For their latest release, the team at Equal Eyes Records have teamed up with Boomslang producer / occasional emcee, JL. Next Summer is a headphone vacation, overflowing with ideas. 

That's nothing new for JL, whose beats are influenced by Talking Heads and Adamski as much as Pete Rock.  JL is an omni-genre music lover who has been devouring stacks of vinyl for decades now.  Regulars at Charlie-O's may also know him as the lynchpin of synth pop throwback Champagne Dynasty -- that kind of verb-heavy, 80's-tastic, cocaine wonderland feel permeates a few tracks on Next Summer, too. There's also tons of boom bap, a few detours through the world music section, and all kinds of funk.

I caught up with the maestro himself for a quick talk about the latest project. 

VTHH: Did you really get that fortune cookie on the cover that says "Next summer, you will dance to a different beat" ?

JL:  I really did. That was from a cookie at P.F. Chang's, when I was down in Baltimore earlier this summer.  It made an impact on many levels, in that moment, and I knew right away it would be part of the artwork.

VTHH: How has your experience been working with the Equal Eyes team?

JL: Working with them has been a blessing.  It's a situation where they've done everything possible to help support the project, and then some.  It's an awesome environment for a producer.  I've always loved those Rico James and iLLu beats and production, and they have basically made me feel like a family member from beginning.  They're already after me for the next collection of beats!!

VTHH: Are you surprised it took until 2018 for an 802 hip hop record label to happen? I seem to recall that Boomslang were/are founding members of the State & Main collective, so you're an OG already.

JL: Yes!  Shout out State and Main and definitely Boomslang! I've got nothing but love, always.  It is a bit of a surprise it took until 2018 to make an 802 hip hop label happen, but well worth the wait.  The Equal Eyes team is really committed and making serious run this year, right out of the gates.  When they approached me about doing an instrumental album, I was all in from the jump.  

VTHH: Next Summer is all over the place but still fits together nicely. Are you always trying to orchestrate lots of styles?

JL: Thank you.  I need to mix it up when making new tracks, to stay interested.  I'd say there is a range of styles throughout Next Summer.  There is definitely a fair amount of funk and sunshine spread through the mix and at different tempos than I had been previously working with.

VTHH: Is doing solo instrumental albums something that excites you going forward? Can we expect more of these funkpuppies?

JL: Most likely. I’m taking a few steps back from performing (with Boomslang) but feel really inspired to keep developing as a beat maker and producer.  I’ve got a handful of tracks for the next round of instrumentals but there’s a completely different vibe. It’s exciting. I feel like I’m doing whatever I want in the studio and it’s coming out fresh. I look forward to sharing it. 

Back on August 3rd, I posted a quick note about the new PR DepARTment project, the Outlook EP. The EP was tight and strong, and a real evolution from their first release. As for my quick note? It was a hack job, the work of a Yeti on vacation.

Well, mostly: I did a write-up about Equal Eyes Records for Seven Days two weeks back. As ever, I wound up with a lot of "bonus footage" -- important stories that get cut for word count. Rather than let it go to waste, I followed up with a few more questions for the PR DepARTment team, PreciseMC and Rico James. The result is a conversation about belonging, the process of honing an album, and rethinking everything. Dig it.

Part 1: Precise MC.

VTHH: How did you start collaborating with Rico James?  

PreciseMC: Rico was one of the first friends I made in the Vermont scene after moving from California. I was on the same bill as Self Portrait and they reminded me of my old group, Ill Effect, so we hit it off. I did the song "Float" on their Primal Union album and that worked out well, so Rico started sending me beats.

At first he just wanted me to make my own project with them, but I was already working on my project with Scottie Royal and I knew that Rico was a dope MC so I pushed for him to drop verses on them as well. We hit a groove together and were becoming friends so we decided to turn the tracks we were working on into the first PR Department EP.

VTHH: As a new artist, do you feel the BTV scene has been welcoming?

PreciseMC: BTV has definitely been welcoming. I'm not the most animated guy in public, but after meeting the Self Portrait crew they always had my back at shows. Mister Burns put me on originally and has always been supportive and I've met a ton of great people in the scene. There are similarities and differences from California, but most of the people I interact with at shows seem to all be out to help each other and there is a real sense of community, which is great. I was intimidated for a long time before trying to do shows on my own out here after always being in a group, but once I started meeting people, it felt like home.

VTHH: What was your process for the Outlook EP? There were a lot of fine touches on that project. Was that the result of listening & tinkering long after the sessions were cut?

Precise MC: Once we decided that PR Department was going to be a real group, Rico started cooking up beats that complimented me more. I think all of the beats on the first EP were ones he'd had for a minute, but the beats on Outlook were fresh for us. I think he cooked up Microphone and Life We Choose and I flipped out over them, so he just locked into that lane. I think you can tell that we found a nice groove on Outlook. From there everything fell into place.

We had clear concepts for each song and just tried to execute them the best we could. This time around we decided I'd record and mix everything at my spot since I do audio production for my day job. So there were a ton of different mixes and arrangements that I'd send over to Rico, get his feedback then adjust accordingly. I geek out over that stuff so there was definitely alot of tinkering, and of course I'm always nitpicking so there are still things I wish I could adjust, but I'm proud of the project.

You should see our text chats, so many album notes and tweaks. I also tend to over think the nuances of a project or song and add in way to many meanings that are completely lost on most listeners, but it makes the process a lot of fun.

Part 2: Rico James

VTHH: Where were you at creatively when you were putting together beats for the Outlook EP and working on honing those tracks?

Rico James: This is a loaded question for me. A lot of people don't know, but last September I had an incident and suffered a traumatic head injury which left me with a fractured skull and some bleeding around the brain.  The brain is a complicated thing, and took 6-9 months to heal and repair itself fully. When something like this happens to you, you have a lot of time to think and evaluate different aspects of your life. You realize what is important, and more importantly, what is not important.  

As I rebounded from this injury, I took a step back with my music making and started making beats for the love again and not thinking about the outcome. I make beats because I truly love it, and I love sitting down, digging through records, and chopping samples. I got to a place with my production where I was overthinking and analyzing everything I was creating, which just leads to becoming stagnant and not ever finishing anything.  Once I was able to tune out all the bullshit that comes with artists and egos, and just make beats I like, my productivity levels have been at an all time high and I'm more confident than I've ever been with my art.

Right now, I'm making beats that I like and that I want to make. That's it. That's what makes me happy. The beats from the Outlook EP came from this period of just creating and not worrying about what anyone else is doing.  PreciseMC has been a very good friend and fellow creative mind that shares a similar passion so he took these beats and ran with them. This was long before we had the title "Outlook", but that title could not be more relevant than it is to this project. My outlook has changed on what I'm doing and creating, and this EP is a reflection of that to the fullest. We made music we enjoy. We are happy that others are enjoying it as well.

VTHH: Who are your influences in terms of structuring & plotting out albums?

Rico James: A major influence for me on album structuring is Cunninlynguists and the production from Kno.  Their albums have such a good balance of some deep, introspective songs, mixed with some light-hearted uplifting songs.  That balance is very important. If you go too far in either direction, you'll lose people. They can hit every mood throughout the entirety of their records.  

Those records resonate with me and can almost transport me to different times as the record plays. I strive for that. I want to give you everything. Dark stuff, serious stuff, silly stuff.  It should all be there. It should be a journey of sorts.

VTHH: When are you guys playing next?

Rico James: We are very excited to be playing at the Mavstar album release party on Sept 21st. This is happening at the Community Of Sound - 4 Howard St loading dock across from Dealer.com.

Other than that, we are just getting to work on our 3rd project as PR DepARTment and we will see where it goes.  

Today is a big one for the 99 Neighbors crew. HANKNATIVE's debut album, Problem Child, dropped just past midnight, and tonight, they'll be headlining at Higher Ground. Few readers need to be told this, but just in case: that's a big fucking deal around here. A rite of passage, a local landmark, and at the very least, proof of a real and growing fanbase.

They earned it all honestly. "High-energy, carefully calculated live sets" is a strategy that will never stop working. No matter what miraculous paths technology takes the music business down in the future, you'll still need to deliver those goods and rap your ass off onstage. 99 Neighbors are coming off a string of triumphant performances lately, from their Open House party at ArtsRiot to their closing set at this year's A_Dog Day. 

It's also been less than a month since the release of Sam.'s solo project, Collision. The collective is carving a very distinctive lane in 2018, with sharp bars, catchy hooks, and an emphasis on real songwriting -- as opposed to just rapping over beats. For a prime example, check out "Problems," a track that builds HANKNATIVE's fluid raps into melodic movements. Auto-tuned earworms aside, it's damn near prog rock, in terms of the structure. 

This is a young crew with essentially no limits. Their willingness to explore and musical ambition is matched by their quality control. Every track in their catalog sounds professional, and Somba is simply a beast.

So. They'll be at Higher Ground's Showcase Lounge this evening for an all ages show. Go and see that. Show starts at 8:30, $10 at the door. 

Anthill Collective will never front, nor will they fake the funk. Here's their recap of this month's edition of the venerable hip hop showcase 3rd Thursdays:

"It's summertime in VT. Every artist we know, be it graff writer, eMCee, DJ, breaker or anyone supporting any genre... we are all grinding right now. In the past month alone Anthill has rocked at Levitt AMP Trenton Music Series, Under Pressure - International Graffiti Convention, 2nd Annual Jam for the Land with Stowe Cider and painted a school bus and a silo. Things get crazy leading up to our 2nd Edition of Above The Radar, September 14-16!

That said, we had some scheduling snafus, a couple cancellations... hey it happens. But, the show must go on as always and without a doubt you can expect that the VT scene will come out in full effect to throw down. So, come see the spontaneity of hip-hop in it's purest form. Expect freestyles galore, surprise sets and maybe even some new shit. FREE show, come show yer love!"

Truesay. I have no idea how it's halfway through August, myself. Looks like Mavstar is going to be there running some new material from his upcoming album on Equal Eyes Records. (Release party is September 21st.)

Sam Paulino's Sophomore EP "Collision" Is an 8 track body of work showing the progression/Diversity of the 21 year old artist from Burlington VT. With production from 3 talented producers Somba, JuJu, & Loupo, The 99 Neighbors Collective have done it again! - Thank you Sam Paulino99NeighborsSombaJuJu

Brand new project from the 99 Neighbors crew -- Sam. just dropped his solo debut, the Collision EP. It's creative-as-fuck future soul music, as expected. Dude can sing, dude can spit, and he's really stretching his wings on this one. Collision is packed full of ideas, a maze of shifting genres, feels and tempos.

99 Neighbors will be headlining Higher Ground on Sept. 1st, alongside Boston's Golden Boy Music Group. All Ages. $5 adv / $10 door. 8:30 pm.

Mister Burns never stops working. Those five words are a formula as ironclad & consistent as the second law of thermodynamics. Everyone is hustling, everyone is grinding, but people like Mister Burns really put those casual rapper brags into perspective.

His latest project, through his VMB Productions, is the "Will Rap For Art" Tour, which kicks off August 9th at The Monkey House in Winooski. From there: a ten-day sprint across New England.

The bill is top notch. Jarv, you already know -- he's officially the best rapper in Vermont now, after all. Many readers might already know the speed-rap human muppet Eyenine, too, since he's played plenty of shows in BTV by now. He's a show-stopping talent who's impressed the RZA; not something you see on a lot of resumes lately.

Rounding the bill out is Dillon, a very talented producer/spitter from Atlanta. I first realized he existed last year, when he dropped the superb Black Tie Affair, which was produced by none other than Diamond D. (That might be an even bigger co-sign than the RZA, depending on your taste.)

So: this is an all-killer, no-filler evening of quality rap music and it's coming to a venue near you. Come on through. 

The crew at Equal Eyes Records have been keeping up a relentless pace. Their latest is a new project from PR DepARTment, the tag team of Cali transplant PreciseMC and label co-founder Rico James. The Outlook EP is their follow-up to last summer's Pilot EP, and it's considerably tighter piece of work. The production has gotten more ambitious, and it makes for a great headphone trip. 

The Outlook EP is also available on Apple Music and Spotify.

Written by Jibba The Gent, Raw Deff & Ren Thomas Produced by Rico James Mixed & Mastered by Yung Breeze Artwork by Rico James Also on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4UqLGEUUe6UFuHKSQlZuHx

Jibba "The Gent" has been making a lot of moves lately, but "Suite Tooth" is my favorite since his LP, The Broccoli Tree. Produced by Rico James (Equal Eyes Records) and featuring New Jersey upstart Ren Thomas alongside NH mic slayer Raw Deff, this is one of the best 802 singles of the summer. 

It's also a hint of things to come. Jibba played the first annual 6ix5ive6ix Fest up in Maine and, in a surprise announcement, signed with their label -- fresh chain and everything. Hot off recent spots on Underground Hustlin' and Grind Mode Cypher, Jibba took a few minutes to talk shop...

VTHH: How did you link up with Ren Thomas -- and is there more work with Raw Deff coming? 

Jibba: The Ren Thomas collabo came about by being affiliated with Grind Mode Cypher. Thanks to them and Rico James fire production, I was able to secure a really solid verse from Ren. We are currently working on him headlining a Vermont show and shooting a video for Suite Tooth. Raw Deff and I will most definitely be working on more tunes in the future, big shouts to Hitmen for Hire and Full Circle!

VTHH: What's the history behind your 6ix5ive6ix connection? Was your signing in the works for awhile? 

Jibba: 6ix5ive6ix has been like family to me since 2015 when Causin Effect (Vazy and I) brought out Northern Lights Nation to open for Twista in Burlington, for a show we put on with Team Dilligaf. Since then we have worked on many shows together and extended invitations to perform in each others states. Most recently the Slaine and Term show in Stowe and 656 Fest this past weekend. NLN also did an exceptional remix to "Do It For My City" featuring that insanely catchy chorus from Yung Breeze. You can find the original version on The Broccoli Tree. Northern Lights Nation is the whole reason there is a 6ix5ive6ix Records and the owner of the label, Kartoon is 1/3 of that group. We've always stayed in touch and recently he approached me with the idea of signing with his label, which I immediately responded with a yes. Keeping David Phair of HLR on for management. The label feels like home to me with my brothers Dilyrium, HVZE, Brodie James, GA South and of course Northern Lights Nation. Fun fact, if you type in NLN on a phone you will use the numbers 6-5-6. 

VTHH: What can heads expect from you in the second half of 2018?

Jibba: The second half of 2018 is looking really exciting, I've been working on my 2nd solo album as well as singles and features for various local and not so local MC's. For as much traveling and shows I've done so far, I've been able to get a lot of content finished. Most of it is currently awaiting release or a recording sesh. It will all be leaking out soon though, once all of the music is properly registered. I'm really excited about a Sky Splitter Ink and Mickey Factz collabo as well as a record where my younger brother makes his debut into Vermont Hip-hop. I also have a huge surprise for Southern Vermont Hip-hop that I am not at liberty to speak about, but I can say it's pretty darn cool! 

Every year, the Seven Daysies Awards are a source of much grumbling in the Vermont hip hop scene. A lot of that is because it's a Burlington-centric, inherently imperfect, flat-out popularity contest. A lot of that is also because Lynguistic Civilians have been winning "Best hip-hop artist or group" for as long as that category has existed.

Still, it's the closest thing we've got to an 802 Grammy Awards. (And I pity the fools who take that project on -- and I may even be one of them.)

People are going to have a hard time finding much to legitimately complain about in 2018, though. Jarv is, without question, one of the best rappers the state of Vermont has ever seen. He also works damn hard at it, and has been for quite awhile. Barring some sort of throat injury or weird religious conversion, it's inevitable that he's about to get a lot bigger, too, with a new album on the way.

As for Loupo, what human being alive could hate on that dude? In the past two years he's branched out from woozy, beautiful hip hop beats to more festival-friendly electronica -- and still kept his distinctive style intact. He's got a huge catalog and effortless stage presence, too.

Props to both winners. 

For the fifth annual A_Dog Day, the team at Friends for A_Dog are going huge. These celebrations have always been a four elements kinda party, but this year's edition has really stepped that up. That's more than a matter of spending & planning, though -- this year more than ever, A_Dog Day is building on the foundations of Burlington's booming hip hop scene.

Let's start with the headliners. DJ A_Dog was much more than a local hero, he was a real deal legend, with connections in the music industry around the world. Years past have seen some heavy names at the top of the bill -- Stretch Armstrong headlined in 2016, and last year The Beatnuts came through. 

This time, though, two generations of unimpeachable NYC hip hop will be in the building: Smif N' Wessun will be shaking up Metronome alongside upstart crew Loaf Muzik.  That is largely thanks to the tireless work ethic (and spooky talent) of Burlington producer Es-K, who has been doing incredible work with both groups.

Likewise, the Rhythm Riderz breakdancing crew has graduated from dance showcases & workshops to running a full-on, 1 vs. 1 break battle over at Foam Brewers. (There will also be open floors for all ages & skill levels.) Their regular class/clinic, The Break Room, has evolved into a real community, and their Building Blocks parties have been a huge success this year. 

Anthill Collective has been an integral part of A_Dog Day since the beginning. Last year, they put many tons of blood, sweat & tears into pulling off a graffiti festival right on the Burlington waterfront, Above The Radar. It was a smash, and it's happening again this year. (September 14-16th, which is coming sooner than any of us want to believe.) Expect them to be a heavy, eye-grabbing presence absolutely everywhere this August.

Every detail on the schedule is a celebration of the hard work local artists have been putting in. A2VT will be rocking a set with a live band. 99 Neighbors have absolutely earned a spot, and will be much bigger next year. Mister Burns will be performing with a new live band, The Hounds, and of course, Jarv will be everywhere, all day.

There are also some impressive comebacks on the bill: The Aztext will be playing, and MC B-Free returns with the latest incarnation of his Ice Coast band. Farmer / wizard / emcee Humble will be doing a solo set backed by DJ Transplante, and finally, BTV will get a taste of Wasted Talent, which features LC, Walshie, and Philly of Lynguistic Civilians.  

All this sounds like a lot, but I assure you, it's not even 33 and 1/3 of what's going down on Saturday, August 25th. Many of these events are completely free and all ages, and in the evening, the action moves downtown for the annual takeover of Nectars & Metronome. Passes for the evening shows are $20.

Be there, obviously. This is probably the best lineup they've ever had, and that's 100% because of Andy's legacy here in Vermont. It's a beautiful thing. 

A guaranteed good time in Queen City this evening. After much preparation and hype, 99 Neighbors big unveiling is finally going down at ArtsRiot, one of the nicer venues in Vermont. This will be a celebration of art and music -- not to mention a free show with a bunch of top notch food trucks parked outside.

Back in May, Jarv and Mister Burns made an appearance on the Grind Mode Cypher series -- a first for our humble state, so far as I know. Not only that, Jarv was the featured artist for that installment, an acknowledgement that the young man has juice and is going places. Which is true.

Having Jibba the Gent and BL Spitz join the club so quickly is a damn good sign for the scene as a whole, then. It's also instructive that so many 802 success stories follow the same script in 2018: artists who are carving out their own lane, and working with a close-knit team to do it. 

First up was Jibba, representing the Hustle, Loyalty and Respect team with a flashy & charismatic turn alongside some heavy up and coming New England talent. Jibba's been playing a long game and we can expect to see more big moves from him this summer.

In the very next chapter, Heartless Ent founder BL Spitz is on second to deliver some hard bars. He's currently working on his solo debut, "Mr. Credible" and a mixtape, "HEARTLESS FOREVER Vol. 1." 

Over the years, The Aztext have grown into masters of many styles. If there's one thing they've always excelled at, though, it's BBQ bangers -- catchy & relatable verses over perfect summer soundtrack beats. They have returned with exactly that: "Everyday Sun" is an anthem packed full of in-jokes and life lessons.

The hook comes courtesy of Xenia Dunford, a spooky talented 802 songwriter who just dropped a 2 EP project, Flesh and Bone (& Everything Within). It's very damn good, but I sure didn't expect her next move would "hip hop hook assassin for hire." 2018 is all about surprises, though. She really makes the song here and definitely has The Touch. (She will be at Light Club Lamp Shop on Friday the 13th and at Radio Bean on July 16th, too.)

The beat is another Rico James composition, and that young man is having a strong year. Formerly known mostly for his photography work and production for Self Portrait. Now, though? He is the co-founder of Equal Eyes Records, a new BTV label that's been on a prolific & consistent run since they started earlier this year. 

The AZT family has a lot more coming. First up, GOOD WTHR -- the team of Pro & Kin -- are featured on the latest Soulslicers album. This is a pretty tremendous cosign: Soulslicers are a production team with connections around the world. Their latest LP features Skyzoo, M-Dot, and Edo G. It also features GOOD WTHR on three different tracks. It's a good look on a big platform.

"Stuck In Vermont" is a long-running video series that features New York transplant Eve Sollberger exploring the 802 -- with an emphasis on the arts scene & our many colorful characters. Emphasis on long-running series: she started in 2007. Since then, it's evolved into a weekly feature on WCAX news.

So it's a Pretty Big Deal to get covered on that platform, all in all. The latest installation covers Building Blocks 3, a celebration of hip hop & charity fundraiser at The Swan Dojo on Church Street. That evening was all about The Aztext, yet it's Boomslang who steal the show in this video, nabbing three song placements.

There's also a ton of dance highlights, featuring Rhythm Riderz and the SynRgy Dance Company. There are also a lot of young kids who will clearly be insanely good in five years, so you know ... fair warning, bud. 

Props to everyone involved. Building Blocks has evolved into one of the most important hip hop institutions we've got.

Brand new project from 802 newcomer Obi the Voicegod, who is clearly not taking Summer off. Broke Problems Bring Rich Thoughts is the followup to his Recognition Avenue EP, and it's heavy on guest features and collaborations this time around.

You can buy it now on Apple Music. 

Brand Nubian legend Sadat X will be rocking the Swan Dojo in Burlington tonight, and that's a fairly huge deal. He's not only one of the all-time greats, he's also been having a strong run of brand new material these past few years. This is gonna be a hot gig. 

VMB Productions has been having a strong 2018 -- this weekend's run with Sadat X comes on the heels of a spring tour throughout New England alongside another legendary lyricist, Masta Ace. Rapper / entrepreneur / machine Mister Burns has been instrumental in building a real tour circuit of opportunities for 802 artists. While that may be built on the foundation of the Lynguistic Civilians hustle, what he's done since is even more impressive. 

Tonight's celebration has a top notch supporting cast: the mighty Konflik will be in the building alongside S.I.N.siZZle, Es-K, Jarv and of course, Mister Burns himself. 

8:30 PM, $18 at the door, 21+.

If there's one thing Vermont has always excelled at, it's exporting talent. There are a lot of talented people up in the guts of the music industry right now who got their start in the 802. We also have a lot talent stashed up in the woods. One such specimen is Keenan Kilgore, a producer and artist who just released an LP of remixes with NYC art rap collective Karma Kids, Keenan and Karma. 

Karma Kids actually features a Vermonter, too: one of their members, Gruff Lion, hails from these mountains, although he's long since gone native in the city. Other members include Duncecap (Rapping is For Idiots), Lt. Headtrip (Comedy of the Filthbeast), and bulletproof spitter Googie ('Tis What 'Tis). Keenan and Karma is a deep dive into their huge catalog, and Mr. Kilgore does great justice to some real underground gems, here. 

Anyone who likes what they hear would be strongly advised to check out the rest of the Keenan Kilgore catalog. It's impressive as hell, and worthy headphone food. Kilgore manages to balance experimental & ambient elements against instrumental boom bap without doing a disservice to either ingredient. 

YungStar is a Burlington rapper and part of the Bloodpressure Music Group. He's a standout talent, with an agile, crystal clear flow and a strong understanding of how to cut catchy lines. He's also going to be busy as hell this summer, on the run-up to his solo LP, Star Life, which drops on August 20th.

The video was shot by Quebeats, BPM's hardworking CEO.