(Man Bites Dog Records, CD, digital)
Burlington producer and beatmaker Rico James has been a leading light in the 802 hip-hop scene for more than 15 years. He cofounded Vermont label Equal Eyes Records before leaving in 2020 and hopping on Virginia label Man Bites Dog Records.
James is a paragon of ’90s-leaning, boom bap-style underground hip-hop. His specialty is crafting melodic, head nod-inducing tracks, often built on vintage vinyl samples with heavy shades of soul and R&B. And he’s been prolific of late: He formed Vermont hip-hop supergroup Swamp Camp with Boxguts and Tha Truth, who dropped their debut LP in May. He routinely collaborates with Indiana MC MRKBH, with whom he released the single “Arkitekt” in July. And his team-up with Rhode Island rapper ToadStool continues to bear fruit, evidenced by their latest joint, Know Problem.
You get exactly what you’d expect from the two artists: dirty beats and wordy verses. James is in top form, constructing tracks throbbing with rhythm and custom-made to get your speakers booming, such as “Poetry in Motion [Liquid] (feat. Tha Truth).” ToadStool’s flow is sprawling, confessional and, at times, world-weary. “I used to stare directly at the edge of the sun / Used to think life’s unfair, but I’m livin’ so it’s as fair as it comes,” he raps on “Marinated Egg,” one of the stronger tunes on a record packed with bangers.
Check out Know Problem at soundsofrico.bandcamp.com.
This article appears in August 19 • 2026.
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