Masta Ace & Akrobatik @ ArtsRiot 10/8

This Saturday at ArtsRiot in Burlington, VT two legends of Hip Hop will be live on stage featuring a bunch of local heavy hitters. Brooklyn, NY's Masta Ace and Boston, MA's Akrobatik will be taking the stage for two unforgettable sets! Masta Ace got his start as part of the iconic Juice Crew being featured on their classic hit "The Symphony" in 1988 and has since released critically acclaimed albums as well as collaboration projects with the likes of Ed OG, EMC (Wordsworth & Stricklin) and MF Doom. 2016 finds him with his new album "The Falling Season" portraying his life in High School. Akrobatik is member of the classic crew The Perceptionists with Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One. AK has been hard at work this year traveling around the globe doing shows as well as working on new music with Mr. Lif and an album with overseas producer LX Beats. Along with this two legendary artists you get local support from Mister Burns (of The Lynguistic Civilians), JARV (of Maiden Voyage), Self Portrait, Notation, Almattic, Cworner Stwore and Mighty Ceej (MA). Tickets are $12 today and $17 day of show. All Ages. Doors 8:30PM Event Page HERE!

Dec 12th: Masta Ace @ The Rusty Nail, Stowe VT

Vermonty Burns Productions keeps it moving even in the dead of winter: up next, they're bringing Masta Ace to Stowe, VT's finest venue, the (formerly) infamous Rusty Nail. This is a deeply stacked bill, featuring The Aztext, Lynguistic Civilians, BTV newcomers Maiden Voyage, and Crusty Cuts doing a DJ set. (You should know Crusty Cuts from the recent Ler Stevens project, Green Hour.) Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 day of.

Sept. 7th: Masta Ace x EMC @ Zen Lounge

One of the best rappers alive will be swinging through the Queen City this Sunday. At the recent DJ Abilities extravaganza, I was very impressed with Zen Lounge, which feels like stepping into a foreign country, if not another planet altogether. Great bar, too. Overall, an ideal setting for an intimate Sunday night with a living legend.

This is not a nostalgia cruise, though: Masta Ace is still dropping gems right now in 2014, and currently touring with his group eMC, which includes the Lyricist Lounge duo Punchline & Wordsworth (easily one of the best writers in rap) as well as Milwaukee madman Stricklin. Opening acts are Lynguistic Civilians and local upstarts Maiden Voyage, who I'm looking forward to seeing live. In short, an absurdly stacked bill, as usual, from Vermonty Burns Productions.

Tickets are $15 at the door, $10 in advance -- and you can get those advance tickets at Wildlife Clothing, which is located upstairs on 161 Main Street.

See you at the bar. Did I mention it's a great bar?