Cities Aviv – Digital Lows (The Greatest Mixtape Never Heard) 

I’ve been meaning to write this bad boy for a long time, so I’ll have easy access to this beautiful work of art that was created by none other than Cities Aviv. Who is Cities Aviv you ask? I don’t know to be honest, but he strikes me as a nerdy genius black dude who probably loves anime. This mixtape Digital Lows dropped during my favorite era of hip-hop, the early 2010’s. I discovered it in early 2013 or something, so I guess I slept a bit as this dropped in 2011, but not as long as y’all!

Ahh, what a time that was. To be young with no responsibility and to be able to party constantly without regret was such a gift. Now I’m in my mid-30s, so my focus is working until I can retire, so that I can then die. I think I need to start a fuckin’ family or something for Pete’s sake, so that my timeline won’t be so dreary. 

Sadly one won’t be finding this on streaming, as the samples weren’t cleared, which is probably why it sounds so damn good. Imagine a world where samples were free for all to use… what a beautiful world that would be. Sigh. Anyways, I’m going to post my favorite aka the best tracks from this mixtape, so that you too can enjoy the highlights of this wonderful mixtape, and will accompany each with a track review because why not! Am I right??

Cities Aviv – Black Box

Threw this one on and instantly creamed my pants. Obviously not the first time I’ve made creme de la pantalones, and it won’t be the last, but man what a lovely song this is. This beat is fucking perfect yo. The chorus too…. haunting… and Cities comes with some dope verses too. This is basically the album intro as the first track is just some sounds. What a perfect start. 

Cities Aviv – Tongue Kisser

I skipped track 3 because it’s a clusterfuck of a song, and without further adieu I bring you “Tongue Kisser.” Not sure if I’d like to suck face to this song, as the last track Black Box is better for that if you ask me. This one is just an instrumental, but it is a tantalizing one. Very dope though, and worth a listen, as it will probably lead you to track down the sample on it.

Cities Aviv – Fuckeverybodyhere

If you’ve ever left the house you’d be able to relate to this song title and chorus. Don’t do it though, the sun is bad for your skin. On this one we’re presented another super dope beat with some slick drums and another phenomenal sample. This track is sick. 

Cities Aviv – Jaguar

A bit more downtempo than the others I’ve posted, but nonetheless dope. Also my least favorite of the three posted so far, but still a solid track. Someone commented on the YouTube video that this is a song you “ride a horse to”. I don’t hear that, but that sounds chill, and I think the horse would fuck with this song. 

Cities Aviv – A Beautiful Hell

Another downtempo song, but supremely dope. This is an absolute classic song. The piano, drums, verses, and chorus… 10/10 yo. I forgot about this song completely. No pants cream here, but a lot of head nodding and vibing. A much cleaner outcome with this track. 

Cities Aviv – Doom x Gloom

A third downtempo song in a row. I totally forgot the album is sequenced this way. I like when albums offer different chapters in a sense. I’ve only skipped the album intro and track 3 so far, so you know this mixtape is heat. Ya boy is feedin ya, bow before me my eaters. I learned what an eater is recently. I implore you to not find out. DO NOT FIND OUT. Solid track, but the previous one is majestic, while this one is just super dope. You’ll settle for super dope though, as it’s prob better than most the tracks on your playlist homie! Haaaa, got ’emmmmmm. 

Cities Aviv – Meet Me On Montrose (For Ex-Lovers Only)

This is the song I probably come back to the most on this album. Why you ask? Idk, it’s just so goddamn cute. It’s so whimsical. It’s like when you’re a kid and you see the original Charlie The Chocolate Factory. Or better yet you read it because your parents got you into reading as a child. The sample alone is the cutest shit ever. This makes me wanna cuddle up with my boo and whisper sweet gay nothings in her ear. Or just cut off the peen and complete the prophecy (my final transformation, the real prestige!). This song ups the vibes in a more positive direction, after dragging us through some dope darkness. If track 3 had been good, we’d be looking at a damn near flawless tape so far. Shietttttt. 

Cities Aviv – Sixsixsixes

Not a song I liked back in the day, but coming back to it now, it’s heat. The beat takes you for a walk in a sense. If you hear it, you’ll know what I mean. I don’t have memories with this song, so I’m not feeling an urge to attempt any form of poeticism here. Just a good track I slept on. Even the greats sometimes sleep kids. There’s a lesson here to be learned.

Cities Aviv – Voyeurs  

I’ve revisited this one a shit ton as well. Another perfectly produced track with great raps. What more can you ask for? I mean this beat is literally magic. I’ve given so many gems on this blog, it’s like what am I even doing it for at this point? This, “Meet Me On Montrose”, and “Black Box” are the three that I’ve always come back to, but there’s clearly more here to digest. And this shit goes down smooth ese.  

Cities Aviv – Float On

This is a super obvious sample of a cover of Modest Mouse, but still super cool and the perfect outro to a nearly flawless mixtape. You’re welcome. 

Final Thots: Well I wasn’t in the mood to write and I wrote this. I did this for the greater good, namely myself so I can refer to this post whenever I wanna enjoy Cities Aviv’s unheralded masterpiece. He went on to make some dogshit tracks afterwards, as well as some great ones. I’ll have to make another list someday of his remaining tracks that are worthy of your ears, but do yourself a favor and let me wade through the garbage ocean he created for you.