To say Chev is a natural would be in one way a disservice to all the hard work he’s put in over the years sharpening his tongue, kicking around the scene, lending verses to the projects of other area musicians, patiently waiting for his opening so he too could break through. On the other hand, his born voice is smooth as a freshly paved street, and cadences seem to form organically beneath the stories he sews. Chev is the result of natural talent groomed and handled well, and in Charles, he’s put together a quality project front-to-back, which is a feat considering the lengthy, seventeen-song track list.Of course there are down moments: when the first sappy guitar notes give way to the fit-for-a-video game beat on “Shockwave” for example, but a. these moments are few and far between, and b. the corniness of the instrumental is almost forgotten when Chev begins to lay down his verse. In general, his lyrics are packed with the kind of feeling that rubs off on you, and makes you feel like you went through the story together. For the most part, his muse is the general condition of life, which is broad, but narrated well, and there are delightful little jabs at “taste” in there too: “‘Li’l niggas eat anything with a some hot sauce.” The beats–from a stable of talented locals like BeanOne, Sabzi and Jester–are solemn, laid back, and nostalgic, and Chev handily weaves them into tales worth hearing.Listen for free here, or kick Chev some iTunes cash here.