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A survey of Lansing's musical landscape

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Jahshua Smith & the Race Card at the Loft, Friday, Nov. 14

Detroit native Jahshua Smith, an emcee on the Blat! Pack imprint, headlines at the Loft. Smith’s latest disc, his full-length debut “The Final Season,” received acclaim and charted on the CMJ hip-hop charts; overall it clocked in as the No. 11 rap album of 2013. Smith comes from a musical family — his great-grandfather, Maurice King, was a Motown Records executive music director and worked with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Smith, under the moniker “JYoung the General,” debuted in 2006 with “The Megaman Mixtape.” At the time Smith was attending Michigan State University and co-hosting “The Cultural Vibe” hip-hop show on the student-run radio station Impact 89- FM. Since his start, Smith has opened for Wiz Khalifa and had spots at SXSW and Van’s Warped Tour. Warming up the stage are James Gardin & the Full Respect and Tay Rhodes and Supakaine.

The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. All ages, 7 p.m., $12, $10 adv., Friday, Nov. 14




Seth Bernard at the Avenue Cafe, Friday, Nov. 14

Michigan singer/songwriter Samuel Seth Bernard, known for his work in the duo Seth & May, returns to the Avenue Café. The all-ages show includes performances from Dan Rickabus of the Crane Wives and Adrian Krygowski. In May, Bernard released his latest disc, “Reconciliation & the Mystical Beyonda.” The LP includes the song “Turkeys in the Rain,” a Bernard-fan favorite. As for the new disc, it was recorded at La Luna and Double Phelix in Kalamazoo. Bernard’s label, Earthwork Music, described the 16-track collection as “an ambitious, sweeping feat of song craft, rock production and sonic construction in the folk tradition.” For more information, visit samuelsethbernard.com.

The Avenue Café, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. All ages, $10, 9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14



Haystak at The Loft, Wednesday, Nov. 19

Nashville-based rapper Haystak brings his “Walking Tall Tour” to the Loft. Openers are Jelly Roll, BB Swing, Big Snap, Cremro, JJG and Johnny Cashville. In high school, Haystak (nee Jason Winfree) was busted for bringing drugs to school and he spent two years behind bars. In 1998 though, he switched his focus from crime to rap, and the Southern-fried rapper was soon signed to Street Flavor Records. His first two LPs were “Mak Million” and “Car Fulla White Boys.” By 2000, hip-hop publications like Murder Dog Magazine were covering his releases, and he’d developed a solid underground following. The prolific 41-year old rapper has released over 20 full-length records, the latest being “Walking Tall Tour Album,” released in April by Global Alliance Entertainment.

The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. 18 , $20, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19

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