Cities Aviv

Gavin Mays was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee.^[5] He attended Overton High School and Cordova High School.^[5] In middle school he started listening to Non Phixion and Necro but also At the Drive-In and Deadsy.^[6] At the age of 20, he dropped out of the University of Memphis,^[7] where he studied journalism.^[8]

Prior to his career as a rapper, Mays was the lead singer of a hardcore punk band, Copwatch, as well as a roadie for his friend's bands.^[9][10] During his involvement with the band, he began experimenting with hip hop music, eventually making the full leap into the genre.^[9] In 2011, he released his debut mixtape, Digital Lows, which received positive reviews from music publications such as Pitchfork and Spin.^[11]

In 2012 he relocated to New York^[12] and released his follow-up mixtape, BLACK PLEASURE, through streetwear company Mishka NYC's record label before signing to Young One Records.^[11] Mays describes his initial intent behind the album as "trying to make a pop record" as well as being inspired by My Bloody Valentines 1991 album Loveless to bury his vocals in the mix.^[6]

After releasing the "URL IRL" single in 2013, he released his debut studio album, Come to Life, on Young One Records in 2014.^[13] Shortly thereafter the label ceased operations.^[14]

He subsequently released his sophomore album Your Discretion Is Trust on Collect Records in 2015. This same record was later given an official release by Ormolycka. This album had a mixed reaction among fans compared to the rapturous praise of Come To Life. The main thing that caused fans to react in such way was the new industrial sound that Mays was going for on this album.

In 2018, he released Raised for a Better View, which forged his canonical outré punk approach together with a new solemn & angular sound .^[15] This album was the 1st edition on Total Works (also known as D.O.T. [Division of Total]). Since then all of Cities Aviv's output as well as an eclectic array of other artist's projects has been distributed by the label.^[14]

Since 2019, Mays has also released music through a side project, entitled African-American Sound Recordings. The work under this project takes more of an experimental instrumental style, utilizing a variety of samples, including original field recordings. The style is a blend of hip-hop and more experimental genres such as noise and ambient.

Mays released three full-length albums (Accompanied by a Blazing Solo, GUM, and Immortal Flame) in 2020. These albums are commonly referred to as "The Triad". In a 2021 interview he states, these records were completely improvised in full. He mentions John Frusciante's album Smile from the Streets You Hold as a minimal inspiration on the recording atmosphere.^[10]

In 2021, Mays released THE CRASHING SOUND OF HOW IT GOES via D.O.T Records. The album has been described as "an hour-long meditation". Compared to its predecessors, this album saw Mays focus more on writing again. A limited run of cassettes designed by Geng PTP was sold after the initial release.^[10]

In 2022, Mays released both MAN PLAYS THE HORN and Working Title for the Album Secret Waters. Secret Waters was in large part inspired by a four-day therapy retreat he attended in early 2022.^[14]

In 2024, Mays released Cafe Tom Tom, which fans likened to his aforementioned side project, African-American Sound Recordings. Cafe Tom Tom is often considered his most divisive record yet. While some fans welcomed the instrumental sound, others were not so charitable. The general consensus was that the album was a fascinating experiment, but not essential for new listeners. Later, Mays released Bernadette Leak and Electric Chair in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Bernadette Leak was considered as a relatively inessential EP, and Electric Chair is considered one of Mays' most sonically experimental releases. Unlike his other albums, the album is characterized by a unique vocal style which fans often compared it to the sound of a sore throat. Nonetheless, both projects were well received.

In March 2026, Mays released EVEN COLDER SPRING, marking a new chapter for the rapper. He initially teased the album on social media in December 2025, and in February, he released three tracks from the album exclusively on SoundCloud. On March 6, 2026, he officially revealed its set release date of March 11, 2026. The album was well-received, with many naming it his best body of work since 2022's Working Title for the Album Secret Waters.

Cities Aviv is known for his eclectic production style.^[9] His songs merge varying stylistic decisions.^[9] His early influences partly include Boris, Jay Dee, Die Tödliche Doris,^[10] 8Ball & MJG, Black Moon,^[11] James Brown, Throbbing Gristle, and noise music.^[9][5] Critics also noted post-punk influences on his works,^[16][17] accompanied by lyrical references to Joy Division and Psychic TV.^[17][18]