(Machete Ish Records, digital)
Eyedos has been a staple of Vermont’s hip-hop scene for damn near two decades — and a proud outsider that whole time. Part of that is just geography: The talented performer got his start with Jynx Inc, a horrorcore duo out of southern Vermont. Back in the days before Instagram, local artists who weren’t playing shows in Burlington were basically invisible.
A far bigger factor, however, was his sound. In a state heavy on conscious lyricism and lightweight stoner rap, the product Eyedos pushed was violent, profane and paranoid. So, like other unsung 802 legends such as Windsor’s XP or St. Albans tag team Joint Manipulation, Eyedos never got the respect his skills deserved in his home state. Rather than complain, he opted to build an underground network all on his own, expanding his skill set until he became a one-man record label, recording, mixing and mastering his relentless catalog.
His latest project, A King in the Clouds, marks his second album this year. His earlier release, Iron Kong, was the clear culmination of his hardcore era, 15 tracks of uncompromising boom bap alongside features from famous names like Canibus and the late, great Chino XL. Yet it also showcased a newfound versatility as Eyedos experimented with slower flow patterns, more playful rhyme schemes and even some catchy hooks. It was a sign of things to come.
The press release for his new LP claims it represents “a significant evolution in Eyedos’s career,” and after a few spins, well, that’s a cold fact. Eyedos sounds like a new man here, delivering melodic, laid-back bars. His horizon is broader than ever, embracing the soul, rock and blues music he grew up on. The result is his most accessible album so far.
The opening suite is pure party music, spotlighting his savvy production work. Once again, Eyedos is out to prove he’s comfortable in any lane he chooses, from the woozy club anthem “Ten Blunts,” where he holds his own alongside Oakland, Calif., godfather Mistah F.A.B., to the killer trap single “Four Bands.” (There’s also plenty of throwback moments here, such as the braggadocio of posse cut “Masterminds” and the grisly horror cinema of “Start a Riot.”)
The album’s closing, however, is a whole other animal. With no guest features in sight, Eyedos bares his soul and reflects on his growth. For most artists these days, this passage would have been an album unto itself, but Eyedos is old-school, raised in the days when albums ran closer to an hour than 20 minutes. He’s also made his peace with the bumpy, winding road that brought him this far. As he concludes on standout “Ghost Malone”: “To see greatness, you’ll have to live a humbling life.”
Ambitious, unpredictable and self-assured even in its darkest moments, A King in the Clouds is an aptly named monument to tenacity and hard work. Where will Eyedos go from here? Absolutely anywhere he wants. Stay tuned.
A King in the Clouds is available on all major streaming platforms.
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2024.
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