Billy Dean Thomas Archives - Vanyaland

Year in ReView: Nick Minieri showcases a scene with ‘HOMETOWN’ 2025

Michael O'Connor Marotta — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:18:23 +0000

Two things hit every December that remind us that our Boston music scene is far more diverse, varied, and prolific than whatever cliques and circles we currently roll with. One is the Boston Music Awards, arriving next week; and the other is Nick Minieri’s annual HOMETOWN mix, a deep-dive playlist and artist showcase from the veteran DJ, MC, and beat maker that offers up the latest n’ greatest to emerge out of New England in the past year. As we […]

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Year in ReView: Vanyaland’s favorite homegrown songs of 2025

Victoria Wasylak — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:54:47 +0000

Well, that happened. 2025 was definitely a year, a whole 12-month rollout of the most absurd political and economic developments in recent memory. (A presidential administration accidentally texting out military strike plans? Kim Kardashian hawking faux-hair thongs? The tsunami of AI slop rapidly overtaking the equally-vapid Internet ragebait made by actual humans? How can a loving god permit such lunacy?) But the end of the year is always ripe for counting blessings, and as 2025 comes to a close, we’re […]

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Billy Dean Thomas unveils a ‘protest bop’ called ‘Minding My Business’

Victoria Wasylak — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:33:14 +0000

In the Boston music community — and in their hometown of Harlem — Billy Dean Thomas needs no introduction. But the emcee is gearing up to reintroduce themselves this fall anyways, because frankly, the world could use the education. Thomas’ forthcoming record, October’s MX, refers to the gender-neutral honorific — a meaningful title for Thomas, who is a non-binary artist. To launch the record’s rollout, they released the single “Minding My Business” earlier this week (July 30), a muscular proclamation […]

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Photo Gallery: Billy Dean Thomas live at Boston Calling

Jason Greenough — Mon, 27 May 2024 12:32:15 +0000

Editor’s Note: And on the third day there was a beautiful chaos. After two afternoons of casual good times at Harvard Athletic Complex, Boston Calling became BOSTON CALLING on Sunday (May 27), packing roughly 40,000 spectators into Harvard Athletic Complex for an afternoon and evening that featured one headliner after another. It was the place to be, and the place to be seen. Vanyaland’s Emily Gardner and Jason Greenough were once again everywhere — Green Stage, Happy Valley Red Stage, […]

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Boston Calling 2024 Homegrown Artist Profile: Billy Dean Thomas

Vanyaland — Thu, 23 May 2024 09:59:04 +0000

Editor’s Note: In addition to our ongoing preview coverage, Vanyaland and Boston Calling are teaming up once again to showcase the homegrown bands and artists that help shape the local flavor of the city’s most vital music festival. Boston Calling’s ’24 headliners — The Killers, Ed Sheeran, Tyler Childers — and its remarkable undercard are well-known and established; but over the next few weeks, keep it locked as we profile the New England talent that decorates the lineup like few other […]

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Billy Dean Thomas uses bars as boundaries in new ‘Pardon My Space’ video

Victoria Wasylak — Wed, 22 May 2024 19:47:25 +0000

Before you fling yourself against the barricade during Billy Dean Thomas’ Boston Calling set, show a little respect for their personal space. Just a few days out from their midday appearance on the festival’s Orange Stage this Sunday (May 26), the Boston artist has released a tranquil new video called “Pardon My Space.” Thomas’ new visual asserts boundaries with fluid bars that kindly — but firmly — remove them from toxic situations. “Don’t speak to me / Word of a […]

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Fest Intentions: GLD FSTVL at City Hall Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts

Victoria Wasylak — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 20:28:01 +0000

UPDATE August 3: EarthGang and Dead Prez have been announced as headliners for the festival. The creators of GLD FSTVL have shared a gold mine of a lineup for the Boston fest’s inaugural edition. Oompa, Van Buren Records, Latrell James, and festival organizers STL GLD (pictured above) are among the artists who will provide 10 hours of hip-hop to City Hall Plaza on Saturday, August 12. Today the festival’s Instagram page unveiled the roster of performers, which also includes Billy […]

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Boston Thriving: Luke Bar$, Billy Dean Thomas rise to national pop culture

Victoria Wasylak — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 16:49:50 +0000

Editor’s Note: “Boston Thriving” is a new series from Vanyaland highlighting and honoring the national and global success of Boston- and New England-based bands and artists. *** Boston hip-hop keeps providing the soundtrack to pop culture in 2021, and last week, Luke Bar$ and Billy Dean Thomas proudly led the pack. On Friday (October 29), Luke Bar$ dropped a collaboration with REASON, Wale, Benny The Butcher, and Adé titled “Not for Me.” The Brockton rapper usually claims center stage as […]

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Boston Thriving: Hear Billy Dean Thomas in the ‘Genera+ion’ season finale

Victoria Wasylak — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 16:45:10 +0000

HBO Max has learned how to turn up, Billy Dean Thomas style. The Boston rapper’s song “Tina Turnup” appears in the season finale of Genera+ion, a fictional drama following the modern sexploitations of American teenagers. The show debuted in March on HBO Max, and the final episode of season 1 dropped earlier today (July 8). While Thomas released a poignant socio-political EP last year, “Tina Turnup” originally appeared on their 2019 double single called 2 the World, which you can revisit […]

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Year in ReView: Vanyaland’s 20 favorite homegrown songs of 2020

Victoria Wasylak — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 12:25:10 +0000

End-of-year lists are good for just two things: Remembering and reflecting. And neither sound enticing when glancing back at the still-raging Dumpster fire that is 2020. What is there to recap? What is there that anyone would want to recap? The answer ranges from “nothing” to “very little,” but in the case of Boston’s excellence in the arts, plenty of projects are worth a thorough replay. While we already like to think of Vanyaland as an ever-evolving, year-round “best of Boston” […]

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