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Lou sits down with rapper Immortal Technique and discusses the state of hip-hop, democracy and the music industry. But what does Immortal Technique think about Vermont? Watch and find out.

(Self-released, CD)... Read more

If OK Go were a hip-hop group, they might have chosen this morning’s scene as the backdrop for another indie-viral music video à la “Here It Goes Again.” Instead of fancy treadmills, the vibrantly carpeted ballroom held nearly a hundred young women spread over a temporary dance floor. But everyone was super-enthusiastic and the energy was infectious. When I walked in, the intermediate-level session was just finishing. A gaggle of dancers crowded around the teacher for autographs, and the rest scattered to grab sips of water before the next lesson.... Read more

What’s better than one kick-ass show at The Monkey House? Two kick-ass shows at The Monkey House! Duh. This weekend, the enterprising lads from Bear Cub Productions have lined up a thrilling two-fer of aural pleasures to slake anyone’s thirst for midwinter rock-foolery.... Read more

Regular readers know that I’ve been extolling the virtues of Nectar’s newly minted hip-hop open mike for weeks. What can I say? I’m just ahead of the curve, I guess. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend it. It’s a great way to sample the local hip-hop scene and, if you’re so inclined, compare your skillz with the folks who do it for real.... Read more

“Dude, I gotta get out of this town.” It’s a familiar refrain heard ’round Burlington, especially in the harsh winter months that seem to make up roughly three-quarters of the year. A quintessential college town, the Queen City has always had a transient artistic community. People come, and then they go — usually to a “real” city. Then, about 3 months after realizing that living in Williamsburg actually sucks, they usually come back with tales of adventure and excitement from the urban jungle. Such is the ebb and flow of our quaint hamlet on the shores of Lake Champlain.... Read more

"Dude. You’re a natural!” Zack Johnson is smiling ear to ear as my first awkward, arrhythmic scratches emanate from an old pair of Technics turntables. Wanting desperately to believe him, and unable to contain the boyish grin creeping over my face, I nod and unleash another torrent of heavy-handed but slightly more convincing “baby scratches” over a Dilated Peoples instrumental track.... Read more

In the bizarre world of rock criticism, it’s easy to get wrapped up in aspects of the job that seem incredibly important in the moment, but in actuality just aren’t that big a deal. Whether it’s a well-placed zinger, a missing club listing or a critique that rubs you the wrong way, the temptation to make mountains out of molehills can be overwhelming. But when put into perspective, the minor foibles of this, or any other, profession are just that: minor.... Read more

(AZT Records, CD)... Read more

Last week, I wrote an article for this paper titled “Livin’ in the 802,” which highlighted some of the up-and-coming hip-hop artists in and around Vermont. As the genre and attendant culture has grown in popularity and relevance nationwide, so, too, has the lakeside hamlet of Burlington seen an increase of hip-hop artists and fans. It was my feeling the genre had been vastly under-reported in Seven Days. Being in a unique position to do something about it, I decided to explore the current scene.... Read more