for?