Asbury Park rapper Bulletproof Belv brings smoke on new country track

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Asbury Park rapper Bulletproof Belv has released a new country-style track titled “Southern North.”
The song was inspired by a recent trip to Georgia that reconnected the artist with his family’s Southern roots.
Producer Matty Carlock describes the track as a cross-cultural collaboration that highlights Belv’s poetic talents.

Asbury Park hip-hop stalwart Bulletproof Belv is bringing the “fire” on his stellar new track, “Southern North,” but there’s a big change this time.

Belv has gone country. “Southern North,” with an uptempo beat, acoustic guitar and harmonica, is perfect for country line dancing nights in a Shaboozey style. The track was released Friday, April 17.

Belv, aka James Anderson, got in touch with his Southern roots during a recent visit to Georgia.

“We had some catfish and it took me back to how my grandmother used to cook Sunday dinners,” Belv said. “My mother’s from Carolina, my dad’s from down South and I grew up on chitlins, grits and all that type of stuff the north don’t eat. So it made me realize me and my brothers are a new generation New Jerseyans. My whole family is from down South and it overwhelmed me.”

The track has its share of lyrical Southern profundity.

“God please forgive me, I know I shouldn’t listen, I’m losing while I’m winning and am dying while I’m living,” sings Belv.

“Sometimes you forget as you grow older that everything that has a beginning has an end and you need to enjoy every moment,” Belv said. “Sometimes I get caught up in not enjoying the moment because I’m always ‘What should I do next?’ You’re not enjoying the moment when you’re there.”

Belv and Matty Carlock previously released the city hit “Dark City Lights” in 2017.

“(He) captured magic,” said Carlock of “Southern North.” “He came in with an amazing idea of crossing cultures. He’s a writer and he’s a poet before he’s a rapper, emcee or artist, so it comes before genres. Before the micro-genres of the modern day there was blues music and country music and a lot of poets went toward that. He’s being his authentic self.”

Belv’s tribute to his late mother, the hip-hop track “Mommas Boy,” recently went viral on TikTok with more than three million views after a Brit influencer used the track in a video. Belv has performed and recorded with top sellers like Fetty Wap and Albee-Al.

“Southern North” is available on Apple, Spotify and elsewhere. Visit www.instagram.com/bulletproof_belv for more info.

“I want to open up the market,” Belv said. “Everybody’s welcome who wants to come along.”