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DJ Young Mases’ The Takeover 3 received a mention on MTV’s Mixtape Mondays column.
This is The Takeover series’ third time on Mixtape Mondays. MTV has also recognized efforts by DJ Exclusive and DJ Babe in the recent past but considering their anti-hip hop roots, would they still be on board if hip hop’s bubble were to burst? Just sayin…
Here’s The Takeover 3’s first video for “I’m ready”, featuring Young Mase, K-deezy, Stretch Money and Tone Tone.
J Dilla and K-Deezy were the biggest winners at last night’s Detroit Hip Hop Awards, hosted by Mark Da Spark. Winners of the Detroit Hip Hop Awards as written in the Detroit News are:
Female Artist of the Year:
Xplicit Lyric
Group of the Year:
Purple Gang
Male Artist of the Year:
K-Deezy
Producer of the Year Local:
Black Milk
Producer of the Year National:
J Dilla
Mixtape DJ of the Year:
DJ Young Mase
Lyricist of the Year:
Guilty Simpson
Live Performer of the Year:
K-Deezy
Freestyle MC of the Year:
Marv Won
Video of the Year:
Marquise Porter - “Alone”
Album of the Year:
K-Deezy - “Stuck In My Ways”
Song of the Year:
Stretch Money - “Takes Money To Make Money”
Song of the Year Group:
Black Milk ft Guilty Simpson - “Sound the Alarm”
Artist Mixtape of the Year:
Iron Fist Records - “Hand 2 Hand”
Album of the Year National:
J Dilla - “The Shining”
Artist/Group of the Year National:
J Dilla
Song of the Year National:
Eminem - “No Apologies”
Soundscan Retailers Award:
Mae West
Detroit Recognition Award:
Phat Kat
Khary Turner and the Metro Times caught up with Hot Lava Records head honcho, Jesse “Crane Novacane” Wilson recently and write about him, his record label and their star artist, Stretch Money.
Stretch Money and his Hot Lava bosses are feeling the love in Detroit these days but they have humble roots.
Writes Turner:
The foundation of Hot Lava’s philosophy mirrors the brothers’ story, which is to embrace life’s grind.
And that grind began to show dividends in 2004 when J. Mitch introduced Crane to Darren “Stretch Money” McCullough. Stretch had great wordplay, but he wasn’t serious.
“I wasn’t trying to pursue it,” Stretch says. “I just knew how to rap. [Crane] said ‘You got somethin’.’ [He] turned nothin’ into somethin’.”
Stretch could relate to Crane. His baby face is one thing, but the rough edges tell his story. After graduating, Stretch enrolled at Baker College and got off to an honor roll-level start, but didn’t last a semester. Stretch says his addicted dad went “off the deep end.” That strained their once strong relationship.
“I was straight-on college, homie,” Stretch says. “But I had to get money.”
He began cooking at an Applebee’s, and dabbled in drug dealing. Hot Lava gave him hope and opportunity, and he took a chance. Next he recorded a mixtape, Heat Rocks, which the HL team used to create a buzz with street giveaways. And then, in September last year, they released Stretch’s debut, Take Money to Make Money.
Stretch performed with such stars as Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane and Rick Ross. Stretch did a college tour, and they shot five videos (two for Stretch) using their own resources. They’d eschew city permits and use their own vehicles to block off streets for filming.
Take Money was a slow burn upon release, but the crew’s a relentless pack of promoters. The title track and single — radio-friendly with a groove that’s fit for Detroit hustle ballrooms or Chicago step clubs — has become a power on the radio. Now, Stretch’s manager says, “Take” is getting about 150 spins per week on local urban radio. (Stretch and his confident baritone co-headlined Hot 102.7’s Summer Jam concert last month.) The album has sold 5,000 copies in Detroit so far, which is pretty amazing for indie hip hop.
Despite an 18 year sentence on a concealed weapons charge, Crane, Hot Lava and Stretch Money have high aspirations and are working on Money’s second album, Money Talks.
One of Detroit’s more popular new artists, Stretch Money with his single “Takes Money to Make Money”.
This one’s been getting a lot of love in Detroit (even from radio).
Young Mase, K-Deezy, Stretch Money and Tone Tone - “I’m Ready”
Produced by Synbeatz. From DJ Young Mase’s Detroit Takeover part 3, available in July at www.youngmase.com.
One of Detroit’s favorites, Bareda aka Mr. Wrong, has delivered a new album. A member of Detroit’s other supergroup, Raw Collection, Mr. Wrong is back with Wrong Turn.
Bareda won the 2004 Detroit Hip Hop Awards “Album of the Year” with Wrong as Hale. That album was followed up with Raw Collection’s Re Up mixtape (Eminem must’ve liked that title). Bareda most recently made an appearance on Ego Trip and MC Serch’s The White Rapper Show on VH1.
This new album has been put together by Singles Club/Sick Notes and features Big Herk, Stretch Money, K-Deezy, Trick Trick, Ill Uno and production by platinum producers Sick Notes.
The album is available at www.myspace.com/baredaakamrwrong and select Detroit area record stores.
Detroit Hip Hop in the news