The sprawling Burlington, Vermont, art-rap collective 99 Neighbors reveal a new single and music video entitled “49er.”
The track’s guitar-laden production brushes up against potent hook—“You got your big jacket on”—as confessional rhymes bounce back and forth. It hints at the intimacy and expanse of their signature style all at once. In the accompanying visual, 99 Neighbors ride their bikes in formation across a bridge before reaching a field in their native Vermont as day turns into night and one vignette after another evokes a different vibe.
When asked about their new single, 99 Neighbors says, “49er narratively centers around reckoning with our relationships to home and feelings of lost familiarity. We’ve had to give up a lot to be here, and this song was a way to air out the emotions that have come with the sacrifices we’ve made. We’re really excited for people to hear it.”
“49er” continues the momentum from their previously released single “Live A Little” which showcases the individual swagger of each member that combines to form the collective and is showcased so vividly in the video. Ones To Watch hailed it as “one of their most infectious singles to date” and praised the “production reminiscent of rapidly switching the dials on a radio.”
Set to arrive later this year, Wherever You’re Going I Hope It’s Great follows the group’s 2019 body of work Television. That project gained the attention of Pat Corcoran, who signed them to his Nice Work label and Warner Records. For this next project, the group took their time to figure out the bold new directions they want to expand their sound. Recorded between Vermont, Chicago, and Nashville, the results are thrilling and uncompromising.
Upcoming Tour Dates
August 27th – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern (Rooftop)
September 2nd – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
September 5th – Napa, CA – BottleRock
September 24th – New York, NY – Governors Ball
September 25th – South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom
ABOUT 99 NEIGHBORS:
99 Neighbors have learned the virtues of patience. After a foundational burst of creativity and an equally fast rise, all seven members of the Burlington, Vermont, alt-rap collective can agree that the best things in life take time and focus. Yes, their bedrock is still back there in the 24-hour art hub of an apartment where it all began, and their singular sound is still the hyperactive crush of rock, pop, R&B, and hip-hop heard on their gripping 2019 project, Television. But their new album Wherever You’re Going I Hope It’s Great grew out of a period of willful slowdown—a clarifying of perspective—and is built around the idea of moving forward with intention. Hence, the LP is rich with new sonic strains from dusty jazz to UK-inspired electronica to thrilling pop. The collective’s members also had time for both experience and reflection, resulting in lyrics that delve deep into identity, addiction, discovery, and meaning. The end result sounds adventurous and expansive yet decisive and complete—a considerable feat from several wild minds constantly bouncing off one another. A genuine joy permeates the new music, even when the songs touch on heavy themes. It’s the sound of seven friends living out their dreams, struggles, and triumphs together. It took a while to get there, but when 99 Neighbors finally did, the concept of the project became rather simple. As rapper/singer HANKNATIVE puts it, “We all just want the best for each other.”
