envy. shows us why he’s up next on his debut album, SO IT BEGINS….The 14-track project is a genre-bending triumph, with envy. showcasing his production chops across a wide variety of beats.
envy. – SO IT BEGINS
SO IT BEGINS… sees envy. crafting hard-hitting rap cuts Metro Boomin would approve of, atmospheric R&B tracks reminiscent of Noah ‘40’ Shebib, and indie hyper-pop anthems that call to mind the technical talent of 100 gecs. And the most impressive part? He’s only sixteen years old.
envy. first fell in love with producing music when he was in the sixth grade. It was then that he discovered the passion that has defined his life ever since, after downloading FL Studio on his school-issued computer. Since then, the New York-based producer and engineer honed his talents by being a student of the game. He’s spent the last six years studying his production idols, looking to artists like MIKE DEAN, The Alchemist, Tyler, the Creator, The Weeknd, and Metro Boomin, among others, for inspiration and guidance while crafting his own style.
Those years of practice served as build up to April 2023, when envy. released SO IT BEGINS… The album feels like a love letter to the multitude of sounds that have raised him, with the record demonstrating the producer’s artistic ability across a plethora of genres. It’s a project that’s a true reflection of envy.’s taste, as the wide variety of subgenres demonstrates the diversity in sound he’s been exposed to as a self-proclaimed music addict. And envy. pulled it off all on his own — SO IT BEGINS… is an independent release, with production, mixing, and mastering all done by the man himself. That approach has allowed him to stay true to himself, as envy. has continued to prioritize what matters most to him in his music career: the people.
“It’s not about the money for me,” he says. “I strive to put the people first, and everything else second. As an up-and-coming producer, I rely on my collaborators to bring an idea I had in my math class into a full-fledged song. It’s because of this that I am so focused on collaborating and relationships. I want to see my camp of people win just as much as I want myself to.”
envy.’s strength as a relationship-builder is evident, as SO IT BEGINS… boasts contributions from a wide variety of artists, including 4TUNAT, Baby Dubai, BlackestButter, COLDKiDCLUB, Dswove, Evl Kris, FxLKES, Garrett Sparrow, Gephardt Antwi, Katsu, Marquis Flower, Mercydaone, Michael Girgis, Moise, Najee Duwon, Stafford Beats, TaySkiiii, Ty2Fly, Young Wabo, and Zachary Michael.
Each of these artists brings something different to the table, allowing envy. to flex his skills across an eclectic variety of beats. Tracks like ‘INNER DEMONS’ and ‘PLAY MY ROLE’ blend hip-hop and hyperpop, stirring up memories of the palpably fun, nervous energy of early Lil Uzi Vert tapes. ‘TRACK MEET’, on the other hand, with its relentless beat, puts the trap sound that Atlanta is known for on full display — and ‘FRUIT,’ the album standout, is a sunny, groovy track that evokes notes of the production prowess of Tyler, the Creator. There’s ‘SOUTHSIDE SEQUENCE – EXTENDED,’ an atmospheric, moody song that demands a play during your 2AM nighttime drives. Meanwhile, ‘SHATTERED DREAMS’ is a stripped down, guitar-driven alternative anthem, with a chorus you won’t be able to stop singing.
SO IT BEGINS… is an endearing listen, and its avant-garde, genreless approach means there’s something here to suit everyone’s taste. As for envy.? His promising young talent is undeniable, and his ascent as a producer is one to watch. This is just the start — and so it begins.
SO IT BEGINS… sees envy. crafting hard-hitting rap cuts Metro Boomin would approve of, atmospheric R&B tracks reminiscent of Noah ‘40’ Shebib, and indie hyper-pop ballads that call to mind the technical talent of 100 gecs.
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