LVSTNIGHT, The last of a dying breed 

Blood of God! Just when you think all hope is lost and that real rap is dead with the crucifixion of the Notorious B.I.G., the murder of 2Pac, and the “retirement” of Nas (leaving only Jay-Z on the frontlines), here comes another rapper from Montana, spitting fire and brimstones, with emotive tunes and swashbuckling artistry that is killing hip-pop audiences everywhere.

The raw, dark, unapologetic and amplified vocal quotient this rapper has brought back to hip-hop reawakens the rap spirit that governed the genre during the middle and late 1990s. His stage name is LVSTNIGHT and he’s doing it on the back of his newly released EP “Last Night Was Hell”.

…And no he is not from this era, he is from the real rap gods era—he is the last of a dying breed.

Last Night Was Hell EP Overview

LVSTNIGHT’s lyrical choice and stupendous singing prowess in this EP has broken conventional rap myths and established norms in modern hip-hop. But that’s only to this new generation of rap fans who are more used to the new generation stars like Drake, Meek Mill, and Kendrick Lamar.

The retro and awesome album cover on Last Night Was Hell was an art in itself. The EP was coherently structured along thematic lines, with consistently fitting track names.

The beat on the EP is sparse but engaging along a minimalistic line as LVSTNIGHT drives on the action with his casual but superlative delivery. The rapper’s vocal rendition is particularly noteworthy considering that he uses his voice to produce creative sounds while also spouting heart-piercing lyrics, which is one attribute of the ancient rap era.

Ladies and gentlemen…it’s like the good, old’ days are back…let’s enjoy it, even if it is just on a dish-plate of an EP.

Below is a brief review of each track in the Last Night Was Hell EP.

Last Night Was Hell Track-by-Track Review

1.)             Hate Me

Hate Me is the first track on the EP, and it opens up with LVSTNIGHT telling whoever cares to listen that he isn’t sorry for the path he has chosen and the life he is currently living—something he mentioned throughout the entire EP. This track is a kind of introduction to the singer’s life and is dotted with speedy synths and distorted bass. I like the lyrical flow on this one, as it serves as an early hook to draw listeners into the thick of the action for what lies ahead.

2.)             Vogue

Vogue is the track where LVSTNIGHT started hammering home to his listeners his aspirations. This is where you start to feel the rapper’s old-fashioned but memorable and distinctive rap persona.

Here, the rapper uses words in an uptempo fashion, a classic progression from the first track. The lyrics are laden with metaphorical expressions, as the track’s vibe background radiates with rich ambient sound resonance reminisce of the old era.

I’m beginning to feel this shit for real.

3.)             10 Hiii

“10 Hiii” is the track where LVSTNIGHT started delving straight on into the beef and indicting game. He attacked haters and detractors with optimum savagery. From his lyrical postulations, you can tell this guy doesn’t give a dime whether you like what he is doing or not. The melodies on this track are dark and carry a deep and pounding bass. “10 Hiii” track is a fan favorite and with super punchlines that will surely keep the tabs on LVSTNIGHT.

4.)             Lock Jaw

This track is less or more an interlude but the path on this one is darker. Again, this track carries that ominous and moody atmosphere that makes you feel you’re walking in the middles of a haunted street. But thanks to his usual casual, dragged vocals, you can feel the rawness and vibe of the entire production as he spits lyrical fire.

5.)             Dead

“Dead” is one of the most haunting tracks on this EP. The track is heavy, with the rapper painting vivid images through cleverly interwoven and lingering bars. Here, the lyrical substance and its haunting ambiance live right up to the imagery.

LVSTNIGHT proves his wordsmith credibility with super wordplay and ironic euphemistic imagery. With words like “I’ve been dead too long,” one cannot help but appreciate this rapper’s rhyme and lyrical artistry.

“Dead” is a storytelling song that talks about what the rapper has gone through to arrive at where he is today. This is another super dope song, better than most of the crap some of the current famous mainstream rappers are churning out.

6.)             Yellow Pills

If you think “Dead” is dope, then this one should be dopiest.

“Yellow Pills” is the song that gets listeners to delve deeper into the personal life of threat, struggles and pains experienced by the rapper. Here, LVSTNIGHT deploys much darker and ominous beats and haunting imagery to write his own ‘book of Lamentations,’ and he did it with such clarity and grim depth.

The rapper infuses a different approach on this rendition, a timely song that mixes tidbits of singing and rapping to produce a mesmerizing track that should be sitting atop the charts in an ideal world.

You can feel LVSTNIGHT sadness within the amplified tension and somber tone as he rambles on as if he is going to die by tomorrow.

At this stage, the progressive dark and haunting ambiance has reached a feverish pitch.

7.) Potion

Finally, on “Potion,” LVSTNIGHT seems to be getting out of his sad life, his Last Night Was Hell, and appear happy, relishing and reflecting on the good things in life. The up-tempo and haunting vibe that characterizes much of the EP starts winding down on “Potion.” The vibe was quieter here and the production, particularly on the lyrics, exudes those trap constellations.

8.)             Demons

“Demons” is the grand finale that leaves rap fans scratching their beards and heads from an awkward position.

Honestly, I don’t know what to make of this song initially, but you cannot deny the obvious dark theme wrapped around it.

While the tempo is slow and calculative with soft funk, the ambiance is chilling, with hair-raising ad-libs that make one feel this guy is into some occultic shit. But that’s the beauty of this graphically capturing song with an ice-cold atmosphere in which the rapper made known his intentions that listeners will appreciate and revere.

To me, “Last Night Was Hell” isn’t an EP, but a full, cold-blooded album with an excellent infusion of raw talent and skills reminiscent of the old era rap dynasty.

It would be fun to see what this last of a dying breed rapper brings forward in upcoming renditions… and that’s if the “Dead” and “Demons” didn’t get to him first.

Link to the EP:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1I2d7R10Kc1gc5QBHxjwgD