BURNTmd

I was debating on which track I would feature on the title then after failing to choose I just went with both haha. Anyways, here goes two dope records off BURNTmd’s recently released Let’s Get Ill EP. - 2dopeboyz.com

Album Review
By Ben Hardy

(GTD Entertainment, CD)

Burnt MD and Tha Professor’s self-titled album opens in cinematic style, with the orchestral majesty of the Universal Pictures theme song. It’s an appropriate first gesture, as the Vermont hip-hop duo then takes us on a journey that transcends the mere aural. Like any epic movie or hip-hop album there’s an award-worthy supporting cast, high-profile cameos and a smart script that suggests Webster’s dictionary was close at hand when these two were growing up.



As one of a handful holding up the hip-hop scene in Burlington and Vermont in general, Brooklyn native Burnt MD could play it any number of ways. The easy way might be to go on about expensive cars, hot girls and embellished rap sheets la Akon. But true to his Growth Till Death word, the Microphone Doctor chooses the high and some might say harder road, electing positivity over pompous, intelligence over the incredible, and truth over tactlessness. The honest sweat from his work for the scene and the culture seeps out of the album’s every pore, splatters with every kick-drum hit, and drenches each thoughtfully crafted and well-delivered line.



But as the lengthy title of the album indicates, Burnt MD and Tha Professor had plenty of help putting this one out. While the latter takes production credit for the beats, San Francisco native DJ Touchphonics, formerly of The Loyalists, provides cuts and samples for a number of tracks. The radio-friendly “Smooth You Out” which is getting play on 95 Triple X features Boston’s underground heavyweight Akrobatik of The Perceptionists as well as the sultry stylings of local Tricky C. Here the two team up for a flow-hook combo that should have the tune vying for “Best Summer Song of ‘08.” (This reviewer will be blasting “Smooth You Out” from his car’s Rockford Fosgate system all around town windows down, volume up.

)

Fresno, California’s Planet Asia (a.k.a. P.A. Medallions, a.k.a. King Medallions) drops in on “The Game” another standout matching the track’s ominous piano sample and no-nonsense beat with lyrical musings on the challenges of life in the West Coast underground. Other disc guests include Tekst of THC, Network and J Glaze.



Eighteen songs and four bonus tracks later, when the curtain drops and the lights go up on this fine work of art, I find myself uttering words rarely spoken during the closing credits of a real Hollywood film: “I can’t wait for the sequel. - Seven Days VT

Playing Doctor
A couple of weeks ago, I reported that local hip-hop magnate Burnt MD was set to release a new album with partner-in-rhyme Tha Professor. That’s still true, but as is often the case with CD release parties, the finished product is “held up in post-production.” FYI, that’s code for “the stupid reproduction company hasn’t sent the freakin’ discs back yet.” It happens. But let this be a lesson: Don’t book a CD release party until you have the CDs in hand. I can’t stress that enough.

While we’ll have to wait a bit longer for the latest release from the hardest-working man in local hip-hop, Burnt and his GTD cohorts are anything but empty-handed. This Friday at Nectar’s, Projectivity and GTD Entertainment celebrate the release of Projected: Volume 2, an all-star compilation featuring a staggering mix of local and national hip-hop talent aimed at fostering positive thinking and strengthening the community.

Appearing on the album are big-time underground acts such as Masta Ace, Lord Jameer of Brand Nubian, Remedy of Wu-Tang Family, Akrobatik, One B Lo, NY Oil and Pack FM. The disc also includes contributions from local and regional luminaries such as The Aztext, VT Union’s Nastee, Blak Madeen, The Problemaddicts, The Higher Concept and, of course, Burnt MD. The show will be hosted by DJ Fat Pat, best known for his work as the host of “The Spot,” the local hip-hop open-mike night, and will include many of the aforementioned acts as well as a performance by Boston ska-punk outfit Danny Pease & the Regulators.
- Dan Bolles / SevendaysVT.com

By: Mark DiSalvo

When trying to identify the next big movement in hip-hop, executives often look to New York and LA. It just so happens that a kid from Brooklyn is assembling quite a following, but not in New York. Burnt MD has been building the hip-hop scene in Vermont the past few years with names like CL Smooth, Akrobatik, and Planet Asia. His mixtape just dropped, hosted by UGHH.com’s own DJ ON&ON. In this New MC Spotlight, Burnt MD tells the world about the burgeoning Vermont hip-hop scene, his mixtape, and eventual full length album. The mixtape, titled Burnt MD and the Professor is now available at UGHH.com

UGHH: Who is Burnt MD?

BMD: Creative, inspiring and intense all at the same time. I’m 26 from Brooklyn, NY. I’ve been living up here the past 6 years in Burlington, VT. I basically created a new love and support system for underground hip hop here. I’ve been traveling, performing shows all around New England here, and gone as far as California. I work with some heads in the industry that have been trying to build their area up too, like my homey J Ronin in Brooklyn, and of course Leedz in Boston.

UGHH: What made you move to Vermont from Brooklyn?

BMD: I didn’t move from Brooklyn, my journeys taken me a lot of different places. I moved from Jersey. I was in the Navy for a short stint over there. After boot camp, I came back to Jersey and decided to take a new route for my life and get my shit together. So I moved to the mountains to kind of spiritualize myself.

UGHH: What’s it like in VT, the hip-hop scene and all that?

BMD: There’s a lot of cool people here that really embrace music and art. It’s tough because the East Coast has been so flooded with artists in the past 15 years that people aren’t as interested in new artists or people doing their thing [in other places]. I’m out all the time in the streets promoting, handing out fliers, making sure people know what’s going on and are excited.

UGHH: Have been able to pull acts up there?

BMD: Everyone from CL Smooth, Devin the Dude, Cunninglinguists, Tonedeff, MURS, Planet Asia, Brother Ali… yeah, we’re puttin’ it down. I’ve been slowing down with concert promotions because I’ve been focusing on my music. I basically started promoted to bring my music to the forefront. Instead of opening up for everyone all the time I said, “I’m going to throw my own shit.” We rep UGHH.com hard too.

UGHH: So DJ ON & ON is hosting your new mixtape, tell me a little about that.

BMD: It’s called “Burnt MD and the Professor.” I’m the executive producer, I put all the tracks together, I got Planet Asia to bless two of the joints on there. Akrobatik blessed another track. We all just came together with a bunch of talented individuals for the movement.

UGHH: Akrobatik and Planet Asia, those are some big names, how’d you link up with them?

BMD: As far as Asia is concerned, my boy called me up and set that up and said “You want to do a Cali Agents show?” and I said “Are you kiddin’?” Ended up meeting him, and I brought him to my studio in New York City, it’s my boy Remedy’s studio actually. Actually got GZA on that too. Second time, he actually came back to see me in New York to do this track. We got more coming out in the future. I even did a track with him and CL Smooth that’s coming out real soon that I’m excited about.

As far as Akrobatik went, I did a show with him. We did really well, and it was the most people we ever performed for, in a solo performance in Vermont. There were like 400 people there. From that, he came back to perform again, and I performed in those shows with him. He was feelin’ how I was doing my thing. One time he needed a studio to do his Sports Wrap Up, and he just blessed my track. We got a few more projects in the future, one of them being with Asia.

UGHH: So you got all these tracks and mixtapes, is there an LP or full length album we can look forward to?

BMD: Hell yeah, I’m looking at a distribution company in Japan to put out this album that’s gonna be all my joints with Asia, CL, and a few with Akrobatik. It would be a Planet Asia joint, but his people aren’t sure they want to put it out because he’s got another joint coming out, and I’m pretty sure he’s doing something with Madlib, and they don’t wanna fuck with that, and by any means, I don’t either. If it was to come out overseas or in Japan, they’ll put it out, no doubt. I’m trying to get on at all the festivals, even the hippy ones, and do all kinds of classic rock remixes. I just want to break into that festival scene because it’s what I love doing. - UGHH.com

http://hiphopgame.ihiphop.com/news.php3?id=4343

click on the link! - HipHopGame.com

Spot Check
Soundbites

By Dan Bolles [12.26.07] - 228 reads
TAGS: hip-hop, indie-rock, music, soundbites

Ben Patton
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Photo by Anaii Lee-Ender of Gage Promotions
Planet Asia, Tableak and Burnt MD (clockwise from top left)

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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.

Kicking off the New Year in style, the next installment of “The Spot” should be one for the ages as Burnt MD, the evening’s founder and Mix Master of Ceremonies — prepares to release his long awaited album, Burnt MD & Tha Professor. The album, which features guest appearances from notable underground artists such as Akrobatik of The Perceptionists and Planet Asia of Cali Agents, won’t actually hit the streets until late January. In the meantime, the GTD hit man — and I mean that in a musical way; he’s only a lyrical assassin — plans a sneak peek with a special performance highlighting the choicest cuts from the new disc.

So shake off the auld cobwebs with a little “hair of the dawg,” as it were, and hit The Spot on New Year’s Day. Who wants to watch college football, anyway?

- Dan Bolles/ Music Editor Seven Days

SOUNDS FROM THE UNDERGROUND
Speaking of old friends, GTD's Burnt MD is reviving his long-running Ill Sessions hip-hop series this week, and it seems he's moving up in the world. This Friday, Higher Ground's Showcase Lounge plays host to "Ill 10: Friday the 13th," which serves as a dual CD release party for headlining act Akrobatik of The Perceptionists and Burnt MD and Tha Professor's new self-titled offering.

I haven't heard Akrobatik's Absolute Value yet — you can bet it's excellent. But I have heard Burnt's latest offering and can tell you it is easily his finest effort to date — and his last mixtape was pretty damned good. The man works as hard as anyone around town and the new disc bears that out, both in production and artistic quality. It also boasts some legit underground heavyweights, including Planet Asia, Akrobatik and DJ Touchphonics as well as cameos from longtime collaborator Network. Oh, yeah, it's also "hosted" by Boston's DJ On & On from Beantown hip-hop station JAM'N 94.5.

The disc is available at www.undergroundhiphop.com. Or you can pick it up at the show and catch Akrobatik, Burnt MD & Tha Professor, The Problemaddicts (Best. Hip-hop. Name. Ever), Sophistafunk, The Higher Concept and Blak Madeen live in the process. Such
a deal. - Seven Days

Seen these dudes live last night. Put on an incredible show. Here’s an album you don’t wanna fall asleep on. This shit is 100% bonafide FIRE! Hailing from the great city of NY(Brooklyn), Burnt MD rips down the mic booth to the hardcore beats of Tha Professor, with guest appearences from Akrobatik, Planet Asia, Network, Tekst of THC, Tricky C, and ughh.com’s DJ On & On. Production is tight as fuck, and Burnt is an animal with the lyrics. Check for local shows, and cop the album, LINK TO BUY IS BELOW….Support the Realness!!! Don’t Sleep!!! - J Ruthless for HHB

This week in BurntMD: Recently signed to Brooklyn’s Coalmine Records, Burnt just released a track on DJ Green Lantern’s latest mixtape, Monster Mash 4. This comes on the heels of adding cuts to the soundtrack of locally made indie film Dumping Lisa. Dude doesn’t sleep.

- Dan Bolles - Dan Bolles - Seven Days

The golden rule for hip-hop shows: Never, ever show up on time. With upwards of eight acts coming out for Ill Sessions 5, it became quite clear that the show was going to test the endurance of the small but lively crowd and, more importantly, the emcee’s ability to keep them captivated.

Ill Sessions 5, brainchild of local Brooklyn to Burlington transplant, Burnt MD, and the production collective GTD is the fifth in an annual series of concerts that in previous years has brought the likes of MURS, Brother Ali, Akrobatik and Soldiers of Jah’s Army to grace the stage of Club Metronome.

Burnt MD is a testament to the hard work and love for his culture.

“I paid for this outta my pocket with the help of 802 snowboard shop,” he said. “I love Burlington and they are so supportive of hip-hop so I want to bring people like Devin and the unninlynguists

to give them the best show possible.”

And that he did, although long-winded due to openers Dark Cloud, VT Union and Burnt MD himself, the energy brought by PackFM’s theatrics and from-the-heart acapellas, enlivened the crowd as they joined in sympathetic anger as the clever emcee lambasted the state of modern hip-hop and displayed skills honed from years on the grind, just below the radar of mainstream success.

The Cunninlynguists’ set was plagued with technical difficulties, but the three conversant jesters of rhyme — Deacon the Villain, Kno, and newcomer Natti — played the crowd well, serenading the ladies unaccompanied by the beat as the sound guy struggled to save their show. The energy never dropped for the set and much of the crowd joined in word for word on “America Loves

Gangsters” and “Nothing To Give,” bearing evidence to the group’s self-ascribed status as

cunning linguists. Finally, Devin The Dude, the notorious cult-rapper often referred to as “your

favorite rapper’s favorite rapper,” slunk onstage in a traditional cool that oozed slick soul and a slight amount of inebriation. Devin’s presence, similar to a wino on a corner, as offset by his self-deprecating rhymes, soulful croonings and the crowd’s obvious infatuation and familiarity with him as a performer.

Among the graffitied walls and worn furniture backstage, Devin slumped over on a stool taking slow, mindless drags off a cigarette and commented on his first time in Vermont. His sheepish grin reflected pleasure upon discovering a new crowd of fans, saying, “for sure, I like the people.

I’ve never been here before. I really appreciate everybody’s support.”
- Connor Boals/Vermont Cynic

LIVIN IN THE 802 by Dan Bolles of SEVEN DAYS
sevendaysVT.com



"The relationship of hard work to success is a concept that Burnt MD, 26, knows as well as any artist in Burlington. The sole proprietor of GTD Entertainment, he labors tirelessly not only in his own artistic endeavors but as a local champion of underground hip-hop. In the last few years, perhaps no single person in Burlington has been as instrumental as Burnt MD in bringing legendary pillars of the genre to the outpost that is Burlington.

This year alone has seen major artists such as CL Smooth, Planet Asia and Tash grace area stages under the banner of GTD's "Ill Sessions," owing almost solely to the local MC's efforts. "It's about spreading knowledge," he says with a smile. GTD's motto is "Spread the cure, kill the disease."

The pursuit of knowledge is ultimately what brought the Brooklyn native to Vermont. After a tumultuous series of life-altering events, culminating in a brief stint in the Navy, Burnt MD relocated to Burlington. There he met partner-in-rhyme and Southern Vermont native Network, 24, and together they formed a dynamic hip-hop duo, also named GTD. Burnt MD and Network bonded quickly, sharing both a love of music and a basic mystical world view, which would become the foundation of their brand of "higher-conscious" hip-hop.

"You can't grow without a pulse," says Network, nodding to Burnt MD. "And this man to my left has completely turned up the volume on live hip-hop in Burlington and given it that pulse, so that it can start growing."

It's a sentiment vividly reinforced by the response the pair receives as they hand out flyers for an upcoming show to passersby on Church Street — a task they perform even as we chat over cocktails on the patio of 1/2 Lounge. Almost without exception, the flyer's recipients express gratitude for the information. Many gush with surprise at the star power of the show's headliner — Tash of Southern California's Tha Alkaholiks.

"You're always tired when you wake up," says Network, gesturing toward a young man who enthusiastically accepted a flyer. "But people are waking up, and that's where I see Burlington hip-hop right now."

Burnt MD heartily agrees, and he should know, as he strives to remain in the public eye and bring local hip-hop to greater prominence. "This is where I work," he says, spreading his arms out as if to hug the city. "I'm out here every day, hittin' the street, giving people energy, making people happy, pissing people off. Anything. Something. People just want to connect, and that's what I'm trying to do." "




_____
some weeks later
a REDUX to this article was printed

here it is



“802” Redux
More on the hip-hop story, with a little help

by Dan Bolles (10/03/07).

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.

Despite its front-page over-selling as “VT’s hip-hop history,” the article was intended to simply serve as a primer for those who, like myself, were woefully unfamiliar with the local scene. While some degree of historical perspective was offered, in no way was the piece meant to serve as the definitive record. To do that, I’d need a series of articles, if not an entire issue.

During my brief tenure as music editor, I have on numerous occasions come clean about my relative ignorance not only about local hip-hop but the entire genre. By committing to stories such as this one, I hope my education will be swift and, ultimately, comprehensive.

So it’s always a pleasure when folks who have knowledge to share write in with previously untapped perspectives. Such was the case last week when a letter from Infinite Culcleasure — better known to local club-goers as DJ Infinite — slid across my desk. Here it is:

Let us please set the record straight: A conversation about “VT’s hip-hop history,” especially in Burlington, is grossly incomplete without acknowledgment of WRUV and Melo Grant. If you grew up in Vermont and loved hip-hop, you probably grew up listening to Grant’s voice while she spun music you hadn’t heard before anywhere else. Melo has been playing hip-hop in Burlington for almost 20 years.

I touched down in B-town in 1991, before Red Square existed. Club Metronome was Border, Second Floor was Club Toast and Fattie Bumbalattie was spelling his name out one syllable at a time on the mic beside a very impressive acid-jazz group.

From 1991 until Higher Ground opened in Winooski, one could only find local hip-hop publicly in two places: WRUV by way of the incomparable Melo Grant, and a young Latino stand-out by the name of DJ Luis Calderon, or in the basement/attic/ apartment of some misplaced urban impresario. Before the noise ordinance became unreasonable, we didn’t have to rely on downtown venues to have a good time. We’ve still got the flyers to prove it.

Just to give an example of what the social climate was at the time, the President’s office at UVM was taken over by Black, Asian and Hispanic students in order to force a more diverse curriculum and faculty on campus. A very popular radio station operating in the area would occasionally announce their slogan, “100% hip-hop and rap-free radio” just to clarify where they stood in terms of hip-hop music — although they did play Salt-N-Pepa and Naughty By Nature.

I won’t get too deep into the politics of how hip-hop culture has been received by Vermont in the past decade. But I do strongly suggest that Vermont hip-hop historians dig a little deeper, while being cautious of romanticizing a so-called hip-hop renaissance in Vermont.

Some local hip-hop honorable mentions and shout-outs include: DJ A-Dog, Anton, Benny L, Big Country, Big J, Dubee, ELV, Joey K, Rhino, and Rugger (Tim Diaz), Akbar a.k.a. First God, Trey, Trauma Unit, Shabar, Flex Tone Massive, 69 Main Street, 25 Orchard Terrace, L Burners, Higher Ground (in Winooski), Club Toast, Vinyl Destination and Pure Pop.

Damn straight.
I. Culcleasure

As I said in the original article, hip-hop has been alive and well in Vermont almost as long as the genre has been in existence. However, in recent years, local fans have been treated to an explosion of artists and promoters doing things that have gone largely unrecognized by Vermont media.

It was my hope that last week’s feature would serve as an introduction to folks who are interested in hip-hop but know little about the scene in their own town. The piece was not the last that will be written about Vermont hip-hop in these pages, and the artists featured in it are not the only ones who deserve attention.

I’d like to thank Mr. Culcleasure for taking the time to set me straight. Perhaps at some point down the line, we’ll give Vermont hip-hop the “Ken Burns treatment.”

I’d also like to thank the local hip-hop artists who reached out and introduced themselves to me since the article ran — I want to know who you are. In the words of GI Joe, knowing is half the battle. Or, as GTD might say, kill the disease, spread the cure.

That said, I’m not a mind reader. If you’re upset that you’ve never seen your name in print, do something about it. “Livin’ in the 802” was written because people like Nastee and Burnt MD made conscious efforts to bring me up to speed on what they do. That’s how it works.

So come on, Burlington. Holla back.


» Respond to Music Editor Dan Bolles at dan-at-sevendaysvt.com. - Dan Bolles