[Feature] The Main Eventers : The Come Up

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by Charne Graham

Unity is a trait that is imperative for any collective group of people to succeed. Having traded verses for years on each other’s projects and before their latest group effort as The Come Up, Franchise and Vinny Radio seemed to always mesh like an already well constructed duo.

While Franchise has released multiple projects – which include Money,Sex, Drugs and Henny & Haze – Vinny Radio has focused his efforts into one solid project called The Foundation. If you couldn’t tell, Franchise has a lot to say. He isn’t called “The Braddocks’ Spokesman” for no reason. However, don’t sleep on Vinny; his overt lyricism demands respect from his peers and listeners just the same.

The duo started out rapping together on a karaoke machine back in 2001. They decided to form the group The Come Up in 2007.  Four years later, The Come Up releases their debut EP, In Good Hands. The project is 12 tracks solely produced by Pittsburgh’s Big Jerm. Franchise describes The Come Up’s sound as “fun and intellectual with a spaced out vibe. We don’t try and mock a specific sound or do what we think should be done with the music, we just elevate and create as we go with no boundaries on where we take the music. It’s all about progressing, but staying relevant to what our fans love from us.”

The grind of underground hip-hop artists in Pittsburgh is relentless. Franchise and Vinny Radio are proof that good things will happen to those who wait. “I see and feel a lot of progression from all the artists as a whole. The spotlight is currently over the steel city and there’s plenty legit cats out here making noise, everybody just has to remain loyal, determined, and patient. Hatred and envy in the city between one another held us back long enough. It’s now the time to come together and represent Pittsburgh as a team…as a whole,” said Franchise. On advice for up and coming artists in the city, Vinny says, “Avoid midgrade and it’s very possible to make money off music that isn’t targeted for radio spins.”