Just before the turn of the year, Spokane hip-hop maestro PIVE dropped a daring single. With the help of Dubbygotbars, aka the 717 Prophet, he spits rhymes calling out phony rappers and artists throughout the industry. The track, titled “Better Than You,” is one of five slated for his full-length sequel album, and it gives a glimpse into the swagger yet to come.
We did a feature on PIVE back in July when he dropped his debut LP, I Will Forever Be. Since then, his hit track, “Girlfriends Dreams,” surpassed 14,000 plays on Spotify alone. The trend here is clear: people are digging PIVE’s flow, and the second album will go harder, if anything.
“Better Than You” meshes well with the other four singles that will appear on PIVE’s second album, I Will Forever Be Act 2. It sits in a hype track category alongside “Showtime” and “I’m a Flow,” while “In The Light” busts out the keys for a more emotional touch. “The Greats” follows a similar path, but pays gratuitous homage to old school rappers that PIVE is inspired by.
A Day in the Life of PIVE
Ryan Mullane knew he wanted to be a rapper since he was young. After fending off struggles with addiction, it was still a few years before he took a nosedive into his music as PIVE. 2020 was a wakeup call, he says, because when the pandemic hit, it put everything in perspective. He realized that if he really wanted to do this, there was no time better than the present.
A PNW native and independent musician, PIVE is always on the move. There’s a new bragging right displayed on his Instagram page every day, and he makes a note to collaborate and connect with other freethinkers. Last year, for instance, his tracks were plugged by Wu-Tang Clan’s DJ Symphony. At the same time, “Girlfriends Dreams” and other tracks circulated through Radio Invasion’s features on repeat.
The buzz doesn’t end there either. I Will Forever Be also got the attention of Hip-Hop Weekly and MTV Next. “I’m like everybody else, just a normal guy that works 40 hours a week,” he told Hip-Hop Weekly. “…But at the end of every day, I work, I’m constantly in the studio, I’m constantly writing or perfecting my music. I have no label right now, no management, and I did this on my own to start. I hope that inspires people. Just because people say you can’t do something a certain way doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”
What’s Next for PIVE?
With 2021 proving so busy, it’ll be interesting to see how PIVE keeps the wildfire fueled this year. According to the man himself, I Will Forever Be Act 2 is slated for a summer release.
He’s already on his way out to Kansas City, too, to work with Rose The Mermaid, to work on a new track titled “Daydreams.”
All in all, the PIVE train isn’t stopping anytime soon. These first five tracks off I Will Forever Be Act 2 are exactly that, meaning there’s plenty more on the way. Make sure to give him a follow to catch his next live performance. You can also check out all of his music at the links below.
Check out PIVE
Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Apple Music | Spotify | Other streaming services
