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.

Humble - "Premonition"

Bless the Child emcee Humble dropped a solo album outta nowhere last month, and hot damn, it is a solid piece of work. Thanks to a cool half dozen local producers -- and the mastering expertise of Zach Crawford, aka SkySplitter -- it nails the feel and sound of 90's rap tapes.

The big surprises on this album? Old Gold's long arc of beat tape experiments has really paid off. A number of the most impressive, future primitive bangers on Premonition are his. Humble's writing game continues to improve, too: check out his bars on Matchbook and, most especially, his monumental concept cut "I am America."

Overall, this is a great damn release and a big win for the Bless the Child / Anthill orbit, a crew that grows stronger every year.

(Should you feel that you need to read about this release even more, check out Seven Days. Got you covered, bud.)

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!

Cabin Fever Hip Hop Benefit for Salvation Farms

Collective Rhymes and Salvation Farms presents an annual Hip Hop benefit concert for Salvation Farms. It will take place on Thursday, April 2nd at Club Metronome at 188 Main St, Burlington, VT. Doors open at 8 PM and show starts at 9PM. It's a 21+ show and $5 at the door! It is a fundraiser, so we are accepting more than $5 for the cover charge! We have an amazing line up of local hip hop acts! Learic of the Aztexts, Wombaticus Rex, Self Portrait, Mic Plante, Bless The Child, Loupo, Notation, Owen Kinlund aka Rubix, DJCrunchee (Productions), cworner stwore, beat boxer extraordinaire Simmy B, Caveman, Rhythm Riderz Crew, Mycelium MC, and special guests! There will be an All-Star freestyle set that the DJ's, beatmakers, emcee's will improvise the soundtrack and dialogue to a silent movie! This is a hip hop show that can't be missed! See you there! Peace

"NOT IN SEASON" - Face One ft. Humble

An unexpected gift from Burlington-based rapper/producer Face One, who dropped a fresh track this morning with Bless the Child emcee, Humble.



Face One has been maintaining radio silence for a long time -- no word on whether today's sneak attack means there's an album on the way.

Get Familiar: ILLu

Thirtyseven: What was your introduction to Vermont's hip hop scene?

ILLu: Dave Grippo was my middle school music teacher and seeing his funk band perform at our assemblies with a DJ and Rapper was the first time I realized hip hop was made in Vermont and around Burlington.

Thirtyseven: What is your production process these days?

ILLu: My production process starts when I dig through the crates to find a sample. I'm a big record collector. I record the sample into my MPC, chop it up and rearrange it. Find some drums and do the same to them. After the beat is finished I mix it down into Reaper, add some effects and some finishing touches. At that point I usually consider the beat done and move on to the next.



Thirtyseven: How did you link up with Jenke Arts and how has your experience been so far?

ILLu: I linked up with Jenke by chance really. I brought my MPC to Radio Bean's open mic and performed a (very poorly written) song and scratched some vocal samples over a couple of my beats. Mavstar just happened to be there that night and before I got off the stage he asked if he could freestyle and I said absolutely. Word must've got to Tommy Alexander at Jenke and he asked if I could supply him with some beats for the next Set Up City record and though Tommy I met MC Rajnii, J Kaine, Humble, and Knowble.

Thirtyseven: Do you feel like its harder for producers to make a name in a small scene like Burlington than it would be for rappers?

ILLu: I don't think it's any easier for emcees in Burlington because the population is so small it's hard to build a fan base. But producers have to rely on word of mouth more often then not because they don't have the same avenues to express their art form. Where a rapper can go to an open mic and showcase their skills, a producer doesn't really have that. Especially if they don't DJ.

Thirtyseven: What are your favorite venues in Vermont?

ILLu: Manhattan's Pizza is one of my favorite local venues because it is so diverse in its music, especially their openness towards hip hop with the help of their open mic's and Andy Lugo.

Thirtyseven: Aside from adding a couple hundred thousand young people with disposable income, is there anything you would like to see change in the BTV hip hop scene?

ILLu: I would like to see a Burlington version of the Rock The Bells shows where every one comes together to put on a show, have fun, and showcase their skills.

Thirtyseven: What are your goals for 2014?

ILLu: Goals for 2014 include seeing the beats I've given to local rappers released for everyone to hear. Also would like to link up with a rapper to release a project similar to what the Alchemist has been doing with Action Bronson, Prodigy and Boldy James.