I found Doov the way I find a lot of music now, doomscrolling through Instagram. “Garden State” caught my attention, and I’ve been following him ever since. By the time Accelerator Vol. 1 arrived, I already knew he could make songs worth coming back to. I wanted to hear how he would bring that sound together on a project.
Across these four tracks, it’s easy to hear why dance rap suits Doov so well. He has the bars, but he also understands how to write something catchy enough to keep a room moving. His swagger fits these beats, which have plenty of immediate appeal without sounding interchangeable.
My biggest complaint is how quickly it ends. These four tracks give new listeners a taste of what Doov can do, but some of his other recent releases would have made that introduction even stronger.
Finer Things Makes the First Impression Count
“WTF is dance rap?” opens “Finer Things,” and Doov and RillyRil spend the song answering that question.
Doov’s writing is a big part of why this works. He can rap, but he knows what the song needs beyond a good verse. There’s an ease to the way he brings his personality into something with mainstream appeal. Nothing about this direction feels like he’s trying on someone else’s sound.
RillyRil is the perfect fit for the song too. Her voice is enticing and distinctive, giving the collaboration a personality of its own. She’s a big reason the opener sticks with me. “Finer Things” has already been on repeat.
“Mr. Worldwide” keeps that energy going. The title immediately brings Pitbull to mind, and the connection makes sense. There’s a familiar pleasure in hearing a rapper commit to making people have a good time. Doov’s version has an old-school party feel with a newer sound.
The premise is simple enough. He doesn’t have a type, provided they’re extra fine. Rapping over dance beats like these can get corny quickly, but Doov sounds completely at home on them. The beat does plenty of work, too, including a dance break that lets it take over. By the end of the second track, the EP has made its intentions clear. Get your ass up and move.
A Detour Before the Best Possible Finish
“Clean Slate,” with Manny Pinkins, is the one that doesn’t quite land for me. The idea of cutting people off and starting fresh fits the project, and I can hear the vision. I appreciate Doov trying something different within such a short tracklist.
Manny fits the track, but neither the lyrics nor the overall song grabs me the way the opening two do. It’s my least favorite here, even if I respect the gamble. On a four-song EP, that dip does take up a noticeable part of the listen.
Then “Hold On” brings me straight back. Doov’s flow and the voice he uses on this track are exactly what I want from him in this lane. He sounds comfortable, confident, and fully in control of the energy.
“You didn’t come out to the club just to have them play a slow song” could sum up the entire project. This music is for going out, feeling good, and keeping the night moving. “Hold On” delivers that feeling and closes the EP with one of its strongest songs. Alongside “Finer Things,” it’s my clear favorite.
Four Songs Leave Too Much Outside the Project
I wanted more partly because I was enjoying myself, and partly because Doov is reintroducing us to what dance rap can sound like. And since he is, he should have given us the range. He’s capable of it, and his recent releases already show that. With “Hold On” and “Mr. Worldwide” included, there was room to bring more of those songs into the mix.
“Can’t Blame” and “Garden State” fit the sound well enough to help build this into a more complete listen. “More and More” feels like an especially good match, with the throwback appeal perfect for this direction.
Even “Superstar” could have offered a slower, rawer interlude. That change of pace could have shown another side of him within the project. His recent catalog has enough variety to make a longer introduction worth hearing.
The Vol. 1 title leaves room for more. For now, I’m leaving with two new songs, three of the four on repeat, and the feeling that he had the music to make this a fuller collection.
A Good Place to Meet Doov
A lot of new music has been leaving me cold lately. Doov though, is giving me something I actually want to replay. It’s catchy, the beats are unusual for today, the writing is solid, and he brings enough swagger to make the combination feel like his own. I love that he’s committing to this sound.
Accelerator Vol. 1 is a good place to get to know him. “Finer Things” gets your attention, “Hold On” makes sure he leaves with it, and the songs between them show both his comfort in this lane and his willingness to experiment.
But if these four songs catch you, keep going. “Garden State” was enough to send me looking for more. The recent releases outside this EP are what could turn a good first impression into someone’s next favorite artist.
Listen to Accelerator Vol. 1
You can listen to Doov’s Accelerator Vol. 1 below:
