Artist Feature: The Great Lakes Crew

"A void in good music leads to a void in the soul of the people," say the members of the Great Lakes Crew (GLC), a Toledo-based hip-hop group. Filling this void and delivering "fresh food to a hip-hop nation that’s hungry for something different" is the GLC's goal.

Feeding the hungry? Saving souls? Is this all too ambitious? Well, not for the GLC to this point. The group has garnered critical acclaim, releasing one of the best four albums of 2007 according to the Toledo City Paper, and has opened for national acts like Wale, Big Sean, One Be Lo and Afroman.

The GLC mixes 1970's Jersey Shore rock with hardcore hip-hop and psychedelic rhythms to create what they call "Lake Music," or "the Sound of the 4th Coast." In true ToledoLand style, the Crew released a totally free mixtape this summer called "The Land of the Lakes, featuring 17 tracks, each with their finger on the pulse of the Great Lakes area and its hip-hop scene.

The Land of the Lakes

"We picked up our music, the speed of our music," said Crew member Ron Jero about the new release, which can be downloaded here on the group's site. "Cuts from the last track were slower, more representative of how you would feel if you lived here, people worried that they don't have jobs, just slower and dragging. With the new tracks, we're picking up the party."

The Great Lakes Crew will be performing a few of their new tracks and give away their new mixtape away FREE Friday, Dec. 4th starting at 6 pm at Culture Clash Records on Secor Road.

GLC Full Bio | Link to Video with GLC Interview | GLC website

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