Field Notes: Glitch Hop Crew & The High Point Hustle
Archived by: saints in unison
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The story of Glitch Hop Crew isn't just about music; it’s about the mahogany-grid geography of High Point, NC—a city where the furniture is grand, but the upholstery of the streets is often frayed.
The Origin: The Showroom Scrapyards
Tony D and Raymond X didn't meet in a studio; they met in the shadow of the "World’s Largest Chest of Drawers." As teenagers in the early 2000s, High Point was a maze of industrial loading docks and discount fabric warehouses. Before they were a duo, they were rivals in the "Furniture City" underground circuit. Tony D, known then as Nitty Gritty, was the frontman for The Staple Gun Syndicate, a hyper-kinetic group known for rapping over the rhythmic sounds of industrial pneumatic tools. Raymond X, under the moniker Deep End Ray, was the bassist and "vocal anchor" for Veneer & Vice, a crew that specialized in slowed-down, heavy-funk aesthetics.
The "Joyride" Years: Juvenile Detention
The rhythm of the streets eventually led to the rhythm of the sirens. Driven by boredom and a knack for mechanical "exploration," Tony and Raymond were part of a localized car-boosting ring. They weren't looking for luxury—they were looking for speed. The duo finally bonded while serving time at a juvenile detention center after a botched attempt to "relocate" a fleet of vintage Mustangs from a local showroom owner’s private lot. Legend has it they spent their nights in the bunkhouse building a vocabulary of vocal percussion. Tony would tap out rapid-fire double-time beats on the metal bedframes while Raymond hummed sub-bass frequencies that supposedly made the floor vibrate. It was here they realized their sonic contrast—the whiney, high-register franticness of Tony’s anxiety meeting the calm, deep-funk baritone of Raymond’s stoicism.
The Pivot: Tacos & Ten-Pound Bass
Today, "Glitch Hop Crew" has traded the scrap yards for the grill. They own "The Skat-O-Taco," a small, vibrant stand tucked between a repurposed hosiery mill and a high-end upholstery boutique in High Point.
- The Day Shift: They are legitimate businessmen and master cooks. Raymond X is the "Salsa Sommelier," moving with a deep, methodical groove behind the flat-top grill. Tony D is the face of the operation, taking orders with a rhythmic, staccato energy that borders on performance art. They are famous for their "Low-End Carnitas"—meat slow-cooked until it’s as tender as a soulful bassline.
- The Night Shift: Once the sun sets over the furniture towers, the taco stand transforms. They pull a makeshift stage out from the storage shed and host the "High Point Heat Exchange."
While their records (like "sanctified") reflect their chaotic past—singing about "punk ass bitches" and the hypocrisy of the local elite—their current life is about community. They battle rap anyone who thinks they can step to the High Point legends, usually winning with a combination of Tony’s frantic "skat-rap" insults and Raymond’s soul-shaking, melodic hooks. They’ve straightened out, but the "glitch" remains—a reminder that in the saints in unison universe, you can change your life, but you never lose your rhythm.
Status: Operational / Culinary
Location: High Point, NC
Recommended Order: The "Tony D Triple-Time Taco" (Extra Spicy)
Discover Glitch Hop Crew Discography