Boomslang, Free The Optimus, Maiden Voyage, 3/4 @ Charlie-O's

Here's a no-brainer for anyone in Washington County: two of the most entertaining hip hop groups in the state will be playing at Vermont's Best Dive Bar™ with North Carolina crew Free The Optimus. Hard to beat a guaranteed Saturday Night like that, yeah?



Boomslang has become a fixture of the Montpelier rap scene -- and that's a good thing. As co-founding members of local label co-op State and Main, they built that scene by hand in recent years. (Shouts to Mr. Yee & Tank, too.) They know everyone, they're gracious hosts, and they love to bring good music to the capital city. Maiden Voyage are a perfect compliment: just some talented country boys who like to party. This will be a loud, fun evening. NO COVER.

TONIGHT: Boomslang & Free The Optimus in Montpelier

Tonight in Montpelier at the World Famous Charlie O's, Vermont's own Boomslang and North Carolina collective Free The Optimus will be live for a night of great music. Free The Optimus is from Nashville, NC where they have made a name for themselves with multiple releases and supporting the likes of some of Hip Hop's greats. This is a FREE SHOW with music starting at 9PM.

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+

WORD!CRAFT at Another Way Community Center in Montpelier

Central Vermont come get you some WORD!CRAFT-Experimental Art Rhymes 

A traveling, monthly, participatory, spoken word/hip hop event for all ages! This is an alcohol free event. This month’s theme is “Winter Solstice”, so whatever that means to you, bring it in written and/or improvised verse. You can also just come to listen and support lyrical artists. WORD!CRAFT is a free event, but we do accept donations. There is a community meal at AnotherWay VT that starts at 5. This is also a grand opening event for a new greenhouse space at Another Way! There will be additional hip hop sets after the open mic as well.

POSTS

Tonight @ Charlie-O's: Boomslang & Enemy Self

Friday night rap party at Charlie-O's. A hard recipe to beat, if you're looking for a good time. Headlining the hootenanny: hometown heroes Boomslang, who've had a busy 2014. There will be some intense instrumental sets from two of the 802's finest producers, Skysplitter Ink and Loupo. Skysplitter Ink has been insanely prolific this year, working behind the boards on dozens of rap albums for artists around the world and still finding time to tour with his rap group, Somewhere in the Solution. The young shogun Loupo is hot off the release of both a solo album on LA label Cold Busted, and the excellent Jenke Arts collaboration Agent Slacker.

The festivities will also feature the debut of Enemy Self, a long time veteran of 802 hip hop who has recently released his experimental album "Evolution Kills." If you're in Montpelier, there is simply no other place to be.

Get Familiar: Loupo

Thirtyseven: Where in Vermont are you from?

Loupo: I'm originally from a little town called Duxbury, Vermont, and moved to Montpelier when I was 13. Now I'm living in Colchester and working in Burlington. It's fast paced living that not only supports hip hop in greater numbers, but needs it.

Thirtyseven: How did you get introduced to the strange fact Vermont has a hip hop scene?

Loupo: My taste of hip hop was introduced by my brother jayel, I remember him playing some of the beats that keep me going today. It can be the smallest piece that creates the foundation to someones passion, and he was just that.

Thirtyseven: What keeps you sane and inspired during the winter?

Loupo: I'm actually used to being cooped inside making beat whenever, wether its -10 or 110 degrees I'm still thinking music. Sometimes living in Vermont to enjoy a full hearted winter is good, otherwise I wish I lived somewhere warm and sunny...like LA.

Thirtyseven: Where do you start when you're building a new beat?

Loupo: I usually start off by packing a bowl, finding a good sample, and getting to work! Its funny to think that in some of the tracks on Transitions, and my latest release, i spent more time adding fx, vocal drops, and intros/buildups than actually making the beat. Maybe thats what gives me my sound, given much experimenting goes on in this process.

Thirtyseven: Do you have projects in mind after Transitions?

Loupo: Yes, I'm currently working on another release that leans more on my hype, big beat style. I want to bring something to the table that can be played in many different settings, dealing less with the relaxed melancholy I'm used to. Although I love working on both styles of music, its important to keep every release in one formula/sound to create a cohesive piece.

Thirtyseven: What was your process like creating a project like Agent Slacker?

Loupo: That project was a spontaneous type deal, I just had a bunch of joints floating around on soundcloud and my computer. The album came out quick, and it was dope, always fun playing a show with them.

This is Loupo saying thanks for reading, as always keep the hip hop alive!!

June 7th: MD Holla @ Positive Pie II

Gourmet pizza joint Positive Pie II will be hosting Queens rapper MD Holla this Saturday. He will be bringing his conscious hip hop message to the capital city in support of his new mixtape, "MOBBIN SEASON 2."

If you're into people yelling over their studio tracks, this promises to be a treat. The show is apparently free. Let me know if I was wrong.

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.

December 17th: Boomslang @ Nectars

The cats in Boomslang have been making great hip hop for years, but their intermittent output and Montpelier location have kept them off the radar for way too many Vermont rap heads, especially here in Burlington. Good news is, you can fix that for free next Tuesday.

S & M Records -- that's "State & Main," pervs -- is a capitol city collective that's been doing great work putting the Montpelier scene on the map. (Or radar screen, whatever.) They will be putting on another Burlington showcase on December 17th, and it's free if you're old enough to drink. Come get familiar.