ROUNDUP: Locally Grown Singles

Four dishes on the menu today:

NOtation and David Chief have released another slice of the new flavors they've been working on. "Taken" is a short breezy slice of aspirational flows -- it's also got over sixty thousand plays on Soundcloud. Clearly, these gentlemen are doing something right. No word on future releases just yet, but rest assured, something is coming.


Chel Strong and Es-K have been putting in work together for years now. If the name is new to you, definitely check out this "Chel x Es-K" mix. It's a strong catalog with a huge range. Es-K was also all over his 2015 LP Forever Starts Tomorrow, an excellent concept album. "Your Moment" marks the beginning of a regular Wednesday series, Clearing Out The Hard Drive, which will consist of this duo unloading heat every week until the snow is gone. Good news for headphones everywhere.


Barre rap squad Bar None The Best had a damn strong 2017 and they're already peppering us with new singles. "Danger" is great throwback cut with a slapping beat that lets these hooligans shine. We can definitely expect more singles, more videos, and more shows in the months to come.


Kingbread is a longtime BTV legend and core member of Heartless Ent, who ended 2017 with a steady run of Soundcloud singles, mostly from founder BL Spitz and Eden rapper Khaosity. "Shelburne rd. Freestyle" is tightly written short movie that showcases Kingbread's true school style. Heartless Ent will be hosting the upcoming All Black Party on Saturday, January 27th at Social Club & Lounge.

Rainy Thursday Update

Bad news first: Fear Fest is postponed, which is to say, not happening this weekend. Location problems at the last minute forced their hand and the team at Yours Truly Inc is trying to line up a new venue and date.

Much better news: BTV rapper NOtation is back with a fresh single and a slick new black and white video to match: "Get Up" features a slamming David Chief beat and some hella decent luxury sedans. Dig it.



In other news: I missed the opportunity to mark the one year anniversary of Judge Da Beast's LP, "Arraignment." It's a raw, solid debut. Links: CD Baby / Apple Music / Amazon

Judge Da Beast has a lot more on the way, including a project coming out next month with Raw Deff and Yung Breeze, Hitmen For Hire -- another opening salvo from the Street Religion movement.

In comeback news: there's another fresh video out this week, and it's Walshie Steeze teaming up with some of the Lynguistic fam for a feel-good summer single. Given how 2017 has been, that actually makes sense at the end of October...hell, I mowed the lawn in shorts two days ago. "It's All Good" features LC and Mike "Philly" Fulton, and it's a slice off his upcoming solo LP, The Walsh Street Journal.



Remember, this will be a packed weekend of shows: two hot tickets tomorrow night with Boomslang's Album Release Party in Montpelier and Manus + Friends popping in Winooski, and a very impressive lineup for Mics and Strikes on Saturday at Champlain Lanes. From here, it's Halloween parties and the Food For Thought Tour kickoff. Enjoy the moment.

Oct. 20th - East Coast Indie Jam @ Club Metronome

Calling a Club Metronome gig a "Music Festival and Networking Event" may sound like a stretch, but Colby Stiltz has out-done himself with this one. Featuring six vendor booths and no less than thirty two acts over the course of the evening, this is Kind Of A Big Deal. Superfan & scene documenter Brett North Photography will also be in the building.

The lineup: Spocka Summa and Friends, Colby Stiltz, Dommy Divine, Split Soul, Twentypiece, and Swizzy B are the featured acts. Special guests include Jibba "The Gent," Eyedos, BL SPITZ, Trono & J Kanga, David Chief doing a DJ set, Faded Flow, Madscatta, D French, Wes the Best, Jacobsen, Rycoon, DJ TJ, JMC ENT, Corty Booth, Smoove Boy Jay, Khaosity, King Dyno, DJ Ace on Earth, Jordy Riv, Damian Raye, Drive, DZY, Big Skrilla, It's Ant & Al Tree, Tony-O & Lazy, and Johnny Haze. Is that some kind of Club Metronome record? Serious question.

Anyways, a packed night and a big networking opportunity -- definitely a lot better than Facebook, at least. Make plans. 8 pm. 21+. FREE SHOW.

Little Pain x Dommy Divine, September 13th @ Higher Ground

This one snuck up on me, so it didn't make the September roundup, but this show is loaded with local talent.

As an old rap head in his late fifties, I have no business trying to figure out what is going here. Little Pain is, at least according Vice, "the leader of the Sad Rap Revolution" -- hopefully nobody is getting killed over that, sounds pretty serious. Dommy Divine appears to be either a promoter or a DJ, based on his soundcloud. Dude has taste, either which way.

I do know the cats on the undercard here, and it's quite a lineup. Yung $eth has been building his name off live performances, singles, and his recent EP, FUELED BY HATE. Beat wizard Loupo is currently working on about three dozen projects in the aftermath of his latest album, Good Company. Notation is a local menace hard at work on some new projects, David Chief is an impressive new producer with a big online audience, and Chyse is one of the best rappers in the state. $10 adv / $15 door. 8 pm.

ROUNDUP: Hip Hop Shows in July

Happy 4th, folks. Make it count.

July 6th: Spose x Shane Reis at Higher Ground. Spose is a yung rap phenom from Maine who was smart enough to build a sustainable fanbase off his viral hit "I'm Awesome." Expect a fun show and copious amounts of ganja raps. 8:30 pm. $12 adv / $14 at the door.

July 13th: Burlington Hip Hop Night at Club Metronome. Another stacked showcase gig; this is a strong lineup. S.I.N.Sizzle, Jibba the Gent and Cultural Chemistry, plus appearances from Chyse (with DJ Ross) and a set from Young $eth & David Chief. 9 pm. 21+ $7 // 18+ $10.

July 20th: 3rd Thursday at the Monkey House. Anthill Collective's excellent monthly series continues, this time bringing Montreal true school rapper Monk'E to BTV. Also on the bill: Face One will be back onstage for the first time in awhile, and Self Portrait will be in full effect. 9 pm. 21+ $3 // 18+ $8

Also July 20th: Regional Indie Hip Hop Compilation Release Party at Club Metronome. Not a very catchy name, but it promises to be an entertaining evening. This is going to be a "live mixtape" affair featuring a ton of artists, a collaborative production from Heartless Entertainment and STILTZgang. The big news here: live set from Kingbread. You know you have to see that. 10 pm. 21+ free // 18+ $5

July 22nd: Music for the Good Earth at Parker Pie Co. It's out there, but Parker Pie Co. has some of the best food in the state -- and, without question, one of the best beer lists. Maiden Voyage will be headlining this one, which is a guaranteed good time. NEK heads are strongly advised to check this one out. MC Mycelium will be there with his Speaking in Tongues improv rap outfit. 8-11 pm. $5 donation.

Also July 22nd: Hip Hop Showcase at Charlie-O's. This legendary Montpelier dive is always a great venue for rap music, but this bill is especially interesting. There's going to be a lot of regional talent - Cody Pope and Two Story are from New Hampshire, and Ill By Instinct is a wicked talented emcee from Maine who's been having a great run in 2017. Rounding out the bill: Fresh Patterns, Trono and a solo set Mister Burns. 9 pm. 21+ only. Free as in free.

July 26th: Northern Exposure at Higher Ground. Northern Exposure is a monthly series that usually showcases rock, but this month's edition is heavy on local hip hop. These are all new names to me: Kastaway, Khaocity, Italics, and Drive. More details and hilarious bio copy available here. 8:30 pm. $6 adv and day of.

Remember, every Wednesday evening from 10 pm to midnight, Mister Burns is running the studio at 105.9 FM -- THE RADIATOR. His show, Words & Verbs, is a celebration of Vermont hip hop.

2017's celebration of A-Dog Day will be on Saturday, August 26th.