ROUNDUP: Locally Grown Singles

Some quality produce on deck today...
First up, we've got two strong spitters combining forces for a single: "Crash Landed" is a collab feauturing Windsor emcee XP and Lebanon, NH animal Raw Deff, who dropped a blistering album with Yung Breeze and Judge da Beast late last year, "Hitmen for Hire." As always, shots fired and no fucks given.


Chel Strong and Es-K are continuing their weekly single series with "Two Sides of a Coin," an impressive story-telling cut over some gorgeous production work. Es-K beats are always very musical & melodic compared to prevailing trends, but when he's in the lab with Chel Strong, it seems to bring out a whole other level. This track is no exception -- best with good headphones at high volume.


Wes the Best is a fairly new artist, affiliated with the StiltzGang crew. His intricate rhyme schemes and 90's East Coast vibe are a big departure from the Stiltz aesthetic, but his outspoken love of marijuana is not. "4 Life" is a low-key introduction to a high-density lyricist who has a lot more material on the way.


SkySplitterInk dropped a new cut this Wednesday featuring Humble, Question and Rajnii flexing introspective over a dense, shifting and catchy beat. The musician / producer / engineer / emcee / singer / father figure is going to be clearing out more singles off his hard drive as we march into spring, so stay tuned.



Finally, an instrumental from the Milkhaus crew. "Alarm Clock" was composed by LoKi to be his actual morning wakeup -- a slowly unfolding mix of soothing synths and live percussion elements. Dig it.

TONIGHT: Music for the Stick Season @ Radio Bean

Tonight at Radio Bean, Mycelium MC and the Speaking Tongues extended fam will be taking over for an eclectic evening set. Named Music for the Stick Season, this latest gathering will feature some notable guests, like post-punk folk-rap human-bear Forest Gray, and Milkaus Records artists Ol' Crow and Loki, who are fresh off the release of their collaborative concept album, ET.

Notably, it will also feature the 802 debut (I think?) of Princess Nostalgia, aka Lili Traviato, who has landed in Vermont by way of UVM. A spooky talented producer / singer / songwriter, it is a safe bet you'll be hearing more about her, in both the near and distant future.



Requested cover donation of $3-5. 11 pm to close. Radio Bean is an all ages bohemian utopia.

Loki x Pensive x Rico James - "Good Food"

The past five years has been one of the longest continuous growth spells that Vermont hip hop has ever seen. The "Vermont Artists" list over on the right side of your screen is proof of that much; it's been a boom lately. Having lots of artists means we're going to see a lot of collaboration from here on out -- and the cross-pollination of our homegrown strains will lead to exotic new highs.

Or at least, some damn good food. LoKi and Pensive are the prime movers behind Milkhaus Records, one of the purest "art rap" outfits the 802 has ever seen. They've been making some strong additions to their catalog this year -- from the earthy Avanti! to the cosmic concept album ET to LoKi's one-day album project 0-25 (The 24hr Challenge), it's been a busy 2017.

This latest single is a collaboration with Rico James of Self Portrait. The result: the rap song about local food systems you never knew you needed. Dig it.

TONIGHT: LoKi x Hank Collins at Arts Hop

Over the past 25 years, Burlington annual South End Arts Hop has grown from weird party to cultural institution. The city will be absolutely packed with excess creativity over the weekend, with events popping off in every living room, on every corner. We would recommend making your way down Pine Street to the parking lot behind Speaking Volumes, which will be hosting some tasty hip hop from 7pm to 10pm this evening, weather permitting.



LoKi recently released "Avanti," a collaboration album with Pensive, promptly followed by an ambitious project where he made 25 songs in 24 hours to celebrate his birthday -- you can read more about that here. Milkhaus is one of Vermont's most distinctive crews.

Hank Collins is a BTV local who's been having a great run this year, including a nomination nod for the Seven Daysies for Best Hip Hop Artist. He's an energetic spitter and he's amassing a serious local following. Check out his latest single, "Self-Centered," with production courtesy of Somba.

VIDEO: Pensive & LoKi - "888"

This sun-drenched video is a great introduction to Pensive & LoKi of the MilkHaus Records collective. Over a funky, driving beat by producer ET, they take you on a tour of their home base -- and whole aesthetic.

"888" is a cut off their latest project, Avanti, which is streaming on Soundcloud and got reviewed in Seven Days this week.

TONIGHT: Yo! BTV Raps Vol. 8 @ Sidebar

Vol. VII already? That is some Lucasfilm-type longevity. YO! BTV Raps has been a reliably great gig every time, and tonight's lineup is especially strong. Jibba the Gent will be making a well-deserved headline appearance in support of his new album, Broccoli Tree.

It's a free show, it's a great venue, it'll be a beautiful night. Music starts at 10 pm - DJ Kanga will be hosting.

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!

Food Justice For All - A Hip Hop benefit concert for Salvation Farms

            Collective Rhymes presents an evening of Vermont independent hip hop to raise money for Salvation Farms (http://www.salvationfarms.org), a gleaning organization that gets fresh produce, that would of otherwise been wasted, to those in need.  
            It will take place at Parker Pie Co. in West Glover, VT on Saturday, January 10th from 8-11PM. Performances by Face-One, Mavstar, Maiden Voyage, Owen Kinlund, Caveman, Dusty Swamp, and special guests. Your host of the evening will be Mycelium. There will be a freestyle cypher and dancing to end the night. Cover charge is a suggested donation of $5-$500 and there will be a raffle with lots of cool local items! For More Info mcmycelium74@gmail.com

LoKi - "Space Age"

Fresh produce from the Milk House Records crew. Great album cover and a pretty intense concept for a concept album.

Pensive - "Thought Stream"

This track is off Pensive's recent mixtape release, Pensive Minded 2. January has been a busy month for the Milk House Records crew, who also released "Feeling Kind of Blu" this month.