VIDEO: "Hostile Takeover" - Eyedos

"Hostile Takeover" is a metal rap jawn off his last solo LP, the imposing Guerrilla Bars. The JynxINC member has a lot of irons in the fire, as ever. There's another solo album somewhere in the distance, but we can expect an EP project from Minds Eye Tribe soon.

Also coming up: "Devil May Care Too," the long-awaited return of JynxINC and an LP packed with some A-list guests. Eyedos was one of the hardest-working artists in the 802 last year -- don't expect that to change much.

"On that note, I rest my case like a narcoleptic lawyer..."

THURSDAY: Vermont's Finest @ Social Club & Lounge, 9/14

Vermont's Finest is another showcase gig, sure, but it's perfectly timed. There's a tsunami of new BTV residents getting settled in, and this is an affordable show with a packed roster -- a great introduction to the scene for any poor souls that missed A-Dog Day. The evening is being put on by Barre outfit Sounds Lit Productions, BTV label Heartless Entertainment, and Khaosity's God Squad posse.

The current lineup is as follows: Blood Pressure Music, Dolla Day, StiltzGang, Khaosity, JMC Ent, BL SPITZ, Eyedos, Drive, Dok Trauma, Lifelesson, & Bitzz. 8 pm. 18+ $5 / College ID $2

Eyedos Presents: MET

As promised, the Minds Eye Tribe album has finally dropped. This is packed with bars and bangers, and a testament to how much the scene has improved in the past decade. Which is not to say heads weren't dropping quality albums back in 2007, they were just fewer & further between. There's been a lot of heat so far this year.

Again, props to Eyedos for the quality control and sheer work ethic. For the record, the full, official lineup for MET runs as follows: Eyedos, Trips, Polar Beers, Trono (Self Portrait), Krypto Man (JYNX Inc), J-Zila, Stresselbee (Epidemiks), Ademus and RuffNek. There's also a half-ton of other guests in the mix here.

Both Trono and Eyedos will be performing at the Regional Indie Hip Hop Compilation Release Party (RIHHCRP) at Club Metronome tomorrow night.

Eyedos - "Buried IN Barre"

Summer of Love 2017 continues. Vermont has never been known for rap beef, but when it rains, well...it's monsoon season, bud. After shots from Judge Da Beast and M. Rich of Bar None The Best -- and a response track from Colby Stiltz -- now Eyedos is getting involved.

I'm not entirely clear on how Eyedos got drawn into this -- it's not like he's out here repping STILTZgang. But I'm betting it involves Facebook. This beef has been a classic study in conflict: war is all about unintended consequences, and those begin immediately.

"Buried IN Barre" is definitely the hardest shot so far. Unlike "Beef Stew," it's an actual diss track, and Eyedos has bars for days. This is also the best production, on all fronts. Wherever our Summer of Love goes from here, hopefully the quality control stays this good.

As they used to say in Europe: ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

MET - "Survival" ft Raw Deff

Perpetual release date rollbacks are, perhaps, the fifth element of hip hop. "Detox Dropping Soon" set the tone for a decade of both commercial and indie rap, a new era where social media made it easier than ever to announce new projects -- and somehow, harder than ever to finish them.

That's why a genuine work ethic stands out. Eyedos has been on a serious tear in 2017, following up his epic solo album Guerrilla Bars with a new group project, MET. That's short for Minds Eye Tribe, and there's a heavy Army of the Pharaohs vibe on this lead single, "Survival" -- just some classic summer "rape your bitch" jams, you know?

Eyedos also mixed and mastered this, which is worth mentioning because this is a very professional sounding product. As his skillset continues to expand and improve, he's becoming a major asset to the scene.

"Survival" is a preview single -- joining Eyedos and Raw Deff on the mic here, we've got Trono from Self Portrait and Polar Beers, which is one of the best rap names I've ever seen in the 802.

This MET jawn won't even be the last Eyedos full-length project we see this year: there's also a JYNX Inc comeback album coming out on Halloween. He understands the paradox of staying visible in an over-saturated world -- the more momentum you gather, the harder you have to work. Salute the hustle.

Eyedos - "The Coalition"

Longtime Jynx Inc member Eyedos has stepped out on his own in a big way this year. Always a hard worker, he's been building a national network over the past five years and the payoff has only just begun. Check out the guest list on his solo project Guerrilla Bars - alongside 802 fixtures like Learic, RuffNek and Trono you'll see Rakaa Iriscience, C-Rayz Walz, and Kool G Rap. (That track bangs, by the way: peep "Gun Smoke.")

"The Coalition" is a posse cut slam-fest with serious reach - V-Zilla is an Army of the Pharaohs affiliate from Houston, Ruste Juxx is a Boot Camp purebred from NYC, also the home of Screwball alumni Blaq Poet. The production is perfectly tailored for showoff sixteens and everyone delivers the goods.

Happy Friday.

Sound Affects Recap - Waking Windows Hip-Hop Showcase

A new monthly Hip-Hop Community Event - Sound Affects - held it's premiere event on May 7th as part of Waking Windows Music Festival in Winooski. Their 2-Hour Hip-Hop Showcase went extremely well & got people excited for their monthly events, to be held at Arts Riot, starting on June 30th.

If you weren't in attendance, you missed out on a truly amazing experience. The energy in the intimate venue (Oak45) was infections & all of the artists displayed a high-level of professionalism & talent.

The Showcase started out with the host, Mertz, passionately performing a song that speaks to why the time for us to all come together is now. The Live Mixtape portion followed & grasped the audience's attention while 8-artists performed songs in rapid succession, blended together by DJ Kanga. Peace to PreciseMC, Self Portrait, Boomslang, LoKi, Manus feat. Dakota, Budnick, Enemy Self, & Bar None The Best for being a part of it!

Next, 4-artists with new projects in the works showcased their new material in longer Featured Sets. Eyedos provided an enthusiastic set - Forest Gray brought his production on stage - Humble displayed his innate energy - & Mister Burns lived up to his reputation as one of the hardest working artists in our state!

The Showcase came to a close with an energetic Freestyle Cypher, where the group Cworner Stwore provided live music (MPC, Stand-up Bass, Clarinet) while a myriad of lyricists freestyled their hearts out! Every Sound Affects event will end with a Freestyle Cypher while we stand united, fighting against the misconception that Hip-Hop artists are not 'real' musicians.

Check out their Video & Photo Recaps from the event, courtesy of their sponsor DVP Cinematography Services! Peace also to their sponsors Unknown Arts & The Sticky Brand!

If you love Hip-Hop, connect with them on social media (@SoundAffectsVT) in order to stay updated on their monthly events!

See you all at Arts Riot on June 30th!