Coming out of Sanford, Maine, a small-town artist isn’t supposed to have an easy path to the national hip-hop conversation. For Gavin Michael DeRosie, known professionally as 2FromTheVale, that has never been the point. At 22 years old, he’s taking everything that came from his surroundings and turning it into motivation to build something bigger than the place where it started.
Sanford is where the story begins. Instead of coming from one of hip-hop’s traditional centers, 2FromTheVale has had to build his name from a much smaller market, developing his identity and following through independent music. His rise has been gradual, but that’s part of what makes the story worth telling: there was no major city machine behind him — just an artist continuing to push his name forward.
Over time, that work has started creating connections outside Maine. His music has included collaborations such as “Standin On Shit” with Lukky Louch, while his more recent work has connected him with artists from completely different parts of the country.
That progression reached another level in 2026 when 2FromTheVale connected with Mezzo2Raw on “TORCH,” giving him another opportunity to introduce himself to audiences beyond Maine.
Now, his name is attached to a collaboration that puts his journey into an even bigger perspective: “Trust Issues,” alongside Wilmington artist Trxp9k and Kodak Black. The record brings together artists from different regions and backgrounds, with 2FromTheVale representing Sanford, Maine in the middle of that connection.
But the Kodak Black collaboration isn’t the beginning of 2FromTheVale’s story — it’s a result of the road that came before it.
From making music in a small Maine community to finding himself connected to artists and movements hundreds of miles away, 2FromTheVale represents what can happen when an independent artist refuses to let geography define the size of the dream.
Sanford is where he came from. The music is how he’s making sure people remember where he came from.
And now, with his name reaching audiences well beyond Maine, 2FromTheVale is no longer just building a name in the Vale — he’s building a name outside of it.
