SUMiT and Termanology, both from Massachusetts, Termanology from Lawrence and SUMiT from Worcester, have leveraged their collaborative album MADE to highlight MA’s contribution to hip-hop. While Worcester and Lawrence have historically flown under the radar compared to Boston’s larger music scene, the album demonstrates that significant hip-hop talent can emerge from outside traditional industry hubs. SUMiT, in particular, represents a new generation of artists, while Termanology has established an international presence, connecting his roots to a broader audience.
In interviews, SUMiT described the album as “a milestone by working with someone I grew up looking up to in Termanology. Being my first physical release with CDs and vinyl feels appropriate because it has such a classic vibe.” This sentiment underscores the project’s grounding in local culture while aspiring to reach global audiences. Termanology emphasized the album as “the most updated version of me. The more focused, mature, business-savvy individual versus the younger wild version of myself,” noting that MADE not only highlights his artistry but also positions Lawrence and Worcester as home bases for accomplished hip-hop talent.
The album’s singles, including “Just Different,” “Ammunition,” and “Shine,” were paired with full-length music videos, further reinforcing the artists’ commitment to both audio and visual formats. SUMiT explained that, through collaborations with Method Man and other featured artists, the project illustrates that meaningful music with substantive lyrical content can emerge from smaller markets. Termanology added that the visuals and overall presentation were designed to “showcase SUMiT to my fans and to the music industry, because he is a great artist and deserves the shine.”
By combining the experience of a veteran artist with the fresh perspective of a rising talent, MADE reflects the competitive spirit and craftsmanship associated with the Massachusetts hip-hop scene. The project underscores that cities outside New York, Los Angeles, and other traditional industry centers can cultivate artists capable of producing work with both local pride and international resonance.
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