From alternative hip-hop to chamber folk, here's a cheat sheet to Boston's best music of the year so far.
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THE FRESHMAN 15: RISING LOCAL MUSICIANS TO WATCH
While these artists aren’t new to making music, they're at the early stages of their careers — and we can’t wait to see how they flourish.
‘SHOW ‘EM WHATCHA GOT’ AT THE MASS HIP-HOP ROADSHOW
The scrapbook party rockers are asking heads in their network and whoever else is in possession of relevant goods to bring items to be digitally archived, so that all eras and elements of the culture can be represented and catalogued for future generations—for research purposes, sure, but primarily so that their contributions can be scanned in stone.
OOMPA: THE POETIC JUSTICE OF ROXBURY’S MOST POSITIVE RAPPER
How a Roxbury poet-turned-rapper is making a career off of hyper-reflective truth and optimistic perseverance.
WHEEL OF TUNES: SAMMUS
For our interview series, the PhD rapper talks Metroid, social caveats, and the lasting impact of NASA icon Mae Jemison.
WHEEL OF TUNES: WYCLEF JEAN
For our recurring interview series, the iconic rapper talks Fela Kuti, stripper poles, and escaping death in the ’80s.
WHEEL OF TUNES: ASTRONAUTALIS
The Minneapolis alternative rapper talks old westerns, bird watching, and the lasting influence of Spike Jonze skate videos.
WHEEL OF TUNES: OPEN MIKE EAGLE
The Los Angeles rapper talks basketball trophies, airport bars, and mafia-style weddings.
30 BEST LOCAL ALBUMS OF 2017
Pile, Hayley Thompson-King, Cousin Stizz, and Exit Order top the list in a year of incredible albums for Boston.
15 BEST LOCAL EPS OF 2017
There was no shortage of musical talent in 2017, and bite-sized EPs from Rams, Littlefoot, Haasan Barclay, Lilith, and more prove so.