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.

"TrILLu" - Trono x ILLu

More fresh tunes straight out the gate -- 2018 is already busy. "TrILLu" is a six track set from producer ILLu, who has been interviewed here before, and rapper Trono of Self Portrait. Who have also been interviewed here before. This project emerged from sessions at the Skylab, and the production work of SkySplitterInk helps every track shine. Since Self Portrait dropped their debut LP "Primal Union" the trio has stayed busy.

DJ Kanganade has been working on fatherhood, new scratching techniques, and precision knife throwing.

Producer (and emcee and photographer) Rico James maintained a steady pace in 2017, dropping the Pilot EP with PreciseMC, the "GOOD FOOD" single with MilkHaus Records mainstays LoKi & Pensive, and the tasty instrumental tape Rico de Gallo.

Trono dropped a compilation called The Singles, then showed up all over the Mind's Eye Tribe LP and...well, here we are: TrILLu. The name is both catchy and inevitable, since their only real alternative was "iLono." ILLu has been on a quiet warpath and there will be plenty more to come in 2018 from this young producer.

Yo! BTV RAPS VOl. 6 At Sidebar 1/12

Tomorrow night January 12th is the Yo! BTV RAPS Vol. 6 with a great lineup of local Hip Hop featuring Fresh Patterns (a new group featuring Mister Burns and Cworner Stwore), Self Portrait, PreciseMC, Matt Hagen MC, SkySpliiterInk and Al Dose. DJ Kanga will be holding down the music all night at this monthly event. Yo! BTV RAPS has previously been held at Nectar's and is now moving to the new Sidebar venue next to Mr. Mike's in downtown Burlington. This is a 21+ event that is FREE! Music starts at 10PM.

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

"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.

Watch Mc Topic be taken down by an elderly woman in a wheel chair.

Mc Topic has been highly prolific in the Midwest rap scene since leaving his home state of Vermont around 5 years ago. As a member of Burlingtons Somewhere in the Solution he helped create a scene that has been pumping out some seriously great hip hop over the past few years. But Topic didn't stop rapping when he left Vt. 

After moving to Omaha Nebraska he quickly formed the Hip Hop/EDM hybrid crew Purveyors of the Conscious Sound with midwest natives Jake Dawson, Liz Graham and Andy Boonstra. PCS has played amazing shows headlining clubs, opening for major touring acts and playing festivals with groups including 311 and The Wailers. But after 3 full length group albums, his own solo record Sonic Architects is nearing completion.

Topics new video for his lead single Nosferatu is equal parts nasty hip hop word play and hilarious youtube clip. It is suggested viewing for anyone who likes hip hop or loves there Grandma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFqAWUq1I-s