Raw Deff x Learic - "Raw Learics"

A hot single out of nowhere? This is a good Monday so far. Two outstanding verses, right here. "Raw Learics" is a funky wall of soul slices produced by DoomDaWiz, a boom bapist fundamentalist from Cape Verde.

No word on whether there's a new project on the way, but Raw Deff stays busy -- it was only a year ago that he put out his last LP, Extraordinary Failure.

Aside from upcoming Cultural Chemistry releases, Learic is also putting the finishing touches on an album with Es-K that promises to be something special. Stay tuned.

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+.

TOMORROW: Kosha Dillz @ Nectars

Underground legend Kosha Dillz will be bringing his #KEEPITKOSHA tour to Nectars on Monday night. He's worked with everyone from C-Rayz Walz to RZA, and on the 2nd he'll be joining an excellent local lineup: Learic, Mister Burns, and Khaosity of Heartless Ent.

Should be a great night at BTV's most iconic venue. 9 pm. Free show. Gravy fries. Can't beat it.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mics & Strikes @ Champlain Lanes

As a concert series, Mics and Strikes may sound crazy on paper: hip hop and bowling is not a combination we see too often. It really works, though. Especially with a lineup this strong.

"Wool See" is a new project by IAME -- a rapper / producer who was part of the Oldominion and Sandpeople collectives out in Portland, OR.

$15 gets you two hours of bowling with a killer soundtrack. Dig it.

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.

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.

Summer Slam Rap Battle at Higher Ground Sat. 7/23

802 Battle League presents the Summer Slam Rap Battle at Higher Ground in S. Burlington, VT on Saturday July 23rd featuring 10 match ups featuring rappers from all over New England as well as locals S.I.N Sizzle, Learic, Memo and more! This is an all ages show with tickets $12 adv. / $17 day of. With the first battle starting at 7:15PM for more visit the event page --> HERE

TONIGHT: Zion I / Grouch & Eligh live at Club Metronome with Mister Burns / Learic / Truth / SkySplitterInk & Jarv

Tonight at Club Metronome in Burlington, Vermont is an incredible night of Hip Hop featuring West Coast legends Zion I / Grouch & Eligh with support from locals Mister Burns with Learic, Truth and SkySplitterInk and Maiden Voyage's JARV. Z&G&E are currently on tour with Slightly Stupid and are making a special stop in Burlington, VT tonight only! There will also be live painting from Anthill who will be painting a classic A-DOG photo by Matthew Thorsen and local B-Boys Rhythm Riders will be representing as well. Doors at 9PM / Tickets available at the door. Tickets --> HERE

TONIGHT: Hip Hop In The Capital At Positive Pie

Tonight at Positive Pie in Montpelier, Vermont is an incredible lineup of local and regional talent. Coming up from Southern, NH is Granite State. They have been solid on the New England scene for a long time and are excited to see them back in VT. Locals include Learic (of The Aztext), Mister Burns (of The Lynguistic Civilians), Boomslang and Sky Splitter Ink! Music starts at 10:30PM and is only $5 / 21+

Cabin Fever Hip Hop Benefit for Salvation Farms

Collective Rhymes and Salvation Farms presents an annual Hip Hop benefit concert for Salvation Farms. It will take place on Thursday, April 2nd at Club Metronome at 188 Main St, Burlington, VT. Doors open at 8 PM and show starts at 9PM. It's a 21+ show and $5 at the door! It is a fundraiser, so we are accepting more than $5 for the cover charge! We have an amazing line up of local hip hop acts! Learic of the Aztexts, Wombaticus Rex, Self Portrait, Mic Plante, Bless The Child, Loupo, Notation, Owen Kinlund aka Rubix, DJCrunchee (Productions), cworner stwore, beat boxer extraordinaire Simmy B, Caveman, Rhythm Riderz Crew, Mycelium MC, and special guests! There will be an All-Star freestyle set that the DJ's, beatmakers, emcee's will improvise the soundtrack and dialogue to a silent movie! This is a hip hop show that can't be missed! See you there! Peace

"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.

Aug 30th: A-Dog Day Celebration

This weekend is going to be huge. Skate Jams on Church Street, two stages of music at Arts Riot, and very nearly too many acts to actually list.

A-Dog Day is a serious milestone for Vermont Hip Hop -- not this dinky little blog, but the actual scene itself: you and me and everyone we know. (Most of whom are on the bill at Arts Riot.)

This is a celebration of an inspiring human being who left this Earth more than a little bit too soon, and also an opportunity to take stock of the culture he helped grow here. If you're not familiar with A-Dog and his legacy, start here: an excellent Seven Days memorial gathered from his friends, co-conspirators and protégés.

Also: big ups to the homie Miro Weinberger for making this possible.

July 29th: WRITE BROTHERS PARTY at Nectars

Learic and Dante DaVinci have created something monumentally heavy with their "Write Brothers" project. We've already documented some of the nationwide buzz they've been getting just off the first two singles. Tuesday night at Nectars will be your chance to hear the entire project get debuted at one of Vermont's finest establishments, the legendary Nectars on Main Street Burlington.

DJ Fattie B will be in the house showcasing his increasingly awesome remix/mashup work, and Wombaticus Rex will be kicking off the Rap with special guest Godforbid. We'll be doing the new EP "Fear of Death and the Need for Reproduction" straight through.

It should probably be mentioned that this show is completely free.

C'mon down.

"Come Back" - The Write Brothers

You're riding with the Write Brothers, first in flight. A second single from the increasingly impressive cross-coast collaboration featuring Learic and Dante DaVinci. Tablas, firebomb synth chops, and a damn catchy hook drive the point home: this will almost definitely be the best rap project coming out of Vermont this year.

"When the pens in my hand, your attention span tends to expand." Fuck yeah.

Write Brothers is Kinda Blowing Up Right Now

First of all, you've heard this, right? If not, fix that...



This single has been legitimately blowing up. The Write Brothers are making waves way beyond the 802, and this is good because they should be. Since being debuted on Earmilk.com, they've been getting writeups with hip hop diehards KickKickSnare, being featured on the Seven Days website, and even landing a spot on DJ Booth.

Still, my favorite coverage so far was this: a long-form interview with Dante Davinci, an excellent read that offers a lot of gems for independent artists. Good strategy is good business.

"Extraordinary I" - The Write Brothers

More fresh produce from Learic, fresh off the release of The Precepts debut album "This is How it Must Be" and his mixtape project with Kin, Unusual Subjects -- clearly the man is aiming to make a statement out of 2014. (And he's far from finished.)

The Write Brothers is his collaboration with Dante Davinci, a talented & dedicated producer who has been working behind the scenes here in the 802 longer than most of us have been drinking legally. This is a powerful team, as evidenced by the lead single, "Extraordinary I." You can catch Learic live on July 5th at Nectars with MC B-Free and the Ice Coast Band.

March 6th: Learic vs. Memaranda Rematch

From the Nobody Never Tells Me Nothing Dept

So there's going to be a rematch tomorrow night at Metronome...yep, another edition of the King of Vermont battle series, headlined by a grudge match that got some pretty entertaining coverage in the Seven Days.

Show is $5, more information here.

UPDATE: Learic won.

Jan 17th: No Humans Allowed, Boomslang, Learic, Wombaticus Rex @ Charlie-O's World Famous

Psyched to be returning to the finest dive bar in Vermont -- and perhaps the world -- and more psyched to be bringing No Humans Allowed to the most appropriate possible venue for The Viking Assault. Better yet, we're bringing Boomslang and Learic from The Aztext.

Reminder: KING OF VT Rap Battle @ Nectars

Come get loud. 8 contenders, starts at 10, Main Street Burlington.

December 19th - King of VT Rap Battle @ Nectars

Since I can't find a poster for this event, I'll just run with this great picture from the Queen City Battle era with Burnt MD, Learic and Habit all onstage. Why? Because that dude in the middle is probably gonna win.

I can vouch for the fact 1) I'm gonna be there drinking, and 2) it will be a hugely entertaining night. If you're old enough to join me at the bar, the cover is a mere $5. Doors at 10, Battles at 11.

If anyone reading this wants to enter the ring, hit up SIN Sizzle: sin.sizzle.info@gmail.com or kampusboyzent@gmail.com -- go forth and conquer.