Recent Articles
Related Articles

Recent Articles By Keegan Hamilton

National Features

For the past two years Vandalyzm has lived in Atlanta, where he worked as a producer for the R&B group One Chance, who are signed to US Records. (Vandalyzm's double-duty as a producer/emcee — he crafted his own beats on ten of the eighteen tracks on Majorz — is clearly a point of pride: He makes a point of including production credits for each song on the album's track listing.) But after returning to St. Louis late last year and enlisting several notable St. Louis emcees and producers to contribute to Majorz — Black Spade, Wafeek, Gotta Be Karim, among others — Vandalyzm says he's proud to be representing the city again. He just hopes you won't hold that against him.

"I keep my Cardinals hat on, but don't let that be something that you judge me automatically on, on the strength of 'Hot In Herre,'" he says, adding a playful declaration that embraces the spirit of his Megatron alter-ego. "I'm speaking some truth in a lot of people's faces, and as much as it might hurt people to listen to it, the truth is they're going to enjoy it 'cause it's a damn good album. You can't front. Even if I might be talking about you, it's a damn good album."

Contact the author keegan.hamilton@riverfronttimes.com

Write Your Comment show comments (7)

  1. I am so proud of you Van. You have come a long way from the tall skinny guy in middle school to the tall sexy man in the Music Industry. It's good to hear some realness out of Saint Louis and especially from someone you know, love, and respect. Big ups to my boy Van.

    Comment by Jessica — January 9, 2008 @ 01:54PM

  2. I actually hate his music, honestly

    Comment by Natosha Jackson3f4588 — January 9, 2008 @ 02:13PM

  3. If u ask me van is like one of the most lyrical artist to ever come out of STL. Which we really could use a little more of.


    Keep doin what u do nigga

    Comment by Justin Shannon — January 9, 2008 @ 02:58PM

  4. Man F*** Van! He still hasn't paid me that 150 G's he promised me for mixing his album sampler! If I see him in these streets its on! I'ma slap the color out of his fitted cap!

    But for real, great to see one of our local "underground" MCs get some real shine...and not just here in StL, but nationally and worldwide...

    Now Van, about Phonte hosting Boogie Bang 31....

    Comment by Trackstar the DJ — January 10, 2008 @ 01:10PM

  5. I've known Van for a long time. And he's consistant. The same message and energy he brings to his business in making music is the same vibe I got from dude when we first met. And it's a good one. Actually my homie Brian has been up on Vandalyzm for a minute, and put me on game from D.C. all the way to LA. This is a good look for you Van!!! Small World, Big Moves.

    Comment by Damon — January 10, 2008 @ 02:10PM

  6. by the way...

    http://www.zshare.net/audio/5190412f9e71ac

    here's that sampler. check it out, find out how good the album is, then go buy two copies, one for you, and one for when your friend with the good taste in the rap music steals the first one.

    www.djtrackstar.com

    Comment by Trackstar the Dj — January 10, 2008 @ 03:30PM

  7. I, like Jessica, have known Van since middle school when he was tall, skinny, and was always joking around, making people smile. Over the years, I must say I am proud of what he has become and what he will be. He is a lyrical force to reckon with and I hope other MCs can also properly represent STL, just as he has. Peace and Big UPs to my boy Vandalyzm and other starvin' artists here in the Lou

    Comment by CoCo — January 11, 2008 @ 07:34PM

About Us | Work for Riverfront Times | Esubscribe | Free St. Louis Classifieds | National Advertising | Privacy Policy
Problem With the Site? | RSS | Site Map
©2008 Village Voice Media All rights reserved.

Riverfront Times Insiders

  • Local food, music and news blasts
  • Free Stuff

buy, sell, trade (3,658)
musician (467)
rentals (4,143)
jobs (2,757)
adult entertainment (1,121)
NOW CLICK THIS