"Loops 4 Coupes" - John Carter of Earth

John Carter of Earth -- usually stylized JCOE -- is one third of Windsor hip hop crew Maiden Voyage. Loops 4 Coupes is his most recent instrumental project, and having just tested it out taking a spin through the mountains of Lamoille County, I can confirm it works. This is a smooth, head-nodding piece of work and a great cruising soundtrack.

JCOE has heat rocks on the stove right now, so there's more to come. You can catch him with Maiden Voyage tomorrow at 3 pm rocking the Jambulance Stage at the BTV waterfront for Above The Radar. Which is going to be f'ing awesome.

Es-K - 05.15.17

Brand new beat tape from Burlington's Finest, Es-K. The man simply never stops moving. This is a continuous 22 minute set of head-nodding perfection.

Es-K is currently working on a million projects at once - expect more releases in 2017, including a few big surprises. (Large.)

Meanwhile, tune in on soundcloud.

Loupo - "Good Company"

The tag team of Es-K and Loupo have been racking up some serious accomplishments in the past year. Where Es-K's Building Bridges project plugged him into NYC's rap scene, Loupo's latest album covers very different terrain: wobbly, psychedelic jazz-hop experiments with a talented group of co-producers and live musicians.

This is much more than a beat tape. This is a serious album that will occupy your headphones for weeks.

Good Company was released on Melody Soul, a Baton Rouge based label with a great roster and a global rep. Loupo is already cranking on the next step, a collaboration he's calling "Noise Ordinance" -- more on that soon.

Es-K Makes a Beat On The Spot

Dope: watch Es-K's creative process in-studio, thanks to On The Spot Sessions. Captured during the long preparation for his recent album Building Bridges, Es-K is posted up at Pro Era Studios and happy to talk shop, as ever.

Es-K has a deep catalog and it's all dope - get started here.

Loupo featured on Cold Busted compilation

Montpelier native Loupo has gotten a track placed on the latest instrumental compilation from the distinguished hip hop label Cold Busted. It's only the beginning, too: he's got a solo project coming out on that imprint before the summer is through. Props to Loupo and Es-K for making major moves this year.

Speaking of whom...check out this collaboration off the latest episode of Spontaneous Grooves:

Dolson Beats - Vitamin A (An A-Dog Tribute)

Burlington-based producer Nick Dolson presents a tribute to the late great DJ A-Dog.

Es-K - Spontaneous Grooves Episode 18

Tireless purveyor of dope beats & distinguished gentleman Es-K has just dropped the latest installment of his Spontaneous Grooves series, and it is wall-to-wall flames. Montpelier prodigy Loupo shows up as co-producer on three tracks here, too. I had a blast watching Es-K at work in the studio last Friday with Tennessee beatsmith Central Parks -- those collaborations will get released in a future episode. They sound like some shit you'd hear on Mount Olympus.

Es-K just keeps getting better, and that's kinda terrifying.

ILLu - B Side Instrumentals Volume II

A fresh beat tape from Jenke Arts affiliate ILLu, who was recently interviewed here on Vermont Hip Hop. This is a soundtrack that suits the Siberian climate we're all enjoying this week -- give it a spin.

Es-K - Spontaneous Grooves Ep. 16

Burlington beatsmith and one-man army Es-K keeps it moving with the sixteenth "Episode" of his epic series for Cold Busted, Spontaneous Grooves. One of my favorite cuts on this album, "Peaz," is a collaboration with Montpelier-based producer Loupo, who is spooky talented and working on some big projects of his own for 2014.

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.

"Burning Through the Breaks" - SKYWISE

From the backwoods of the Northeast Kingdom, some damn tasty instrumental work from SKYWISE. This is definitely a backwoods man of mystery at work, but the material speaks strongly for itself. Sample-based compositions that bang hard: it's hard to ask for more than that from a beat tape.

Highly recommended stuff from a promising new Vermont talent.