Vermont hip-hop act signed to division of major label plans farewell show at Higher Ground
The Burlington hip-hop collective 99 Neighbors, which two years ago released a major-label album through a division of Warner Records, has announced that its concert next month at Higher Ground will be its farewell performance.
“We will be performing our last show as a band on October 20 at Higher Ground in South Burlington, Vermont, where so many early memories were created,” the band posted last week on social media. “This is a goodbye show to an era of 99 Neighbors.”
The seven-member group did not divulge its reasons for calling an end to its run. The post said “99 was always about us coming together to build a platform for all of us to thrive individually – and we’re now at the point where it’s time for individual focus!” Vocalist Sam “Maari” Paulino commented on the band’s Instagram post, “Still a collective but not a band.”
The group that includes six members who grew up in the Burlington area released a 2019 album, “Television,” that was recorded in Burlington. That album got the attention of Pat Corcoran, a former manage for Chance the Rapper, who signed 99 Neighbors to his Warner Records subsidiary label, Nice Work.
In September of 2021, 99 Neighbors released an album on that label. The record, “Wherever You’re Going I Hope It’s Great,” showcased the group’s blend of hip hop, pop, R&B and jazz.
“There was pressure on our end to make sure everything was up to that (major-label) standard and we were consistently progressing,” vocalist Hank “HANKNATIVE” Collins told the Burlington Free Press in 2021.
“We’ve been through a really crazy past few years and we’re trying to get our grounding,” DJ/engineer/producer Jared Fier told the Free Press in 2021. “99 was always about us coming together and to make the platform for all of us to thrive individually.”
The group said in its social media post that fans should “Expect plenty of music in the short future from all of us as solo acts with collaborations sprinkled throughout!” They signed off by paraphrasing the most recent 99 Neighbors album title: “Wherever we’re going, we hope it’s great.”
If you go
WHAT: 99 Neighbors farewell show
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20
WHERE: Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington
INFORMATION: $30 in advance, $35 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Also,
WHAT: Chase Murphy with Sam “Maari” Paulino (of 99 Neighbors), Luke Bar$ and Charlie Mayne
WHEN: 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15
WHERE: Club Metronome, Burlington
INFORMATION: $15. www.liveatnectars.com
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont hip-hop act 99 Neighbors sets farewell show at Higher Ground
