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.

"Hitmen for Hire" - Yung Breeze x Raw Deff x Judge Da Beast

The Street Religion crew continues to turn the heat up, this time with an album length project from Judge Da Beast, Raw Deff and Yung Breeze. This is wall-to-wall bars, right here -- three talented emcees trying to out-do each other on every cut. They also had the good taste to invite unsung legend XP to spit on two tracks here.

You can cop it for free from Bandcamp or DatPiff.

April 18th: RA THE RUGGED MAN @ Tupelo Music Hall

HELL YES. Jibba tha Gent does it again, this time bringing one of the best rappers alive through the 802. Opening acts include Cause and Effect, XP and Raw Deff, G da Louiseville Slugga and Sheila White, and Burlington's own Somewhere In The Solution. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $20 at the door.

February 7th: Cory Gunz @ Tupelo Music Hall, White River Junction

Well, hot damn. White River Junction's Tupelo Music Hall is taking a break from their usual Americana and Folk offerings to bring...Cory Gunz to Vermont? 2014 is gonna be a strange one. Thank long-time Vermont rap fixture Jibba The Gent for this one.

Show is 18+ -- a rarity these days -- and tickets are $20 advance / $25 at the door, with a $40 "VIP package" available. Hit up JIBBATHEGENT@GMAIL.COM if you're interested.

Opening acts include Cause & Effect, XP feat. Raw Deff, BARZ ULTD, Gates & Haze, and the memorably named "G DA LOUISVILLE SLUGGA ft. MS SHELIA WHITE." Big shout to WRJ for forging a scene way down South.