Gawvi
Gabriel Alberto Azucena who goes by the stage name GAWVI, formerly G-Styles, is an American Christian hip hop artist and music producer for Reach Records. He was born on September 23, 1988 in the Bronx, New York. He has released three extended plays, five albums, and twenty-three singles including his songs; "Into the Water" and "Late Nights." His career commenced in 2008, doing production work for Lecrae and Trip Lee, who continue to be his most consistent collaborators. In early 2016, he was officially signed to Reach Records.
GAWVI | |
---|---|
Birth name | Gabriel Alberto Azucena |
Also known as | G-Styles |
Born | The Bronx, New York | September 23, 1988
Origin | Miami, Florida |
Genres | Hip hop, trap, CEDM, CCM, Christian rap |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, music producer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2008–present |
Labels | Reach, Black Market |
Associated acts | Madiel Lara, Lecrae, Trip Lee, Social Club, Rhema Soul, Wordsplayed, Derek Minor, Alex Medina, Tedashii, Andy Mineo, KB, Tau |
Website | gawvi |
Early life
Gawvi was born Gabriel Alberto Azucena,[1] in The Bronx, New York,[2][3][4] to a father from El Salvador and a mother from the Dominican Republic.[5] He was raised in Miami, Florida.
Music career
Career Beginnings, Record Producing, and Reach Records (2008–2015)
He started his music production career in 2008, most notably working with Lecrae and Trip Lee.[6][7][8] His career led to him acquiring a recording contract with Reach Records as both an artist and in-house record producer.[9] He won a GMA Dove Award at the 46th GMA Dove Awards in the category of Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year, for his production work on Anomaly by Lecrae.[10]
Lost in Hue, Holding Hue, We Belong, and 954 (2016–present)
On July 29, 2016, Gawvi released his debut extended play Lost in Hue. Jesus Freak Hideout rated the E.P. (extended play) three out of five stars, claiming it to be a unique move made by Reach. Lost in Hue flew off the shelves, sitting at No. 1 on the iTunes top-selling dance albums chart. On September 9, 2016, Gawvi released his second extend play, Holding Hue, and was given a five-star rating by JFH's Liam Jackson, who said that "Free" featuring T-Jay was the only song that was "not that good.” On March 31, 2017, he released his debut studio album We Belong, to acclaim in the CCM (contemporary Christian music) community[11] and debuting at No. 19 in iTunes.[12] Gawvi received his second Dove Award in 2017 for his production on Trip Lee's album The Waiting Room.
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Chr. [13] |
US D/E. [14] |
US Gos. [15] |
US Ind. [16] | ||
Dope Beats, Good News, Vol. 2 |
|
— | — | 31 | — |
We Belong |
|
7 | 7 | — | 17 |
Panorama |
|
16 | — | — | 44 |
Heathen |
|
— | — | — | — |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||
Note: Beginning in 2015, Billboard rendered most hip hop/rap albums ineligible for the Gospel charts.[17] |
Extended plays
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US Chr. [13] |
US D/E. [14] |
US Ind. [16] | ||
Lost In Hue |
|
8 | 2 | 18 |
Holding Hue |
|
11 | 4 | 42 |
954 |
|
— | — | — |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
As a lead artist
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US Christ. [18] |
Christ. Airplay [19] | |||
2016 | "In the Water" | 48 | 30 | Lost in Hue |
2017 | "Closer" (featuring RobbieLee & Julissa Leilani) |
37 | 28 | We Belong |
"God Speed" (featuring Andy Mineo & KB) |
43 | — | ||
"Rock N Roll" (featuring ELHAE) |
34 | — | ||
"Like We Belong" | — | 34 | ||
"Diamonds" (featuring Jannine Weigel) |
— | — | Non-album singles | |
"High Note" | — | — | ||
"Moments" | — | — | 954 | |
"Thrills" | — | — | ||
"Bros" (featuring Madiel Lara) |
— | — | ||
"Hit the Lotto" (featuring 1K Phew) |
— | — | ||
2018 | "Slingshot" | — | — | Panorama |
"Fight For Me" (featuring Lecrae) |
25 | 35 | ||
"Fashion Joe" (featuring KB) |
— | — | ||
"Get Em" (featuring Aklesso, Rhomar Jessy & TROSSTHEGIANT) |
— | — | ||
"With You" | — | 50 | ||
2019 | "Hope You Say" | — | — | Non-album single |
2020 | "Not Too Far" | — | — | Heathen |
"Climate Change" (featuring Aklesso and Wordsplayed) |
— | — | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
As a featured artist
Year | Title | Album |
---|---|---|
2013 | "P.Y.I.T.F." (Rhema Soul featuring Gawvi, Spzrkt, Rey King & Social Club) |
Dope Beats, Good News, Vol. 2 |
2015 | "Boogie Tonight" (Eximio featuring Gawvi & Ruslan) |
Non-album single |
2019 | "Glory" (WHATUPRG featuring Gawvi) |
Summer Nineteen |
Other appearances
Year | Title | Album |
---|---|---|
2012 | "Glow in the Dark" (Social Club featuring Gawvi) |
Misfits (EP) |
2014 | "Social Club Is Not Dead" (Social Club featuring Gawvi) |
Misfits 2 |
2016 | "Against All Adz" (Wordsplayed featuring Gawvi) |
Clowntown |
2018 | "Angels" (116 featuring Gawvi) |
The Gift: A Christmas Compilation |
Awards
GMA Dove Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | "Fight For Me | Rap/Hip Hop Recorded of the Year | Won |
PANORAMA | Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year | Nominated |
References
- Broadcast Music, Inc. "Songwriter/Composer: AZUCENA GABRIEL ALBERTO". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- gawvi [@GAWVI] (8 February 2014). "Gawvi: mom thank you... Mom: for what? Gawvi: for making my birth place be Bronx New York! Mom: your welcome 😜🙌" (Tweet). Retrieved January 17, 2016 – via Twitter.
- gawvi [@GAWVI] (23 September 2014). "I love that on my birthday, I'm going back to my birth place! #NewYork" (Tweet). Retrieved January 17, 2016 – via Twitter.
- gawvi [@GAWVI] (9 September 2013). "@Lilia_Huerta73 I'm 24 about to be 25 years old on September 23rd if anyone wants to get ya boi a gift!! Lol" (Tweet). Retrieved January 17, 2016 – via Twitter.
- gawvi [@GAWVI] (2 December 2012). "@octoseven I was born in New York, father is from El Salvador, mother is from Dominican Republic" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Vidal, Juan (September 21, 2014). "Meet Gawvi, Producer of the No. 1 Album in the Country". Esquire. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- Martinez, Paul (August 28, 2013). "Gawvi a/k/a G-Styles Joins Reach Records, Unveils DBGN2 Details". Jam the Hype. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- Cody, Daniel (January 24, 2015). "Full Interview with Gawvi". Wade-O Radio. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- Hernandez, Victoria (January 16, 2016). "Reach Records Signs GAWVI". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- GMA Dove Award. "Search: GAWVI". Gospel Music Association. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- Conner, Matt (2017-03-31). "GAWVI - 'We Belong' album review". CCM Magazine. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
- "iTunesCharts.net: US Albums Friday, 31st March 2017". www.itunescharts.net. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
- "Gawvi Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Christian Albums. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "Gawvi Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Dance/Electronic Albums. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "Gawvi Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Top Gospel Albums. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "Gawvi Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Independent Albums. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- Shellnut, Kate (February 15, 2015). "Why Grammy Winner Lecrae Will Never Dominate the Gospel Charts Again... | News & Reporting | Christianity Today". Christianity Today. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "Gawvi Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Hot Christian Songs. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- "Gawvi Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Christian Airplay. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
External links
- Official website
- AllMusic credits
- "Gawvi "GET EM" VLOG 7". YouTube. Retrieved November 23, 2017.