ROUNDUP: Hip Hop Shows in October

Oct. 6th - 33 1/3 Anniversary of "The Cultural Bunker" at Club Metronome - This is a huge party honoring one of the true founders of "Vermont Hip Hop," by any standard, DJ Melo Grant. Naturally, this will feature an all-star cast of DJs, like Big Dog, Cre8, Sexfly, Luis Calderin, and Nat Woodard. There is also going to be an epic cypher with Konflick, S.I.N.siZZle, Jarv, and Learic trading bars over Es-K beats. Be there. 9 pm. 21+. $5.

Oct. 9th - Brother Ali at Higher Ground - One of the best to do it will be swinging through to support his new album, All the Beauty in This Whole Life. He's bringing along some top-notch support, too -- Sa-Roc, Last Word and Sol Messiah will also be playing. 8 pm. $20 adv / $22 door. ALL AGES SHOW.

Oct. 14th - Khaosity Birthday Bash at Social Club & Lounge - Khaosity has been hustling hard in 2017...reckon he's earned a big party. And this will be big: current lineup goes a little something like Jarv, Jibba The Gent, Eyedos, Mister Burns, Kingbread, Suss Brim, BL SPITZ, HatePH34R, Modest, Corty Booth, Drive and JMC Ent. 7 pm. $2 until 10 pm, $5 after that. 21+.

Oct. 19th - Third Thursday at Monkey House - Third Thursday is always a family celebration, but this one is going to be special. Portland, ME madman / rap hobo Brzowski will be playing in support of his impressive a.f. new album, Emnityville. This cat is at the top of his game right now. There will also be a set from Wool See, aka Portland, OR rapper/producer IAME, who recently moved to Vermont...and released a new album, Leaving/Left. Still not enough? Fine. Jibba "The Gent", will also be rocking the Monkeyhouse, and the evening kicks off with a set from Khaosity & Drive. 9 pm. 18+ $8 / 21+ $3.

Oct. 20th - WRUV presents Milo and Sammus. As part of WRUV's "Rocktober" series, they've been kind enough to make some space for beats & rhymes. Milo having an amazing run, building a genuine indie empire with his Ruby Yacht extended family. Sammus is an awesome emcee from Ithica, NY with an unforgettable stage show. Also, Sam Paulino will be opening, fresh off his triumphant South Cove EP, one of the best Vermont releases of 2017.8 pm. $15. ALL AGES SHOW.

Oct. 20th - East Coast Indie Jam at Club Metronome - this is a huge networking event in addition to a rap show. There will be a lot going on upstairs on the 20th. Current line up hails from all over: Spocka Summa & Friends (RI), Colby Stiltz (VT), Dommy Divine (MA/CA), Spilt Soul (FL), Twenty Piece (DC), and Swizzy B (CO) -- with more local support to be announced shortly. 8 pm. 21+. FREE SHOW.

Oct. 27th - Boomslang Album Release Party at Sweet Melissas - Boomslang will be releasing their new album, Attack the Vampire, on a Friday night in the capital city. Maiden Voyage is co-headlining, and surprise special guests will also be in the building. 9:30 pm. Under 21 $10 / 21+ $5.

Oct. 28th-29th - Fear Fest is a private party in Royalton, VT. (A good town to be holding a private party in.) Party is being thrown by Yours Truly Inc, and there will be costume competitions and bonfires aplenty. This will be a two night BYOB party with tons of music - current lineup is Judge da Beast, Bar None The Best, Dee Block, EyeDos, Jarv, BL Spitz, Biozone, I.M.L, and JMC. $15 / $20 VIP

Oct. 31st - Jonwayne at Club Metronome - Jonwayne is an unlikely looking rap superhero, but he dropped one of 2017's best albums. He's on tour with young Texas spitter Danny Watts, who just released an album on Jonwayne's label (and quit his job at CostCo -- congrats!) Also on the bill: EMV and an opening set from Loupo, who definitely deserves the spotlight. 8:30 pm. $13 adv / $15 door. 18+.

TONIGHT: "Words & Verbs" is Back on 105.9 FM

Mister Burns is back on local radio station 105.9 -- "Words & Verbs" will be live again this evening at 10 pm sharp, spinning a mix of fresh tracks and classic cuts from the 802.

Remember, you can stream from anywhere: 105.9 The Radiator.

VIDEO: The Aardvarcheologist - Animalude feat. Stresselbee

Daaaaaaaaamn. This video represents a lot of work. Props to Texas-based Eric Power for a fantastic piece of art.

The Aardvarcheologist is a producer from...well, the hills, let's leave it at that. He's recently released an album, the Vermonster Mash Mixtape, featuring a big cast of Vermont artists. (Stream it here.) There's a lot of talent on that tape -- check it out.

Tonight: Loaf Muzik @ Higher Ground

NYC rap revivalists Loaf Muzik will be coming through Higher Ground to headline a heavy bill tonight. California beatsmith Jansport J will be in the building alongside Cultural Chemistry, Almattic, Self Portrait and live hip hop outfit cworner store (no caps, bud) is on the bill now, too. To top it all off, Colby Stiltz is confirmed & certified back in the 802.

More details/ticket sales here.

Get Familiar: Self Portrait

Photography by Colette Kulig

Self Portrait are days away from dropping their second album, Primal Union. This is a classic rap lineup with a lead emcee, a rapper/producer and a real live DJ tearing it up onstage. The new album showcases features from some of the hardest working people in Vermont hip hop, like Anthill Collective maestro Eskae, who juggles a couple hundred hats any given month. He shares a cut with SkySplitter, a prolific producer and one hell of a recording engineer, too.

These lads are embedded, in other words, a central hub of the new hot shit, and a home team a lot of folks are rooting for.

Primal Union is a big step for the Self Portrait crew, but they've been on the rise for awhile because they stay busy. Last year they were featured on the latest A-Dog Day compilation, the kind of honor that doesn't come lightly. Ringtone rap might be making money now, but albums still matter, and Primal Union is a professional product.

I got to talk with two thirds of the team about their sordid past, their violent beefs, and the upcoming HBO documentary. Dig it.

Thirtyseven: How did your crew come together?

RICO JAMES: Me and Trono met in 2007 while living in Plattsburgh, NY. I had just graduated with an art degree and Trono was still attending the college at the time. We hit it off immediately and started designing a clothing company, and writing rhymes together. This was before I even started making beats. I ended up moving to the west coast for a few years, so we continued to create long distance. I started making beats while living out west, so it was only right that we jumped back into the music when I moved back east to Burlington.

I met DJ Kanga through a mutual friend here in town, and we clicked immediately through our shared love of hip hop. I was blown away when I saw him scratch the first time. Right after we hung out, I hit up Trono and told him we gotta link up with this dude and get to work. I was amazed that Kanga hadn't been snatched up yet by another group. Dude is an unbelievable DJ. I sent him some of our tunes, while simultaneously reaching out to some people trying to book a show. We booked our first show in Sept. of 2013, and have been rockin' together ever since.



Thirtyseven: Has your songwriting process changed over the years?

TRONO: The songwriting has changed as my style and Rico's style has changed. Rico has taken a lesser role in rhyming, but when he does, his flow is on point and his one liners are hilarious. He has come a long way building a confidence you can find in his verses.

I have tried to develop my skills by being more concise. My thoughts need to convey the point that I want while also becoming one with the beat. I allow - encourage - beats to take me over, to lead me down the path. Emotions and what the instrumental pulls out of you are what need to be put into words. I need to explore that however possible with pin point exactness when translated onto paper. Its a ever growing process, forcing me to learn myself and to learn from others.

RICO JAMES: The process for the group as a whole is pretty simple. My main focus is the beats. I make the beats for the crew, so we start by sending a batch of beats to Trono. He picks and chooses the ones he likes and can get into and starts writing. I give Trono complete freedom to write whatever he feels. He usually comes up with the concepts and I just step in lyrically wherever it is needed. Trono is the lyricist of the crew. He is the true writer. I like writing rhymes for fun, but he is the true talent with the pen. After we get our songs all layed out, we send rough mixes to Kanga to add his magic.

Thirtyseven: How did you wind up with such an awesome cover?

TRONO: We discovered the artist, Evan Book, through another VT hip hopper that goes by Mycelium MC. He put us on to his work and I knew it would be a perfect fit for our album art. We had the album name, Primal Union, picked out for about a year and knew that was going to be the next album name. We had the concept that we wanted, with the cavemen in a cave listening to records by a fire, have Trono eating another emcee, etc... We through it out to Evan Book, told him the basic idea, and he absolutely killed it. His style works perfectly with what we wanted and had imagined for the album. He is a super talented artist, and everybody should hit him up on FB and check out his work.

Thirtyseven: Approximately how rich and famous do you plan on becoming on Feb. 24th?

TRONO: As rich and famous as I was the day before.

RICO JAMES: I'm hoping for a crispy $20. Will hit those dollar bins hard.

Photography by Colette Kulig

General Steele & Es-K - "Persistence"

Last year, Vermont producer Es-K released a world-class album called Building Bridges in collaboration with NYC rap legend General Steele of the Boot Camp Klik. Since then, their project has been racking up spins around the planet - actual radio spins of actual 180g vinyl, too.

Like any independent artist with quality product should, they've been pushing it hard ever since. This Cisco directed video for "Persistence" features VVS Verbal & Louie Skaggs and a whole lot of Green Mountain panoramic beauty.

The team at Bucktown USA have just released a followup bonus, the Building Bridges Cypha, which features 17 emcees going in on a theme. Maiden Voyage madman Jarv is included in the roster, fresh off tour with RA the Rugged man and joining the Royal Rumble here at lucky number eleven.



Rounding out the 802's contribution is Crusty Cuts on the scratches. All power to the DJs; the world needs more scratch breaks.

Jarv - "Slack-Jaw"

Jarv has had a busy 2017, leading off with his album The Boiler Room -- (reviewed here, TL;DR it is quite damn good.) You can listen to and purchase that puppy right here, right now.

This video was shot in Windsor, Vermont by Ben Kennedy. The Boiler Room has no shortage of singles, but this one definitely captures the vibe. The album is heavy on funky, and nothing about that is bad.

Back from a tour with R.A. the Rugged Man, Jarv has recently been featured on Bucktown USA project, the Building Bridges Cypha. (More on that soon.)

Yo! BTV RAPS VOl. 6 At Sidebar 1/12

Tomorrow night January 12th is the Yo! BTV RAPS Vol. 6 with a great lineup of local Hip Hop featuring Fresh Patterns (a new group featuring Mister Burns and Cworner Stwore), Self Portrait, PreciseMC, Matt Hagen MC, SkySpliiterInk and Al Dose. DJ Kanga will be holding down the music all night at this monthly event. Yo! BTV RAPS has previously been held at Nectar's and is now moving to the new Sidebar venue next to Mr. Mike's in downtown Burlington. This is a 21+ event that is FREE! Music starts at 10PM.

Sound Affects: 10/27 @ ArtsRiot

The 6th installment of the monthly Sound Affects event at ArtsRiot goes down this Thursday October 27th in Burlington, VT. This months lineup features a great night of regional artists including Movement Of The Minds, a Hip Hop collective out of Portland, Maine as well as Judge Da Beast in support of his album "Arraignment". There will also be a producer showcase and beat auction from So.802's Brad Vazy as well as a cypher to end the night with DJ Kanga holding it down. Doors 8PM / All Ages / $5 advance & $10 Day of show. You can check out more about the event ---> HERE As always you can pick up a Sound Affects t-shirt courtesy of UnKnown Arts, live art by Anthill Collective and photography re-cap from DVP Cinematography.

New Music: Causin' Effect - "Maple Syrup" (Feat. Junum)

New music from Springfield Vermont's Causin' Effect with visuals for their single "Maple Syrup" (Feat. Junum). Watch as Jibba The Gent and Vazy serve up some breakfast at the classic Springfield Royal Diner and drench your meal in REAL Vermont maple syrup.

Jay Stay Loved: A Tribute To J Dilla at Nectar's 6/12

Saturday night at Nectar's in Burlington, VT is a special night during the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival with the Jay Stay Loved: A Tribute To J Dilla featuring The Dan Ryan Express, an all star band that will be recreating classic J Dilla production. The second set will feature J Dilla's younger brother Illa J providing some the vocals on his brothers classic production. Illa J has made a name for himself on the solo grind in the past few years after also being a member of the legendary Detroit group Slum Village. This is a night not to be missed! Pre-sale tickets are only $12 for this 21+ show. For more info and tickets visit www.liveatnectars.com

Remembering DJ BP

As many of you know the music community took a big hit with the sudden loss of Ryan Morin aka DJ BP. Ryan was a past member of The Lynguistic Civilians a long time collaborator with The Aztext and member of the group UnKommon while also serving a DJ for a multitude of occasions around the state. DJ BP had an immense love for music. Not only making it but being a true fan indulging in the inner workings of a song taking appreciation for the most subtle things that most don't pick up on. He had an incredible spirit and positive energy that many were able to encounter through years of performing live around Vermont and beyond. His group UnKommon with his longtime friend and collaborator Kin, recently released their new project titled Back In The Building. Take some time to listen to this album and pay tribute to DJ BP. The Vermont Hip Hop community will sorely miss his presence.

Get Familiar: Sound Affects

VTHH: What is Sound Affects?

Sound Affects: We are a Hip-Hop community event that focuses on teamwork, support & bridging the gap between Vermont & the rest of the Northeast. We are here to unite the Hip-Hop scene & provide the Green Mountain State with a long-standing community event. We are here for everyone. 

Specifically, we are a monthly residency that will showcase the wealth of local talent we have to offer, as well as bring national & regional acts into Vermont. We will be showcasing a local producer each month as well as highlighting local releases, regional tours, national headliners & live-production cyphers.

VTHH: How do you plan to contribute to the current scene?

Sound Affects: Our focus is on delivering high-quality shows & giving hardworking artists the opportunity to play on one of the premiere stages in the state, while also offering a space for people to meet each other and network. There is a natural competition in Hip Hop culture - by utilizing that energy and unifying around a centralized monthly event, we will build a consistent platform to showcase the wealth of talent our state has to offer & simultaneously eliminate the competition between ourselves.

Our state is too small to have artists vying over the same audience. Sound Affects can be everyone’s home field, where we can all meet once a month to support the artists who have new projects to showcase. This unified approach will lead to more connection throughout the scene & ultimately, artists feeding off of each other for inspiration. We want to bring everyone together for the greater benefit of us all.

VTHH: Why is there a regional focus?

Sound Affects: There is a LOT going on throughout the rest of the Northeast Hip-Hop scene right now & most of the other states are already connected & working together in a mutually beneficial way. Between similar events like Mind Spray (MA), Rap Night Portland (ME), Rap Night Manchester (NH) & others, there is a tour circuit developing in the Northeast for upcoming artists. By offering regional & national acts a stop in Vermont on their tours, we will insert Vermont into the larger Northeast Hip-Hop scene & raise our state’s value. 

At the same time, by providing opportunities to send Vermont’s best out into the region, Sound Affects will combat the isolation Vermont faces in exposing it’s developing artists beyond it’s boarders. There is no scene within the Northeast that is large enough to survive on its own - look at the way the sports teams are set up. If the states in the Northeast work together, we can all achieve more success. 

VTHH: When & where is your first event?

Sound Affects: Our inception event will be at Waking Windows music festival in Downtown Winooski. This is the festival’s 6th year & they have decided that they want Hip-Hop to be represented, so they asked us to curate a 2-Hour Hip-Hop Showcase. This showcase will be on Saturday, May 7th from 7-9pm at Oak 45. Advance weekend passes are available now & will grant you access to all Waking Windows events for all 3-days. 1-Day passes will also be available at the gates & will grant you access to all events for that day.

VTHH: How can people get involved with Sound Affects?

Sound Affects: A great starting point is to sign up for our email list (below) & connect with us on social media so you can be the first to know about our events. If you want to become involved in a hands-on way, you can join our Street Team & help spread the word about our movement & have opportunities to earn exclusive perks! Interested parties should email SoundAffectsVT@gmail.com with ‘Street Team’ in the subject. 

As far as artists go, as an inclusive event we want to work with as many artists as possible. Artists who want to get involved need to do just that - get involved. We want to focus on showcasing the wealth of highly talented artists our state has to offer at our events.

Artists interested in getting involved:

1. Email SoundAffectsVT@gmail.com & include; links to your music, your artist bio, a brief description of your live performance, your social media links, & what project(s) you're currently working on.
2. 'Like' our Facebook page.
3. Follow @SoundAffectsVT on Twitter.
4. Follow @SoundAffectsVT on Instagram

Sound Affects is a community event & ultimately, it will become what our community makes it. Let’s make it something truly special. Sign up below to join our community & be the first to know about our events!

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Lynguistic Civilians New Album: Gratified Existence

The Lynguistic Civilians have just dropped their new full length album Gratified Existence that boasts 15 tracks of Vermont made Funky Hip Hop that features the likes of Masta Ace, Wordsworth, Stricklin, Maiden Voyage, Gang Of Thieves, Haley Fenn and The Mighty Konflik. This album features all live instrumentation from session musicians here in Burlington. The album was recorded at Park Hill Studio being mixed by the fellas at Future Fields while being mastered at Turtle Tone Studio in New York City. This album also serves as a higher cause with 20% of every purchase going to the Vermont Foodbank to help feed the less fortunate in our state. The album is available on all major outlets and you can get your own hard copy when they return to the stage Friday April 1st at Nectar's. Get your copy online now on iTunes.

2016 Vermont Hip Hop News (Re-Vamp)

Within the Green Mountain State lays a thriving Hip Hop scene. From bedroom beat-makers, graffiti artists, breakdancers, Deejay's and Emcee's Vermont has been contributing to the music scene for decades. Unfortunately inevitable for something not conventional to an area, the negative aspect of our community has been prevalent in recent times. We want to show you the positive aspect of the artists in this state. 2016 is the re-vamp of Vermont Hip Hop News. We will be working hard in supporting and promoting artists throughout the state. If you contribute to the Hip Hop scene in Vermont we want to support you! If you are a fan of Hip Hop in Vermont, you are the most important part! We hope you use this site as a place to learn about upcoming events and artists.

WORD!CRAFT One Year Anniversary at Goddard College!

      

A traveling, monthly, participatory, spoken word/hip hop event for all ages! It will take place on Friday, January 30th at "The Pit" in the WGDR Radio Station at Goddard College in Plainfield, VT from 6:30-10. It will be aired live on the earwig radio program. If you can’t make it, tune into 91.1 FM, 91.7 FM, or stream online at http://www.wgdr.org/listen-live! This is an alcohol free event. This month’s theme is “Imagine”, so whatever that means to you, bring it in written and/or improvised verse. You can also just come to listen and support lyrical artists. This is a free event, but we do accept donations.

Dec 12th: Masta Ace @ The Rusty Nail, Stowe VT

Vermonty Burns Productions keeps it moving even in the dead of winter: up next, they're bringing Masta Ace to Stowe, VT's finest venue, the (formerly) infamous Rusty Nail. This is a deeply stacked bill, featuring The Aztext, Lynguistic Civilians, BTV newcomers Maiden Voyage, and Crusty Cuts doing a DJ set. (You should know Crusty Cuts from the recent Ler Stevens project, Green Hour.) Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of.

"At All" - Face-One (is back)

This isn't part of the "Get Familiar" series since by now, we should be familiar with Face-One, one of Burlington's best and most distinctive exports. Since the Earegulars project, he's been in shamanic hermit mode, occasionally showing up to heckle me at shows but otherwise scarcely seen. That is about to change drastically. You have been warned.



VTHH: Is "At All" part of a larger project on the way or are you still on hiatus?

Face-One: Off hiatus.

At All, Searching, and Not in Season all have a particular place. At All is from a highly experimental and really dark album entitled “A Way to Nothing” I am working on with the likes of TAP; a dub step, electronic, former metal drummer, and metal band frontman from Texas. It's got enough darkly vibes and tonality to make Aleister Crowley roll in his grave. It could also double as the theme music for Sex Magick rituals.

Searching is from Apart From the Others, a project that I have had a hiatus on amid the chaos that is my life. That album just needs to be finished being recorded but due to the electric seas of complexity I tend to cyclically surf it's been on halt. That project is with the redheaded, alien, super producer known as skysplitterink aka Zack Crawford aka face let me get a smoke cause I smoke but never buy a pack. That project is utterly ridiculous and features the likes of brutally honest, prolyphic from strange famous, Zack DuPont (one of Vermonter most brilliant guitar players), nuda veritas (formerly vt but now in boston) , Corbett (black light music) who has credits for Saigon just blaze styles p and the list goes on and on, an lastly Zack Crawford and myself. Rapping... actually rapping... Sounds crazy right?

Not in season was a response to a particular transition point I recently dealt with. The heavy seas of life inspired that one. It features humble and yeah that is what it was and what it shall be. Without this medium that being music and words I don't know how the hell I’d make it through most days.

VTHH: What got you into rap to begin with? How does one arrive at such a distinctive style of production, composition and delivery?

Face-One: Man, what gets anyone into anything outside of fascination, and curiosity? I’ve always been drawn to music & poetry so it just kind of worked out. The style of production definitely shaped itself when I was posted in a bed with my mouth wired shut. Finding different ways to talk I guess. The words ever evolving and growing just like me.

VTHH: What are your favorite venues in BTV these days?

Face-One: Venues… I don't go to many shows really. That scene gets old real quick for me, its a lot of conversations I don't go out to have, and lots of random shit. If I'm going out I’d much rather go to a bar like the needs, the OP, or someplace just as loud or quiet, where I can be but don't really have to be there you know. Detachment is key some days. So is socializing. I find a balance.

VTHH: What albums do you currently keep in rotation? (Do people still listen to albums?)

Face-One: Thom Yorke-Tomorrows Modern Boxes
Damon Albarn-Everyday Robots
Andrew Bird-The Mysterious Production of Eggs
Flying Lotus-Until the Quiet Comes, and that new one You’re Dead
Caetano Veloso-Transa
Thundercat
Run The Jewels 1 & 2
Stan Getz
Astrud Gilberto
Salt-N-Peppa
Breakup Music (not to plug you but theres some gems on there)
Earegulars - The Seed
& lastly some Action Bronson

Get Familiar: Headphone Jack

Burlington artist Headphone Jack has just released an interesting and ambitious album, Green Drink, a project with a purpose: "11 tracks that focus on politics, environmental justice, social justice, and other struggles facing our generation." Clearly, this is a gentleman with a thing or two to say, so I had to interview him. We rapped about influences, goals, and the curiously huge moat that separates UVM campus from the rest of the Queen City.



VTHH: You've made the unusual stylistic decision to rap "about things" rather than rap about rapping. What kind of path led you to make such an urgent album?

Headphone Jack: In high school, I started to become extremely concerned about climate change, and the lack of action surrounding it, and the lack of fear/urgency from all of the people around me. I couldn't believe that so many people who knew about the science were still not concerned. I started doing all the personal things -- changing light bulbs, riding my bike instead of driving, composting, weatherizing my house. I also started to get involved with some of the local environmental groups.

At UVM I discovered the fossil fuel divestment movement, and have been heavily involved in that struggle and related ones ever since. It was also at UVM that I was introduced to radical politics - growing up, I thought it was just Republicans in office that were the problem. Now I understand that there are systemic issues in our political system and our economic system that go much, much deeper than that. Furthermore, I've learned a lot more about my own privileges, which are immense. Understanding (though still not fully) privilege and oppression and inequality drives/motivates me just as urgently as the extremely urgent global issue of climate change does.

VTHH: Is this your first project, or have you released albums under other names?

Headphone Jack: This is my first hip-hop project. I'm a serious jazz musician as well though, and have performed with tons of different jazz groups, small and large.

VTHH: What brings you to Vermont?

Headphone Jack: As I said, I was already super concerned about climate change and other issues such as poverty while in high school. I knew I wanted to devote my life to creating positive change. I felt and still feel a responsibility to do so as someone who was unfairly and luckily born into a place of privilege. UVM seemed like a great place to get started. Strong liberal politics and activism, and one of the better environmental programs of any school in the country. I also really like the area, the music scene, and I have extended family that lives here.

VTHH: What is your sense of the hip hop scene here so far?

Headphone Jack: I don't know much about the hip hop scene here. I know at least 10-20 people off the top of my head from my high school that have pursued rapping in a serious way, and many others that freestyle for fun. I grew up in a vibrant hip hop culture. That's not the case here, but I've been learning recently about some cats who are doing it, and doing it well. The ones I'm aware of are Gunthree Galileo (although he's home in California right now), Galactic Brown, J Rubi (who just moved here from Spain), and Ler Stevens. And we all remember King Bread, of course. In terms of producers, Wreckognition made several of the beats on my album, and I just met another dope producer named Andrew Goss.

"Side Three" - SkySplitterInk ft. Learic

As if dropping three ridiculous albums in 2014 wasn't quite enough, Burlington ex-pat Learic swoops back in for one more. "Side Three," a collaboration with BTV network hub, performer and producer SkySplitterInk, is a barn-burner, a face-melter, and a tongue-twister all rolled into a single strong dose.