This is the latest & 5th full-length LP from Detroit, Michigan rapper Stanwill. Coming up as 1/3 of the ShittyBoyz with Babytron & TR Dee signing to Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records, he eventually branched out on his own during the COVID-19 pandemic off the debut EP $camwill as well as it’s successor Gifted & the debut mixtape Van Gundy. He also went Full Auto for his 3rd EP & 4ever $hittin’ following Still $hittin’, coming off Stan Always Will for a deeper look at $tanley.
“X Rated” doesn’t have the strongest instrumental to kick things off speaking of having that dog in him prior to “Alzheimer’s” explaining that he’ll stay up all night for the money since he could a give a fuck about catching any rest. “Oscar Mayer” discusses catching the muhfucka talking spicy on his name & putting a bullet in his head just before “Hocus Pocus” featuring T Bone finds the pair trading bars with each other similarly to both of Stan’s last couple albums.
Continuing from there, “Action Packed” hooks up some bells to talk about anyone beefing with the Dog $hit Militia being left on stretchers leading into the piano-driven “Go Figure” brushing off some broke ass hater for staying pressed. “Betta Ask Somebody” explains that he ain’t gonna send disses unless he’s wrapping up corpses while Danny G saves my favorite beat for “I.Y.K.Y.K. (If You Know You Know)” so he & Lil Mello can discuss their respective wealth.
“Motion Picture” wraps up the 1st leg of $tanley going for a mellower vibe instrumentally asking how one’s simultaneously wearing Rick & owing rent prior to “Disco $hit” kicking off the 2nd half combining the Detroit sound & disco talking about no one in his squad sharing racks with each other. “Up 50” featuring Buddyy speaks of others having trouble catching up to the run they’ve been on while “Bruce Wayne” likens himself to the main character of the Warner Bros.-owned DC Entertainment Batman franchise.
The ShittyBoyz get together for “Jahmyr Gibbs” talking about investing in themselves while “2026” expresses confidence of becoming historic. “Same Old Ways” dabbled with plugg & pop rap advising against saying names if he’s being interrogated while “What You Need” decently tackles themes of love. “I Got More” talks about not worrying over shit & “Come With Me” sends off the album with a melodically romantic plugg outro.
Ahead of his very first solo show next weekend, Stanwill comes off D$M’s debut tape a couple weeks earlier to reveal a more introspective side to him including some interesting experimentations with plugg & pop rap towards the backend of $tanley. The pluggier moments somewhat take me back to 4ever $hittin’ & the poppier cuts might not be for everyone although I understand him doing it in the context of those tracks.
Score: 3.5/5
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