Kevin Nova, the New Jersey-born, Florida-raised rapper and Novation Records co-founder, leans into hip-hop’s golden-era roots with Taste, the lead single from his latest album Groundwork ‘93. Over a beat steeped in dusty drum breaks and soulful jazz loops, Nova unpacks the universal hunger for “that one thing”—be it success, love, or power—with the precision of a seasoned lyricist. Released via his own Novation Records LLC, the track is a masterclass in balancing nostalgia with contemporary relevance, proving that boom-bap’s heartbeat still thrums in 2025.
Taste’s production is a love letter to ’90s New York grit, layering crackling vinyl samples over punchy snares and a bassline that nods to Gang Starr’s golden-era minimalism. Nova’s flow—deliberate and unhurried—evokes Nas’ storytelling cadence.
Since his 2016 debut Life of Sin, Nova has honed a sound that marries introspection with streetwise pragmatism. Taste builds on 2021’s Hopefully This Makes Sense EP, stripping back experimental flourishes to focus on raw lyricism. As a founding member of Novation Records, Nova’s DIY ethos shines here—the track’s stripped-back mix and unpolished edges amplify its authenticity, a hallmark of the collective’s grassroots approach.
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