New Hampshire isn’t synonymous with hip hop music, but when Bugout and Doug York say they want to change that, it’s clear they’re serious. Together, the two lifelong friends make up the hip hop group Granite State. Be sure you don’t get it twisted though; this isn’t a pipe dream from some hack kids in the sticks....
Their critically acclaimed debut album, The Breaking Point, has turned the preconceived notion of what hip hop should sound like upside down. Blending together the edge of rock and 90’s boom bap, with an underlying essence of soul, Granite State has blurred the line between socially conscience and commercially entertaining. Granite State has chosen to blaze a new path and create their own lane. Their eclectic sound creates a new canvas they refer to as, “Nirvana The Game”, which means, “ strive to be original in a world of conformity.” Whether it’s getting personal on, "Said and Done", settling the score on, "My Sweet Revenge", or getting the party going with, "What Up B?!", the album represents an America rarely portrayed at all in today’s mainstream hip hop.
Backed by strong production from DC the MIDI Alien ( AZ, Army of the Pharoahs, 7L & Esoteric, Termanology), and Statik Selektah (AZ, Nas, KRS-One, Q-Tip, Royce the 5'9", Styles P, Jadakiss, Talib Kweli, Freeway) Granite State has exceeded the expectations of many, and associate their appeal to the void that needs to be filled within a dying culture.
With songs featuring such artists as Slum Village, Evidence of Dilated Peoples, and Prince Po of Organized Konfusion , and spins from the likes of DJ Premier (NYC), DJ Geespin (WJMN Boston), Sirius Shade 45, and Groove FM (Australia), it is no wonder their popularity continues to grow each day as they tirelessly work to leave a permanent mark in hip hop history. The follow up single "Gone with the Wind" broke down barriers for unsigned artists, when it debuted on Sirius Satellite Radio's Hip Hop Nation Top Five Hit List.
The group has rocked countless shows across the United States, including headlining the bill at many sold out venues with their high energy, impactful performance. Granite State takes tremendous pride in their live show, and has been blessed to share the stage with artist such as Method Man, Krumbsnatcha, Royce the 5' 9", Black Sheep, Devin The Dude, 7L & Esoteric, Sheek Louch, Big Shug, C-Rayz Walz, Consequence, Zion-I, Termanology, El Da Sensei, Rahzel, Mr. Lif, and Akrobatik.
Here's what people are saying about Granite State and The Breaking Point.
"Their debut album "The Breaking Point," def(t)ly channels the universal battle of finding your place in life into a disc full of bangin' beats, catchy hooks and nimble lyrical flow. The Sirius Satellite Radio channel "Hip Hop Nation" picked their song "Gone With the Wind" for their prestigious "Top Five Hit List," and fans from Australia, Europe and around the United States continue to fill their e-mail inbox and MySpace page with praise. The journey to make music almost broke them, but instead of giving up they turned their fight into an impressive musical debut that's more likely to break them onto the national hip-hop radar...." -Jon Nolan - The Wire
"This summer's rap anthem didn't come from New York or Boston, as you might expect, but from Exeter, NH, the home base of Doug York and Bugout's hip-hop duo Granite State. Their DJ Statik Selektah-produced-single "What Up B?!" gives heads a bouncy beat happy-hour lyrics and hook that communicates the raging house party that probably went down in the studio when they recorded this track." - Chris Faraone - The Hottest Songs of the Summer - The Boston Herald
"This is life as Doug York and Bugout see it: Raw, penetrating, desperate, and vibrant. There are no punches pulled, nor any thrown which go ignored. This is hip-hop as it was meant to be -- in our faces, up front, and real. The rationale behind Granite State and The Breaking Point can be construed as nothing less." - Alex R. Knight III
"Doug York and Bugout are Granite State, the unlikely duo to drop this year's most intrepid rap palette so far." - Chris Faraone - The Weekly Dig
"The lyrics that Doug York and Bugout drop work well with the track and show promise and intelligence beyond your average underground MCs." - Scott Ronan - SaveHipHop.com
"The beats on the album are enough to blow all of their opposition out of the way." - Michael Blinn - The Portsmouth Herald
"Granite State has a chance to change the face of hip-hop, and "The Breaking Point" is a solid foundation for it. A sophomore follow-up will most definitely tear down the walls and make the name they deserve." - Michael Blinn - The Portsmouth Herald
- "Gone With The Wind"
Hip Hop Nation Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 40
Top Five Hit List April 2006
1.D4L "I’m Da Man"
2.Mobb Deep ft. 50 Cent "Pearly Gates"
3.T.I. "Why U Wanna"
4.Bubba Sparxxx "Heat It Up"
5.Granite State "Gone With The Wind"
- "What Up B?!"
Boston Herald "Top 10 Song of the Summer 2006"
- "Morning Paper"
HipHopDX.com (Hot Traxx List)
- The Breaking Point was a Traffic Entertainment Group Top Seller in its first week.
For Booking and Contact info please email: jp@granitestatemusic.com
To find out more about Granite State please checkout the following sites:
www.granitestatemusic.com
www.showoffhiphop.com
www.myspace.com/granitestate
http://granitestate.bigcartel.com
www.sonicbids.com/granitestate
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