Living Life Lavish… | A TCJ Interview with Lavish
July 22, 2008 · Print This Article
At the age of only 24 years it is clear that Levar Arps better known as Lavish is one of the hardest working up coming artist in the music industry. Having already worked with many major names such as Bonecrusher and hot new producer Terrace Martin, as well as many others he has established his self as a hot up and coming producer/rapper in the game.
Despite being young this Los Angeles native has been involved in rap music since a young teen. Lavish spent his early years like a lot of inspiring rappers in the rap battles. The classic cipher is where you prove your self as a rapper and Lavish proved early and often that he was here to stay. I recently got a chance to catch up with him to talk about the projects he is working on and more. Here is what he had to say.
“Take You Home” Lavish F/ Jastone & Dave Soul Produced by Terrace Martin
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Lavish – Quarterback | Download
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Lavish – Me & My Love (Produced by Terrace Martin) | Download
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TCJ: Appreciate the opportunity to do this interview with ya. By all means introduce your self to the people.
Lavish: Im Levar “Lavish” Arps aka “Da Narrator”. The Industries best kept secret, and the pleasure is definitely all mine!
TCJ: So familiarize the people out there on your self as an artist and a producer and also what you do alongside that.
Lavish: Well Im a 24 yr. old recording artist currently signed to Keep It Pushin Entertainment. Most people know the label as “Heavyweight Records”, a classic label here on the west coast. I’ve been Signed approximately a year and a half, and I’ve already completed a “Black College Homecoming Promo Tour” with my labelmate “Dirt Black” coordinated by Songbuz Music Guide,16 States & 23 Cities across the South and East Coast. Prior to Keep It Pushin, I ran a production company called Our Glass Entertainment, where I solidified recording contracts for all three of my artist (Ms. Kali, Lil Scooby& Tina J.) with Keep It Pushin Entertainment. I currently own a production company, “19o6 Entertainment” and we are working on a Multimedia Entertainment Guide called “AudioVision”.
TCJ: I personally know you have been involved in the rap game a long time.
Give the readers your musical background and how you got started with music.
Lavish: Well as you know the lunch tables at Westchester High in Los Angeles was almost a “mecca” of hip hop, battles occurred everyday, names were taken, pushing and shoving in a cipher, people getting slapped… I mean it would get crazy. That’s where the passion began, believe it or not.
TCJ: Growing up who were some of your musical influences?
Lavish: Early on, it was Snoop Dogg, DPG, Tupac, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Biggie, Dr. Dre & The First Chronic, later it became Outkast, Nas,Jay-Z, The Lox, DMX, Mase, (first LP) & Cam’ron I was even feeling Nelly first LP No B.S… Most wouldn’t admit it but Im a hit maker who gives credit to his peers!
TCJ: What record did you hear growing up that made you say “Music is my calling and it is what I am destined to do”?
Lavish: “E.1999 Eternal”- “Bone Thugs N Harmony”. Entire LP. Period!
TCJ: Alot of people have been saying that hip hop is dead. What are your feelings on the state of hip hop? Is it dead?
Lavish: Hip Hop isn’t Dead, its in metamorphosis, its changing and evolving. Only narrow minded people who spectate and criticize say its dead they can’t recognize the change or the growth, they can’t recognize the movement. Hip Hop is alive in me! For the labels heads and exec’s , I understand your perspective also, numbers don’t lie, in stores Hip Hop sales are down to approximately 15% of all media but online there is plenty of downloading going on, so I say reformat, restructure and re-approach the consumer.
TCJ: Tell me about your music. When listening to your music what type of sound does it have (west coast, east coast, dirty south, ect)? Who is your target audience?
Lavish: My music is infectious, I have the best production the West Coast has heard in years. I utilize the deep voice to manipulate the slow flow and cram pack every verse with amazing metaphors and detailed content. I paint pictures with words. Although I work with the West Coast elite producers I can’t confine my 
music to the west only. My target audience is the world! I’ve sold dope, written R&B, and negotiated business deals, whose not going to relate to me!
TCJ: Being that hip hop has expanded so much you hear alot of it that does not necessarily have a message behind it, it is more for entertainment. Is there a message behind your music or is it strictly for entertainment?
Lavish: I think every song has a message in it, and it has its time and place where its appropriate. Music is my testimony, so there is definitely a message. A real artist is going to make the message entertaining!
TCJ: Tell us about what you are currently working on? Is there any mixtapes, singles, shows, ect the people can expect to hear and see from you this summer?
Lavish: Im currently working on AudioVision, A Quarterly Multi-Media Entertainment Guide, or better said a mixtape/dvd/magazine. AudioVision will be hosted by DJ Esudd of the Teamsterz Music Group, and features appearences by Bonecrusher, Jagged Edge & more! Im also releasing my mixtape “Bricks 2 da Billboards” soon which will be available to TCJ will give you guys the heads up im sure!
TCJ: I know you have worked with other artist/producers like J Doe, Terrace Martin, Bonecrusher, ect. Tell us about those collaborations and also some of the other people you have worked with?
Lavish: J Doe is a Beast! I have two great singles produced by him, “Clean” & “What I Want”! I anticipate a remix to “Clean” with him and genuinely look forward to making more music with him. Terrace Martin is Family, “Me & My Love” F/ Chuck is the 3rd song we’ve done together and 9 outta 10 the first song you’ll hear from our collaborations. He works with Hip Hops elite artist and I try to put a million percent effort into every Terrace Martin Record. BoneCrusher is a good friend of my entire label family, a musical genius we have a couple songs together you’ll hear a sample of “Put’em Up” on AudioVision, and we have a song together for his next project. “Rhythm D” is a west coast icon, check his discography or just google him, when my LP goes platinum he’ll be the reason… “Quarterback” is a hit! I also have hit records with super producer Dae One, “Da Narrator” is the theme behind my alias and a genuine effort to bring the west back lyrically. I’ve had the pleasure of working with DJ Battlecat via Keep It Pushin, I wrote a song called “Daydreaming” f/ Jazzii which is a hit also. I work with the best, and I have so for years… now its my time to dominate, the production is there… the west is highly in need of change!
TCJ: With everything your doing right now where do you see it ultimately taking you?
Lavish: I see myself becoming a household name, with material and product obtainable through every form of media. I anticipate fans singing my music, R&B ballads & Rap alike. My first goal was to actually say ” I Know how to make hit records!”…. my next goal is for the consumer to say “Lavish, knows how to make it records!”
TCJ: Where can the people find your music or obtain your music? Where can they keep up with you (myspace, internet site,ect)?
Lavish: www.AudioVisionGuide.net which will be in stores free to theconsumer in September. www.Myspace.com/NarrativeSuggestions 60,000 plays in 4 days! You can purchase classic unreleased tracks there also. “Bricks 2 Da Billboards” will be available via CD Baby, iTunes, Myspace & The Concrete Journal just to name a few sites, at the time of its release. “K.I.P Cartel” LP Coming Soon!
TCJ: Give us your last words for the interview. What do you want to tell the people. Speak your mind.
Lavish: I was Homeless at age 9. Dropped out of high school at 16. Caught my first felony at 18. had my first child at 21. Celebrated my 24th Birthday on tour! Ive experienced every aspect that life has to offer, which is why i fear nothing. Failure was never an option. I wont stop, ever! ONE!
TheConcreteJournal.com wants to send a special thanks to Lavish for the interview. Go check out his music and up coming appearances at myspace.com/narrativesuggestions.
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Once again its on! Bricks to billboards!!
Can wait for mine holla!
hope u make bruH stay uP^^
Lavish is creative, intelligent , and as handsome as our newest President Elect Barack Obama .
As long as Lavish furthers his education, this young mind may just surpise us all.
Watch out now!!!!!