When approaching his first album, I Can See Earth From Here, Young V has the attitude of an artist who understands that at times advancing involves going back and taking a broader view of the situation. Coming from Michigan City, Vincent Young is establishing his own position in the worlds of hip-hop and R&B by combining current trap influences with a forward-looking perspective that gives his music a clear sense of direction. Instead of just going along with what’s popular at the moment, he uses this album to examine what occurs when an artist takes a pause, looks around at the world and then decides to proceed in a different way. Songs like “Intro”, “Took Off” and “Not Our Kind” help to define the project’s character and lay the foundation for a journey that alternates between ambition, self-confidence and the determination to be different. Young V gets his lyrical ideas from artists such as Lil Wayne, Drake and Rick Ross, while the production influences of Polo the Don, Mike Will, 808 Mafia and Timbaland shape his overall musical vision. Nevertheless, the main idea of the album is Young V’s own: making music that expresses his own point of view rather than trying to achieve someone else’s success. The outcome is an album centred on individuality, progress and the wish to go beyond well-known limits.
A highly interesting feature of Young V’s method is his way of going about songwriting. While recording at Bright Star Studios, he writes his songs before creating the instrumental arrangements based on his lyrics, so that the words and the ideas determine the sound rather than being forced into a pre-existing beat. This choice in creativity gives his work a strong sense of purpose, since each song adds to the overall impression. “Dollar & A Dream” shows the difficulties involved in the pursuit of success, whereas “Big ol Bag”, “Back on Go” and “Back in The Building” convey the energy of an artist who is determined to keep moving on. Later comes “Get Away”, which gives a view of the rewards that can result from persistence, thus giving the album a feeling of progression instead of leaving it as a series of unrelated statements. The tracklist also contains “This Just in”, “Grand Opening”, “Who I leave Behind”, “Don’t Believe you” and “Out of their League”, all of which contribute additional sections to the album’s examination of personal growth, relationships and ambition. Young V has also recognised the contributions of the collaborators and supporters such as King Bizal, Love Ladda, 0400 Reup of Paper Route Ent, Trapperman Dale, Logan Garrett, Shanell “Red” Irving, Gene Foley and DJ Epps, together with the radio stations and the fans who have supported his movement. The fact that they are involved illustrates the broader network that underpins the development of an independent artist, where both creative decisions and business support are equally important.
The idea that perspective can make all the difference is what lies at the heart of I Can See Earth From Here. Young V explains that he wanted to stop and consider where the music was heading before deciding to take a different route, and it is this decision that gives the album its unifying theme. The title implies distance, ambition and a readiness to view familiar surroundings in a new way. Throughout the project there is a progression from the initial determination shown in “Dollar & A Dream” to the more confident attitude displayed in “Get Away”, illustrating the journey from striving for something to eventually realising what that effort can achieve. Although Young V’s mixture of hip-hop and R&B forms the basis of the album, his greatest strength here is his dedication to shaping the music according to his own ideas. This sense of independence is particularly valuable in a highly competitive musical environment, where there is a risk of following proven formulas rather than embracing creative risks. With this release, Young V encourages listeners to go beyond the immediate distractions, pay attention to the stories behind the songs and think about what might be possible if a change of perspective is made. I Can See Earth From Here is therefore a statement of ambition and artistic vision from an artist who is determined to establish his own path and take his listeners on board.
“Young V moves away from the noise of modern hip-hop in order to produce an ambitious, futuristic album which urges listeners to alter their point of view and see the world in a new way.”
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