Layven aka Vito Ruffin

About Layven aka Vito Ruffin

For a hip-hop industry that has questioned the authenticity of the modern landscape, please say "Hello" to LayVen. The rapper's introspective rhymes are drenched in pain, loss, suffering, glory, serenity, and the journey between each. Born Michael Lavon Gibson in Chester, PA, LayVen's music is a narration of his upbringing and adult life in the Dayton/Cincinnati region of Ohio, an area notorious for narcotics and human trafficking. His rap interest surfaced at the age of 11 as a mechanism for mourning his late brother. To hone his lyrical skills, LayVen took to the stages of local Dayton and Cincinnati events and talent shows. He quickly realized he had a gift for captivating crowds with gripping tales of poverty, foster living, and the necessary streetwise hustling for survival. Upon leaving college at Wright State University to pursue his career, LayVen released several singles under the moniker "Vito" between 2014-2017. Through the tortuous path to musical success, he stayed true to himself, following the blueprint of independence outlined by the likes of Chance the Rapper. Polished, refined, and revamped, LayVen has emerged to take the industry by storm. He addresses deeply personal struggles and successes through the range of his music. His unique rap style, strongly influenced by his jazz musician mother, bears semblance to industry giants such as 2Pac, Scarface, and Outkast as well as the rebellious rage of East Coast street philosophers and Midwest Drill Music. LayVen is Unapologetic. LayVen is Unfiltered. LayVen is the gimmick-free rapper that hip-hop fans desperately deserve.