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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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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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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