PYRO puts on for Stockton & the Philippines with 'VENTURES'

You may or may not have heard about Stockton, CA. If you have, it's probably for the wrong reasons. But one emcee from "Mudville" -- often ranked high on annual "Most Miserable Cities in America" lists -- is switching up the narrative.

Enter PYRO, a lifelong Stocktonian fuego spitter who's been melting mics and blazing the trail for 209 emcees since the late-2000s. His latest project, VENTURES, is an 18-track three-wheel motion around the block, intermittently swooping his Good Nature homies along the way to help round out a memorable addition to the West Coast underground.

More importantly, PYRO dusts off Stockton's negative image and showcases the roses growing from underneath the cracks of the city's Southside streets.

PYRO's flow on VENTURES is steady and deliberate throughout, confidently curb stomping each track with potent bars dipped in the sights and sounds of Stockton, while also shouting out his folks in the Philippines (slap "San Vicente" one time). Here's what PYRO had to say about the project:

These songs on VENTURES derive from some of my real life situations and influences in the hopes that people get insight into who I am and my beliefs when they listen through. The project was also about challenging myself to make a full-length album without sampling, and I hope people can hear the hard work I put in. This album is a dedication to my homeland, my city, my lady, my family, Good Nature and friends.

Standouts from VENTURES include the lead single "Vacay2" (video below), "Time, Only" with Strategy E.S. and Spitz1, and "Clock Work" with Mosaek. Hometown favorites Steve Spiffler, Brown Lotus and Craig Califa also squad up with PYRO, who has more heaters planned for 2017, so keep those ears Q-tipped.