EP Review: V2K

Originally from Palmerston North, now based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Vicious Villain (VV) is an underground rapper who has featured in collaboration projects, but has now released his solo EP, V2K. 

The EP begins with a brief instrumental prologue, followed by three tracks, Main Character, Black Static, and Palmy 2.

Main Character appears to spell out a story of paranoia, being watched, as though a shadowy and sinister power is controlling all that’s around you. VV paints this picture well, alluding to an almost Truman Show-like setting, where everyone you know is in on a huge secret. The lyrics on this are well thought out, and perfectly evoke a sense of danger.

The instrumentation is incredibly gloomy and urban, powerfully matched to the dark and twisted words uttered by VV. There are eerie, dissonant piano keys and grimy, skulking drumbeats, complementing well with VV’s retelling of questionable outings, particularly on the track Black Static.

Hinting at gang culture, listing illicit drug uses, and describing societal decay is all packed into the third track, Palmy 2. The turntable scratches and sombre keyboard notes help amplify the dystopic and decayed image of Palmerston North that VV sees. 

As a nod to the rap and hip-hop of 90’s and 2000’s, there’s plenty of cuss words and mentions of drug use. As a feature of shock rap, there are also hints at murder, detailed acts of violence, and doses of misogyny. This is definitely not something you’d play in your nana’s living room, that’s for sure.

Instead of replicating the default American accent of most contemporary rap, VV makes no effort to mask his kiwi identity. Instead, he leans into his urban Aotearoa linguistics, and lets it define his sound, which in itself is pretty refreshing to hear.

In all, if the goal of V2K was intended to provoke and get a response from listeners, then this EP has done it. There’s plenty of explicit lyrics, so for those who may be sensitive to inflammatory content, consider yourself warned; an easy-listening batch of poetry this is not.

On the other hand, if shock and horror rap are your genres of choice then put this EP through your speakers and turn it up; there’s a fair bit here for you to enjoy.

Give V2K a spin or two on YouTube, Soundcloud or Bandcamp!