Stretch Money – “The Old Me” review

This is the 12th EP from Detroit, Michigan emcee Detroit, Michigan emcee Stretch Money. Emerging in the fall of 2006 off his full-length debut album Take Money to Make Money, he would go on to put out 3 more LPs with 25 Miles Per Hour as well as Locked In & Lil Daran from da Way Way. His output of EPs consists of The Villain, The Tribute, The Drunken Master, The Real Money, the Upper Echelon: Legend of the Silver Surfa duology, Giant, Eastside Lord & the previously mentioned 1984. Stretch also formed the duo Bill & Isiah with Valid, introducing themselves a year ago on their eponymous debut paying homage to the 80s in the process. Coming off To the West Coast…with Love & the other half of 1984 however, he’s taking it back to The Old Me.

“Big Daran” is this Detroit trap opener talking about fucking up the game for a minute now & calling it lightwork whereas “The Rapper” works in some sinister keys & 808s teaching y’all that you can get it too if you play your role & know your position. “Watch Me Get It” brings an eerie Detroit trap flare instrumentally to talk about these bitches sitting back & observing Stretch’s success continuing while “Blood, Sweat & Tears” atmospherically refuses to wait for his blessings to come. “Sadly Mistaken” maintains the Motor City’s unique take on trap music addressing themes of betrayal & lastly, “Not Them” spaciously ends the EP brushing off being anything like his competition.

To the West Coast…with Love earlier this spring was a short but great homage to the city of Los Angeles & as one would expect on The Old Me, we have Stretch Money taking it back to his roots to the point where I actually found myself enjoying this a lot more than the EP of his I previously covered a little over 5 months ago already. The west coast vibes from April within the production are completely thrown out the window in favor of the upbeat 808 percussion that makes Detroit trap stand out for 15 minutes, taking the opportunity to reflect on his past & mix it with where he’s at today.

Score: 4/5

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Valid – “Peach Brandy” review

This is the 3rd full-length solo LP from Detroit emcee Valid. Introducing himself properly in 2015 with Reach High, he would follow it up in 2019 getting more personal on the sophomore effort Mihajlo which I personally would recommend to anyone as the best place to start for anyone who wants to get up on Valid’s music & eventually the Plum Brandy EP only 9 months later. He would go on to make an entrance theme for the current WWE NXT Champion Ethan Page during his AEW run, later forming Bill & Isiah with Stretch Money over a year ago & putting out an acclaimed eponymous debut. Only 5 months since his debut mixtape The Bronko Tape, we’re now being treated to Peach Brandy as the main course.

“Peach Killer” is a classy boom bap opener to the album talking about letting the cosmos control his destiny whereas “There He Is” works in pianos along with more kicks & snares referring to himself as the motherfucker that those doubted most. “1 of a Kind” kinda has a jazzier boom bap quality to the beat so he can talk about the life he living ain’t like anything else just before “Places” hooks up a solemn sample setting out to reinvent in the renaissance city.

Bill & Isiah link back up for “9 to 5” hopping over a vocal flip to brag that it be looking like they selling dope when their music careers are taking off in actuality leading into the celebratory “May 6” talking about how his circle wasn’t even supposed to make it & engaging in a gangsta ass tradition. “Never Question” goes into pop rap territory tackling themes of romance, but then “The One Who Decides” brings some strings in the picture & some of his most captivating storytelling yet.

“Plush” featuring Boog Brown gives off a more playful tone aesthetically encouraging everyone to put ‘em up high while “Sci-Non-Fi” turns the jazz influences back up confessing that he feels like he’s in a weird place making it look like he in space. “Cigareta” featuring Jon Connor & Philmore Greene returns to the boom bap reminiscing as they smoke up remembering those who can’t be here while “Stara Škola” featuring BARS, Frenkie, Ghet, LD Pistolero, Random & Struka comes through with a Serbian hip hop posse cut.

Starting the encore of Peach Brandy, the song “Nirdala” groovily talks about everyone chasing cash & success in the the midst of the never-ending battle between good & evil while the penultimate track “This Day” blends vibraphones along with kicks & snares trying to stay optimistic even when he isn’t in the best place mentally. “Graycious” lastly ends the LP with a bit of a west coast homage from the funky instrumental to the Zapp-inspired background vocals feeling gracious.

In case you didn’t know, everything that made Plum Brandy the heartfelt EP in Valid’s discography showcasing his Serbian roots with a heavy amount of ex-Yugoslavian samples makes it’s way onto Peach Brandy & even taking it a step further than the predecessor a month before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The concept of his Serbian heritage is being re-explored in a bigger, full-length capacity allowing himself & the producers to do more with the cards that’re dealt in comparison to The Bronko Tape’s raw homage to Bronko Lubich.

Score: 3.5/5

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Stretch Money – “To the West Coast…with Love” review

Detroit, Michigan emcee Stretch Money returning 4 months after 1984 to release his 10th EP. Emerging in the fall of 2006 off his full-length debut album Take Money to Make Money, he would go on to put out 3 more LPs with 25 Miles Per Hour as well as Locked In & Lil Daran from da Way Way. His output of EPs consists of The Villain, The Tribute, The Drunken Master, The Real Money, the Upper Echelon: Legend of the Silver Surfa duology, Giant, Eastside Lord & the previously mentioned 1984. Stretch also formed the duo Bill & Isiah with Valid, introducing themselves a year ago on their eponymous debut paying homage to the 80s in the process. However to start the 2nd quarter of the year, he’s cooking up an open letter To the West Coast…with Love.

“L.A.” appropriately starts the EP by setting the tone as a warm, slick tribute to the entertainment capital of the world whereas “Make Sum Em” goes into atmospheric turf talking about being stuck to this shit & keeping the faith at his lowest. “This is Y They Mad” is this smooth ass middle finger to everyone hating on him for making paper leading into “Ain’t No Secret” spaciously acknowledging that the way he’s coming really isn’t a secret whatsoever.

Meanwhile on “No Favors”, we have Stretch passionately talking about not needing a plug since he has his own cables just before the souful “Never Thought” talks about never imagining serving time behind bars like he did. “Zombie” weaves these pianos & hi-hats only needing money & Mary Jane, but then “Cool” is a trap closer thanking everyone for hopping on the plane with him.

Being a Detroiter who considers Los Angeles his 2nd home, this EP really spoke to me & I feel like a lot of people in both cities are gonna enjoy To the West Coast…with Love as a profound love letter to the sunshine state. He & the producer Vino coming straight outta South Central take the connection they have with one another & channel it all into this 8-track, 19 minute offering showing their appreciation for the City of Angels.

Score: 4/5

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Valid – “The Bronko Tape” review

Detroit emcee Valid coming off Bill & Isiah’s self-titled debut from last spring with his debut mixtape. Introducing himself properly in 2015 with Reach High, he would follow it up in 2019 getting more personal on the sophomore effort Mihajlo which I personally would recommend to anyone as the best place to start for anyone who wants to get up on Valid’s music & eventually the Plum Brandy EP only 9 months later. However after teasing The Bronko Tape recently in the form of a couple singles, now is the time for Valid to return for the first solo project of his in nearly 4 years.

“Big Bronko” has this mobster-like sample from Pig Pen so Valid can liken himself to Bronko Lubich who competed in the Billy Corgan owned National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), the Hart family-owned Stampede Wrestling, the WWE Hall of Famers Von Erich family-owned WCCW, the Crockett family-owned JCP & WWE Hall of Famer Verne Gagne-owned AWA from the early 50s to the early 70s whereas “Frozen Over Twice” works in this accordion flip from Middle Finger Music in-house producer Peace of Mind with DJ Los on the turntables talking about being known for doing the impossible. “Fever” goes into a silkier direction explaining everything’s been the same just before “Prayer for the Players” featuring Big Herk & Fat Ray finds the trio over a soulful boom bap instrumental from Simple Cuts spitting gospel for the gangstas.

Nearing the end of the first half of the tape “Let It Bang” featuring Asaka the Renegade talking about how heartless these hoes can be & Nick Speed paying tribute to the greatest Texas hip hop duo of all-time UGK behind the boards leading into the “Cyclone” featuring & produced by Ilajide formerly of the Clear Soul Forces going for a funky trap vibe looking to stir up shit similar to a storm or system of winds rotating inward to an area of low atmospheric pressure. Bill & Isiah link back up with the help of S.A.G.E. for “Dark Road” asking how you like them know over pianos & hi-hats, but then “Always Be Me” stays true to himself referencing 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 5-time WWE world champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & TNA World Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash over a boom bap beat.

“Do You Remember” blends a soul sample with kicks & snares describing a romantic interest who he viewed as an angel while “Forever & a Day” assures to tell him all your insecurities for him to embrace” over a luxurious boom bap instrumental. “Hell of a Love” draws near the end of the tape by really digging in the crates with it’s vintage sampling helping this woman with her self-esteem & the jazzy “Random Thoughts” rounds everything out by making a whole song around the fact that he & Tony Rizzo could talk about anything in the lab with.

Like I mentioned: This was the first solo project that Valid has put out in damn near 4 years since it’s anniversary is next Wednesday & much like the last full-length we got from him which will already be turning 5 this spring, The Bronko Tape is most certainly a step above Plum Brandy when he put it out literally before everyone’s lives changed forever. Don’t get me wrong: Plum Brandy was a fresh showcasing of his Serbian roots, but I like the production here better & the homages to Bronko Lubich as a wrestling fan myself.

Score: 4/5

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Bill & Isiah – Self-Titled review

Bill & Isiah are a Detroit hip hop duo consisting of Valid & Stretch Money. Although both of them have already established names for themselves individually in the local hip hop scene at this point, the pair first joined forces a couple years ago on the songs “5 Fingers of Death, “Like This” & even “Sentimental” only a few months back. So considering their past history together, both of them are gonna take it to the next level on their eponymous full-length debut by letting it be known as to who the modern day Bill Laimbeer & Isiah Thomas of the rap game really are.

“‘89 Cadillacs” is a smooth opener you can blast in the whip when driving around late at night welcoming y’all to the Palace whereas “You Know I Like It” dives into soulful turf instrumentally thanks to Pig Penn including a reference to former アイアンマンヘビーメタル級王座, TNA World Tag Team Champion, WCW World Television Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 7-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, 4-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall. “Revenge” takes a more melodic, somewhat funkier route making it clear that they will have their vengeance in the end just before “Game Film” shifts gears into a more trap-based sound paying tribute to all the classic 80s movies that raised them.

Meanwhile on “Sentimental”, we have Bill & Isiah incorporating elements of 80s pop into their sound so they continue to get nostalgic about the decade they came up in leading into “The Girls” keeps it funky & brings back the synths to express their taste in women who love to party referencing 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 16-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, 6-time WWE United States Champion, 6-time WWE tag team champion & 9-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. “Commentate” almost gives me a J Dilla vibe with the beat as both lyricists give y’all something to talk about, but then “Eastern Conference Finals” provides more of a rap rock flare getting on their battle shit.

The song “Drink with Me” weaves a bluesy guitar in the fold as Valid & Stretch ask the bartender for more shots while the penultimate track “So Divine” comes through with a more shimmery approach referring to WWE Hall of Famer, 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, IWGPヘビー級王座, the inaugural 6-time TNA World Champion, TNA X Division Champion & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Kurt Angle. “Like This” however ties things up with a feel good anthem for people to have fun to with some crazy interpolations of the timeless Dr. Dre single “Nuthin’ but a G Thang” featuring Snoop Dogg throughout.

Valid’s been a good friend a mine for a few years now & I’ve heard him talk about this album to me for a while but since it’s finally available to listen to, it proves to me that he & Stretch Money both truly are the Bill & Isiah of hip hop and hopefully they continue to build up their discography as a duo down the road. I like how both of their styles gel so well with one another & it’s cool to hear the production pulling from the sounds of the very decade that’s referenced throughout.

Score: 4/5

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Valid – “Plum Brandy” review

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This is the brand new EP from Detroit emcee Valid, who made his solo debut in 2015 with Reach High. The album was followed up just last year with the man’s most personal work to date Mihajlo & now 9 months later, he’s back on the scene with Plum Brandy.

The opener “January 8th” itself is a cool nod to Serbian Christmas & I really like the mellow boom bap production on here as well. The next song “Pops” is a touching dedication to Mihajlo’s father over a soulful instrumental while the track “Foreign Forever” with Boldy James sees the 2 talking about their ancestry over some gorgeous strings. The song “ULUV’ gets more on the romantic side of things over a funky instrumental while the penultimate track “Take Me Down” continues to get flirtatious over intoxicating instrumental. The EP then finishes with “Paper” where Valid gets with Smoke Mardeljano & Struka to talk about money over a woozy instrumental.

This is a pretty interesting release in Mihajlo’s catalog. For him to showcase his Serbian roots from the samples to the production choices & even most of the features is a pretty cool move on his part & I think he did a pretty good job at it.

Score: 3.5/5

Valid – “Mihajlo” review

Valid is an MC from Detroit, Michigan who made his debut in 2012 with the release of 2 EPs: Maria & The US 12 Experience. He then followed it up with Beyond Physics’ self-titled debut the following year & his solo debut Reach High in 2015 but now with the help of his mentor DJ Head alongside Pig Pen & Tone Rizzo, he’s back on the scene with his sophomore album.

The album kicks off with “Travel”, where Valid gets nostalgic over an instrumental that kinda has a psychedelic rock vibe to it. The next song “Street Boy” is a heartfelt dedication to his family over some acoustic passages while the song “Bottled” with eLZhi sees the 2 letting out a lot that they’ve been holding back over an atmospheric beat. The track “Stagnant” talks about being in the titular state over a laidback boom bap beat from Foul Mouth while the song “Time for Me” with Mahogany Jones sees the 2 talking about focusing on oneself over a mellow beat from Pig Pen.

The track “Scarf Off” gets romantic over a Big Tone instrumental that cleverly samples Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat” while the song “Bumpin’” gets charismatic over a soulful beat. The track “IShudBeDaWon” talks about how he should’ve been big already over a vibraphone-inflicted boom bap beat from Ilajide while the song “Old Tale” vividly tells the story of a friend of his named Josh over a jazzy beat. The penultimate track “Tomorrow” gets motivational over an smooth beat as well as a fantastic Illa J hook & then the album finishes off with “I’m Blessed”, which is beautifully self-explanatory with a funky instrumental from DJ Dez.

To me, I think this is Valid’s magnum opus. Primarily because I feel like the listener is really getting to know him more as a person with the instrumentals enhancing the vibe & emotion of almost every song.

Score: 4/5