By: Nic Abelian
Gods Only Villain, also known as GOV or Governor, is a talented hip-hop artist hailing from Western Kentucky. With a struggle to find a place he could call home, he took his music as far north as Detroit, Philly, and New York, and as far south as South Padre Island, Atlanta, and Houston—major hip-hop hubs in the United States. Having toured with artists like Kevin Gates, G-Eazy, JellyRoll, Lil Wyte, and B.o.B, Gods Only Villain brings a unique blend of authenticity and passion to his music. After an extended eight-year hiatus, he’s now gearing up for the release of his latest album, “Good For Nothing,” set to drop in fall 2024.
The upcoming album “Good For Nothing” features appearances from Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, iDAViD, future.exboyfriend, Earthworm, and globally renowned violinist Jewelia. Additionally, the album includes production from Young Taylor, who recently was behind “Best For Me” by Joyner Lucas and JellyRoll. The album is executive produced by industry sleeping giants Jordan Turber and Tyler Thomas. It is scheduled for a Halloween 2024 release and will be available on all digital streaming platforms worldwide.
As far as being compared to artists from Western Kentucky, there really is no comparison. “Gov” has set the standard in his regional area for what it means to be doing what he does for a career and not just a “hobby.” His achievements and collaborations have him at the doorstep of mainstream success. He has a unique ability to make an emotional connection with his fans in a way that is relatable yet new and fresh, telling tales of struggle and triumph. He and colleague iDAViD are on the cornerstone of a new dawning of hip-hop, returning and getting back to the basics of real content-driven, authentic hip-hop music.
“Good for Nothing,” God’s Only Villain’s most personal and relatable LP to date, was ironically never supposed to happen. As someone who has been pushed through the quicksand patches of artistry, falling victim to the innate feeling of stagnation and underappreciation, GOV entered the risky territory of self-doubt, struggling to create music that garners attention with powerful words and rhythm. After pressing the reset button, symbolized by his move from Kentucky to Mississippi, he rode a newly found wave of motivation. With a stroke of lyrical genius, he was able to nail down verses from some of rap’s biggest stars, Lil Wayne and Atlanta’s Gucci Mane, which gave him an edge against his competition, eventually completing the album.
“I thought to myself, if I’m never going to be good enough, I might as well start writing with my heart,” he adds. “As it turns out, that has always been the key. If listeners can relate to my music and enjoy it on both emotional and entertaining levels, I must be good for something. That’s what this album is—the last iteration of God’s Only Villain.”
With a mission to inspire and empower aspiring artists to follow their hearts and pursue the creative path, “Good for Nothing” explores themes of self-discovery, loss, victories, and confusion. iDAViD, drawing from his decades of experience, offers advice to wannabe artists, hoping to ignite a spark, “I spent my entire music career consumed by the daunting sense of imposter syndrome. But if you feel like you have something important to say, that’s all you need to keep chasing.” Jordan adds, “Music is a human emotion expressed through words and numbers. GOV and iDAViD know how to convey universal emotions using nothing but notes and lyrics, and it’s a pleasure working with them.”
“There were nights when I was sleeping on Jordan’s concrete floor. I had nothing else and no one was listening,” shares God’s Only Villain. “But I had all these guys believing in me, and that was enough to grow. There’s no blueprint to success. If you quit whenever you get knocked down, you won’t improve. Just pick yourself up, keep doing what you love, and watch your art transform lives.”
The upcoming album is executive-produced by Jordan Turber and Tyler Thomas.
For more information and updates, visit Gods Only Villain’s social media pages:
Published by: Holy Minoza
