ROUNDUP: Locally Grown Singles

Four dishes on the menu today:

NOtation and David Chief have released another slice of the new flavors they've been working on. "Taken" is a short breezy slice of aspirational flows -- it's also got over sixty thousand plays on Soundcloud. Clearly, these gentlemen are doing something right. No word on future releases just yet, but rest assured, something is coming.


Chel Strong and Es-K have been putting in work together for years now. If the name is new to you, definitely check out this "Chel x Es-K" mix. It's a strong catalog with a huge range. Es-K was also all over his 2015 LP Forever Starts Tomorrow, an excellent concept album. "Your Moment" marks the beginning of a regular Wednesday series, Clearing Out The Hard Drive, which will consist of this duo unloading heat every week until the snow is gone. Good news for headphones everywhere.


Barre rap squad Bar None The Best had a damn strong 2017 and they're already peppering us with new singles. "Danger" is great throwback cut with a slapping beat that lets these hooligans shine. We can definitely expect more singles, more videos, and more shows in the months to come.


Kingbread is a longtime BTV legend and core member of Heartless Ent, who ended 2017 with a steady run of Soundcloud singles, mostly from founder BL Spitz and Eden rapper Khaosity. "Shelburne rd. Freestyle" is tightly written short movie that showcases Kingbread's true school style. Heartless Ent will be hosting the upcoming All Black Party on Saturday, January 27th at Social Club & Lounge.

VIDEO: Judge, Hess, Rich - "100"

Fresh visuals from the Bar None The Best extended fam. Shot in NYC, the video features some tasty wall pieces in addition to three tight, menacing verses from Judge Da Beast, J-Hess and M. Rich.

You can catch Bar None The Best on Saturday night at Gusto's in Barre, performing at The Fall Come Up, a celebration of hip hop in their hometown. They're bringing along an A-List lineup, too: Judge Da Beast, S.I.N.siZZle, Jibba "The Gent," NYT and the entire Street Religion crew. 21+ Show is free. Buy some albums.

ROUNDUP: Hip Hop Shows in September

September 6th: Yo! BTV Raps Vol. 9 @ Sidebar. This should be approximately hype as fuck, packing some high energy rap acts into an intimate lil' craft bar. Jarv and Boomslang are both party demolition units. In addition, Face One continues his comeback streak, Khaosity will be staking his claim to BTV, and PR Department will deliver a set. That's a new collaboration between Rico James of Self Portrait and local boom bap head PreciseMC. Also, happy birthday to hip hop superfan and live show cameraman Brett North! 10 pm. 21+. Free.

September 7th: Hip Hop Heals @ Backstage Pub and Restaurant This is a benefit show for the Garrows, a local family who had a house fire this summer. Admission is free and there will be a variety of fundraiser activities throughout the evening. Props to Colby Stiltz for putting this on.

September 12th: Big Boi @ Higher Ground. Hot damn. Not a lot needs to be said here. 8 pm. All Ages. $35 adv / $38 door.

September 14th: Vermont's Finest @ Social Club and Lounge. Another showcase affair at Social Club, a great BTV venue that makes a point of putting on real events. This should be no exception, an evening of local rap sponsored by God Squad and Heartless Ent. Lineup includes Eyedos, BL SPITZ and Dok Trauma. 8 pm. 18+ $5 / College ID $2

September 15-17 Above The Radar. This is a Very Big Deal: a three-day graffiti festival right on the Burlington waterfront, bringing in some legendary crews to collaborate on massive walls. This is a family friendly, pure hip hop event and represents a massive amount of work by Vermont's own Anthill Collective. Free. Go check it out.

September 15th: Mics and Strikes @ Champlain Lanes. The lineup hasn't been announced yet but if you want raps, drinks and bowling all in one place, this is your fix. Always a good time.

September 16th: Capital Punishment @ Sweet Melissas. Current lineup is Khaosity, Drive, Modest and Lifelesson -- expect more names to be added in the weeks to come. 9 pm. All Ages. $5.

September 16th: Upper Valley Summer Music Festival @ The Engine Room. Packed bill in White River Junction. 9 pm. $10 adv / $15 door.

September 21st: Home Grown Hip Hop @ Club Metronome. Colby Stiltz, Suss Brim, Chyse Atkins, Jibba Tha Gent, Modest, Party Boy Woodz, Joe Grizzly and City Lights. 9 pm. 18+ $5 / 21+ Free

September 30th: The Fall Come Up @ Gustos. A guaranteed good time. This is a homecoming party in Barre for Bar None The Best, and they'll be celebrating with a serious lineup: Judge Da Beast, Jibba The Gent, and NYT (aka Jamell Rogers). To top it all off, this is your chance to see the Street Religion crew live onstage without having to drive at least an hour south. 10:30 pm 21+

September 30th: Boomslang & Jarv @ Charlie O's. Another guaranteed good time, and in the same county, no less. It's a Vermont tradition. Best dive bar in the state if not the country, great party rap, colorful regulars grumbling about great party rap -- just because I've said all this before doesn't mean you shouldn't be there. 21+. Free.

VIDEO: Bar None The Best - "Eye See"

Barre true school disciples Bar None The Best are continuing their 2017 warpath, as promised. After launching a single with Termanology, "Grind," they took a left turn, shooting & editing a music video for their affiliate, Judge Da Beast. Now they're back with another Myster DL directed piece for "Eye See," a funky & catchy Nastee production.

No word yet on the next EP or album, but Bar None The Best deserve credit for knowing what they want and how to get there. They're making very interesting moves. They're one of the few 802 crews that are aiming squarely at a nationwide audience, and they've got an expert mentor. Not only has Nastee been on the frontlines of NYC hip hop since the 90's, he's still on the cutting edge in 2017, working with the Pro Era camp. He knows what works.

Between the aftermath of the Seven Daysies awards and the advent of the "SpitDat.com" top 10 lists, there's been a lot of social media posturing about who "the best" in Vermont is. Like I say every two weeks here, that's thinking too small.

Bar None The Best have been proud outsiders from the beginning, devoted to hardcore street rap in a state that skews toward conscious vibes. They're concerned with cementing their place in hip hop, not Vermont. Their game plan in 2017 so far has reflected that, every step of the way.

Make sure your plan reflects your dreams, too. Don't let local politics or crab bucket reflexes make your decisions for you. Skills remain timeless.

VIDEO: Judge da Beast - "Won't Lose"

Another fresh visual from the Bar None The Best collective, this time produced entirely in-house. This is another jawn off his last solo project, Arraignment, a heartfelt motivational banger.

Worth noting that Bar None The Best are headed down to New York City to play a show this evening opening for Termanology. Term dropped a feature verse on their recent single "Grind," which debuted on The Source's website late last month. They promise there is even more material on the way, too. These boys are cooking, in other words.

ROUNDUP: Hip Hop Shows in August

August 2nd: Apathy @ Club Metronome. One of the best rappers alive touches down on Main Street tonight so, you know, go see that. 9 pm. $10 adv / $15 door. 18+

August 4th: Bowling for BP @ Champlain Lanes. A special charity edition of the Mics & Strikes series to benefit the Ryan Morin Memorial Scholarship. 8 pm. $15 gets you two hours of bowling and dope rap. All ages.

Also August 4th: The Khaosity Experience @ Sweet Melissas. An evening of hip hop in Montpelier with Drive, Trono of Self Portrait crew, and JMC Ent. 8:30 pm. $5. All Ages.

August 11th: Chris Webby @ Higher Ground. Suburban rap sensation Chris Webby has parlayed mixtape success into multiple national tours now and will probably never stop. Also on the bill: Bizarre of D12, because of course he would be. 9 pm. $18 adv/$22 door. All Ages.

August 17th: 3rd Thursday @ The Monkey House. Yet another big score for the Anthill Collective family, this month's lineup brings some outside talent to Winooski. Sets from Ben Schorr, Stay on Mars and Maine's furball fast-rap legend Eyenine, who puts on a hell of a show. Local metal rap act HatePH34R will be making an appearance, too. 9 pm. 21+ $3 // 18+ $8

August 19th: Dellarious Summer Jam @ Cloud 9 Bar and Grille. Sure, this is in New Hampshire on Hampton Beach, but the lineup is heavy on Vermont: Bar None The Best, Jarv, Jibba the Gent and the entire Street Religion massive doing a group set. This should be a fairly bananas event. 9 pm. $5 adv/$10 door. 21+

August 24th: Chyse & DJ Ross @ Social Club & Lounge. If you're not familiar with Chyse, fix that. He'll be headlining at Social Club & Lounge alongside DJ Ross. Khaosity, Jibba the Gent and Kastaway will also be performing. 9 pm. $5. 21+

August 26th: A-Dog Day 2017 @ Waterfront, Nectars, Club Metronome. It's hard to believe this is already the fourth A-Dog Day celebration. It's also hard to believe it's only the fourth one. This has become the most important event of the year, a pilgrimage, a holy day. The Friends for A-Dog Foundation not only puts on a world-class party, they're a community asset year round.

What a party, though. They're not kidding when they call it "a city-wide celebration," but make sure you're upstairs at Club Metronome when The Beatnuts go on.

Bar None The Best - "Grind" ft. Termanology

When Barre heavyweights Bar None The Best dropped their debut EP, Green Mountain Sound, they established themselves as hip hop purists, Boom Baptist fundamentalists who were aiming at the top. I don't mean they're here to dominate our little fishbowl -- although that's certainly true -- I mean that Bar None The Best are looking to make a name for themselves nationwide.

Lots of rappers dream that dream, sure, but: these cats might just do it. Unlike your average mixtape messiahs, Bar None The Best have a working blueprint and some great coaching, too. That would be legendary engineer & industry survivor Nastee, who has been both a producer and mentor for this young group. (Nastee has been putting in work behind the boards for Pro Era, the NYC crew that brought you Joey Bada$$ and Kirk Knight, whose latest project Nyck at Night is ... banger-packed.)

Landing major guest features is a non-negotiable step towards earning recognition. For "Grind," they went big and got Boston emcee Termanology, who went from mixtapes to actual Unsigned Hype to working with DJ Premier. Then they sought out Myster DL, a prolific director with a serious catalog, to do the visuals right. Then they debuted it on The Source's website.

This is what I mean by a working blueprint. You cannot argue with results.

The duo have promised there's more material on the way, too. No word on an album yet, but obviously, their buzz will be escalating from here. Stay tuned.

VIDEO: Judge Da Beast - "U.N.I.T.Y." ft. Jibba the Gent and S.I.N.siZZle

A big moment for Vermont hip hop, right here. "U.N.I.T.Y." is the closing track off Judge Da Beast's 2016 album Arraignment, featuring two highly appropriate guest spots: Jibba "The Gent" and S.I.N.siZZle, both of them positive forces in their communities and our rap scene. The track itself, as older & wiser readers already know, is a flip of Queen Latifah's '93 hit.

Shot at Vermont's scenic state capital, the video has a big cast in the background. It's not quite XXL's legendary October '98 cover, but a decent percentage of the 802's entire scene showed up for this. You can catch Bar None The Best in the mix -- they just wrapped up a new song & video shoot with Boston legend Termanology.

Props to Miles Goad of DVP Cinematography for excellent work here. Props to everyone who came through and showed up. Props to Judge Da Beast: this not only changes the conversation after a month of diss tracks, it proves he's an artist with range. Depth, too. Check out Arraignment if you haven't already.

Eyedos - "Buried IN Barre"

Summer of Love 2017 continues. Vermont has never been known for rap beef, but when it rains, well...it's monsoon season, bud. After shots from Judge Da Beast and M. Rich of Bar None The Best -- and a response track from Colby Stiltz -- now Eyedos is getting involved.

I'm not entirely clear on how Eyedos got drawn into this -- it's not like he's out here repping STILTZgang. But I'm betting it involves Facebook. This beef has been a classic study in conflict: war is all about unintended consequences, and those begin immediately.

"Buried IN Barre" is definitely the hardest shot so far. Unlike "Beef Stew," it's an actual diss track, and Eyedos has bars for days. This is also the best production, on all fronts. Wherever our Summer of Love goes from here, hopefully the quality control stays this good.

As they used to say in Europe: ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

Colby Stiltz - "Beef Stew"

After a diss track from Judge Da Beast -- and a follow-up shot from M. Rich of Bar None The Best -- we've got a response from Colby Stiltz. Personal punchlines, beatbox intro, and full studio production: it's on, approximately. Atlanta trap is perhaps a weird direction to take it, but "weird" has been part of the STILTZgang aesthetic for years now.

"My one and only response for the fans of hip hop in this state," reports Mr. Stiltz. "Doing it for the culture and for fun and to show these guys I won't be dissed on my home turf. Peace and love is what runs Vermont and we will defend that!"

Not sure if I should make a DJ Vlad joke or a DJ Kayslay joke, but either way: enjoy. It's going to be an entertaining summer from here.

Stiltz & Posse will be in the house for the upcoming Regional Indie Hip Hop Compilation Release Party at Club Metronome on the 20th.

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!

Scarface (of Geto Boys) Live in Barre 3/17!

The Friends For A_Dog Foundation present legendary Geto Boys member Scarface live in Barre, Vermont Thursday March 17th at the historic Barre Opera House. Lots of support on this show including VT Union, Bar None The Best, Self Portrait, Causin Effect, Jamell NYT, DJ Rekkon, DJ Kanganade and hosted by King Sha Mecca Blaze! This is deffinitely a special show as a portion of the proceeds go to the Spaulding High School Arts Department! This show is also structured to focus more on the performance as this will be an early show and also substance free. Huge show for Vermont, you can get tickets at $25 / All Ages / Show from 7PM - 10PM

TONIGHT: RAP BTV Talent Show @ Metronome

S.I.N. Sizzle's symphony is going down tonight -- be there. Do it for Cheesus Mac God.

More information available via Club Metronome.

June 12: RAP BTV Talent Show @ Metronome

Big lineup for a great price at Club Metronome on a Thursday night. The marquee is entertainment unto itself: hard to say whether the host being named "P. Alimony" is more awesome than a rapper named "Bar None The Best." Especially when both are competing with "Cheesus Mac God." The only way to be sure? Be there.

S.I.N. Sizzle will be headlining with a capstone set. There's a lot of great rap shows coming through this summer, but it's hard to beat this here as an opening course. See you at the bar.