TUESDAY: SonReal at Higher Ground

Vancouver emcee and rising star Son Real will be at Higher Ground tomorrow night. He's a Canuck-hop phenom rapper-singer type who's been making inroads on the United States scene in 2017, and building an audience with a barrage of quality videos. He'll be sharing the bill with Blaque Keyz, whose existence indicates we may be running out of available space for rapper names.

All Ages Shows. 8 pm. $15 Adv / $17 door.

ROUNDUP: Hip Hop Shows in September

September 6th: Yo! BTV Raps Vol. 9 @ Sidebar. This should be approximately hype as fuck, packing some high energy rap acts into an intimate lil' craft bar. Jarv and Boomslang are both party demolition units. In addition, Face One continues his comeback streak, Khaosity will be staking his claim to BTV, and PR Department will deliver a set. That's a new collaboration between Rico James of Self Portrait and local boom bap head PreciseMC. Also, happy birthday to hip hop superfan and live show cameraman Brett North! 10 pm. 21+. Free.

September 7th: Hip Hop Heals @ Backstage Pub and Restaurant This is a benefit show for the Garrows, a local family who had a house fire this summer. Admission is free and there will be a variety of fundraiser activities throughout the evening. Props to Colby Stiltz for putting this on.

September 12th: Big Boi @ Higher Ground. Hot damn. Not a lot needs to be said here. 8 pm. All Ages. $35 adv / $38 door.

September 14th: Vermont's Finest @ Social Club and Lounge. Another showcase affair at Social Club, a great BTV venue that makes a point of putting on real events. This should be no exception, an evening of local rap sponsored by God Squad and Heartless Ent. Lineup includes Eyedos, BL SPITZ and Dok Trauma. 8 pm. 18+ $5 / College ID $2

September 15-17 Above The Radar. This is a Very Big Deal: a three-day graffiti festival right on the Burlington waterfront, bringing in some legendary crews to collaborate on massive walls. This is a family friendly, pure hip hop event and represents a massive amount of work by Vermont's own Anthill Collective. Free. Go check it out.

September 15th: Mics and Strikes @ Champlain Lanes. The lineup hasn't been announced yet but if you want raps, drinks and bowling all in one place, this is your fix. Always a good time.

September 16th: Capital Punishment @ Sweet Melissas. Current lineup is Khaosity, Drive, Modest and Lifelesson -- expect more names to be added in the weeks to come. 9 pm. All Ages. $5.

September 16th: Upper Valley Summer Music Festival @ The Engine Room. Packed bill in White River Junction. 9 pm. $10 adv / $15 door.

September 21st: Home Grown Hip Hop @ Club Metronome. Colby Stiltz, Suss Brim, Chyse Atkins, Jibba Tha Gent, Modest, Party Boy Woodz, Joe Grizzly and City Lights. 9 pm. 18+ $5 / 21+ Free

September 30th: The Fall Come Up @ Gustos. A guaranteed good time. This is a homecoming party in Barre for Bar None The Best, and they'll be celebrating with a serious lineup: Judge Da Beast, Jibba The Gent, and NYT (aka Jamell Rogers). To top it all off, this is your chance to see the Street Religion crew live onstage without having to drive at least an hour south. 10:30 pm 21+

September 30th: Boomslang & Jarv @ Charlie O's. Another guaranteed good time, and in the same county, no less. It's a Vermont tradition. Best dive bar in the state if not the country, great party rap, colorful regulars grumbling about great party rap -- just because I've said all this before doesn't mean you shouldn't be there. 21+. Free.

ROUNDUP: Hip Hop Shows in August

August 2nd: Apathy @ Club Metronome. One of the best rappers alive touches down on Main Street tonight so, you know, go see that. 9 pm. $10 adv / $15 door. 18+

August 4th: Bowling for BP @ Champlain Lanes. A special charity edition of the Mics & Strikes series to benefit the Ryan Morin Memorial Scholarship. 8 pm. $15 gets you two hours of bowling and dope rap. All ages.

Also August 4th: The Khaosity Experience @ Sweet Melissas. An evening of hip hop in Montpelier with Drive, Trono of Self Portrait crew, and JMC Ent. 8:30 pm. $5. All Ages.

August 11th: Chris Webby @ Higher Ground. Suburban rap sensation Chris Webby has parlayed mixtape success into multiple national tours now and will probably never stop. Also on the bill: Bizarre of D12, because of course he would be. 9 pm. $18 adv/$22 door. All Ages.

August 17th: 3rd Thursday @ The Monkey House. Yet another big score for the Anthill Collective family, this month's lineup brings some outside talent to Winooski. Sets from Ben Schorr, Stay on Mars and Maine's furball fast-rap legend Eyenine, who puts on a hell of a show. Local metal rap act HatePH34R will be making an appearance, too. 9 pm. 21+ $3 // 18+ $8

August 19th: Dellarious Summer Jam @ Cloud 9 Bar and Grille. Sure, this is in New Hampshire on Hampton Beach, but the lineup is heavy on Vermont: Bar None The Best, Jarv, Jibba the Gent and the entire Street Religion massive doing a group set. This should be a fairly bananas event. 9 pm. $5 adv/$10 door. 21+

August 24th: Chyse & DJ Ross @ Social Club & Lounge. If you're not familiar with Chyse, fix that. He'll be headlining at Social Club & Lounge alongside DJ Ross. Khaosity, Jibba the Gent and Kastaway will also be performing. 9 pm. $5. 21+

August 26th: A-Dog Day 2017 @ Waterfront, Nectars, Club Metronome. It's hard to believe this is already the fourth A-Dog Day celebration. It's also hard to believe it's only the fourth one. This has become the most important event of the year, a pilgrimage, a holy day. The Friends for A-Dog Foundation not only puts on a world-class party, they're a community asset year round.

What a party, though. They're not kidding when they call it "a city-wide celebration," but make sure you're upstairs at Club Metronome when The Beatnuts go on.

Mick Jenkins, 4/23 @ Higher Ground

Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins is coming through Higher Ground, which is interesting. He's touring in support of his 2016 album, The Healing Component, which was tasty, low-key, serious hip hop.

Also interesting: tickets are $18 and there is nobody else listed on the bill. Tough sell for a Sunday night, but Jenkins is a hell of a rhyme writer and live performer. For those of you with Dealer Dot Com money and an interest in high quality rap music, this is a guaranteed good bet.

More info: Higher Ground Listing | Mick Jenkins Website

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.

Loaf Muzik w/ Jansport J, Cultural Chemistry, 2/23 @ Higher Ground

Higher Ground will be hosting one hell of a hip hop show next week as young NYC crew Loaf Muzik touch down in BTV for the first time. If you're into that raw, hungry, high-energy live show type rap, this is your ticket.



Also on the bill: Jansport J, who is touring in support of his excellent instrumental album p h a r a o h.

The local support end of the operation is on point, too. 802 supergroup Cultural Chemistry will be representing along side Almattic, Self Portrait, and ... Stiltz Gang. I'm hoping that means Colby Stiltz is making a return appearance. All Ages.

More details/ticket sales here.

Higher Ground's Revenge: Fall Roundup

I recently stated that Higher Ground had "settled into a groove of only booking college-friendly blog rap." Either I spoke too soon, or their talent buyer decided to prove me wrong, because the Fall 2014 calendar has diversified quite a bit. What follows is a roundup of the shows we know about - a preview of the good nights to come.

October 4th: Things get started next month with a "nerdcore" house party, consisting of MC Chris and MC Lars, with Maine's favorite stoner Spose rounding out the bill. While the flavors served up here are not for everyone, MC Chris and Spose both put on a hell of an entertaining show. (No dis intended to MC Lars, I've just never seen him onstage.)

October 18th: Los Angles legend Flying Lotus will be coming through the Queen City to celebrate his new album, You're Dead. He will be touring with a live band which includes Erykah Badu's bassist, Thundercat. This is definitely going to be one of the more memorable shows of the entire season.

October 20th: Need more LA art-rap in your life? Good news: Busdriver is headlining Higher Ground. He will be bringing along Hellfyre Club amigo Milo -- who has previously been at Jenke Arts -- and a strange act called "clipping." who are clearly on some left field shit.

October 24th: The frat-rap shit-show known as Aer will be selling out the venue, sharing the headline with Dizzy Wright, who is a rapper that raps about smoking weed, only not as well as other rappers who rap about the same thing. This show is, obviously, the reason I'd given up on Higher Ground for the duration of the UVM semester. It's rap for people who don't like rap, and none of them are reading this.

October 26th: A rare evening where hip hop takes over the whole building. In the showcase lounge, you've got Vancouver-based indie phenom SonReal bringing his earnest, pop-inflected confessionals. In the ballroom, you've got a very different scene, with the hilariously awesome Ty Dollar Sign making a most unexpected journey to the Green Mountain State. His opening act will be something called Lil' Bibby, whose bio copy seriously claims he is a "more lyrical Chief Keef."

November 1st: Rhymesayers returns to the 802. Brother Ali -- one of the best rappers alive by any standard -- will be headlining in the showcase lounge with politically motivated rapper Bambu and DJ Last Word. Brother Ali always delivers the goods. This will be an exceptional evening.

November 9th: Slam poet / rap crossover -- and unlikely major label artist -- Watsky will be returning to Higher Ground. He's bringing Hellfyre Club new jack Anderson Paak, as well as some dude named Kyle. Really: just "Kyle." This gig will be in the Ballroom, which indicates Watsky has been doing damn well here on previous trips East.

November 12th: Canadian hip hop / R&B producer Ryan Hemsworth will be in the showcase lounge, which is pretty remarkable. It's unclear whether he's got a real "show" lined up or you'll be paying to watch dude play beats off his laptop and occasionally do things with his hands. I'll keep you posted.

November 30th: Flatbush Zombies will be returning to Higher Ground -- in the ballroom this time, which is curious considering how few folks were at their last show -- and bringing along The Underachievers, which is a group of much stronger rappers. The Zombies are an energetic, anarchic stage show and this promises to be a damn good time.

June 21st - Ja Rule (really) at Higher Ground

Yup: Ja Rule. If you're looking for some 90's nostalgia on a Saturday night, hot damn, VT Union has got your number. The world's most accomplished & successful DMX impersonator will be coming through Higher Ground for what his management hails as "a once in a generation show." $40 in advance, $45 at the door.

Naturally, the bill will also feature Burlington's most successful rap group, Argonaut & Wasp.

TICKETS + MORE INFORMATION @ HIGHER GROUND

April 24th - Hi-Rez and Emilio Rojas at Higher Ground

A good old fashioned $10 rap show at Higher Ground. Rojas has been quietly killing it for years.

Tickets & Info via Higher Ground.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE: CANCELLED

Bummer. Higher Ground has announced that the scheduled Slaugherhouse show on March 22nd has been cancelled.

No word yet on whether Joe Budden is to blame for this, but in the meantime, let's just assume he is.

March 30th: YG & DJ Mustard @ Higher Ground

The remarkably well-funded Dinh Entertainment continues a winning streak of bringing major rap acts through the 802, and this time it's pop-rap success story YG & DJ Mustard. This show is $35 in advance, $40 the day of the show, and there is a VIP Package available -- naturally -- at $75.

Visit Higher Ground for DETAILS & TICKETS.

APRIL 3rd - DANNY BROWN @ HIGHER GROUND

Told you it would keep getting better, folks. Danny Fucking Brown coming through Higher Ground on Thursday, April 3rd. Holy hot damn that's gonna be good.

Details, tickets, etc: Higher Ground Dot Com

March 22nd: Slaughterhouse @ Higher Ground

This will probably go down as one of 2014's most memorable shows. Advance tickets are $20, with the now-obligatory VIP Package at the campus coke dealer friendly price of $100. Argonaut & Wasp will open the show.

More Information / Tickets

January 18th: Kid Ink at Higher Ground

I have absolutely no idea what the sweet fuck a "Kid Ink" is but apparently his management thinks he's worth $35 per ticket at Higher Ground. This is a rap show -- I mean, vaguely, these pop rappers are basically talking over techno in 2014 -- and it is in Vermont, so we're documenting it here.

If you're a fan, you will appreciate the exclusive interview with Kid Ink over at Green Mountain Hip Hop.

Flatbush Zombies @ Higher Ground

Sorry for the short notice on this one. Brookyln's own Flatbush Zombies will be coming through Higher Ground tonight on their first headlining tour, in support of their new mixtape, BetterOffDEAD. Show is sold out. That is encouraging -- Burlington needs more successful rap shows.

Oct. 10th: Watsky & Wax @ Higher Ground

One of the best Left Coast art rap representatives will be visiting Vermont this Thursday: Watsky will be rocking Higher Ground with Los Angeles whiz kid Wax. This is their "Give a Hater a Hug" tour. If you like thoughtful, intricate rhymes and intimate sets, this double bill is hard to beat. $15/&17

MORE INFO / TICKETS @ HIGHER GROUND

October 4th: Immortal Technique & Brother Ali

Well, hot damn. Higher Ground, October 4th. Quite a lineup - supporting acts include Diabolic, I Self Divine, and Poison Pen. Brother Ali is one of the most consistently excellent live acts going. See you at the bar.

More Info Here.