A product of Detroit’s west side, best known for his razor-sharp delivery and street wisdom, Stretch Money came out of the gate roaring with a viral anthem (“Takes Money to Make Money”) and has never stopped sharpening his craft.

He is not an artist who chases the spotlight.

Instead, he tells hard truths, and his city has never stopped listening.

Stretch Money got his start in Detroit’s Dexter-Linwood area, where hustle was generational and every bar came rooted in deep trauma.

He didn’t pick up rapping as an escape.

He simply wanted to document his experience.

By the mid-2000s, Detroit’s underground scene was just getting on its feet, and Stretch made a name for himself with his regional hit song “Takes Money to Make Money.”

The song went viral before viral was even a thing, quickly becoming a regional cult classic that was heard everywhere, from the radio to clubs, and blaring out of car speakers.

The beat slapped, but it was the words that truly stuck.

It wasn’t just catchy—it was a coded warning.

A blueprint.

A flex in the form of street philosophy.

Stretch wasn’t the most industry-polished artist.

He was real, and his bars reflected that.

The messages he imbued into his songs were always full of regret, reflection, and mourning, all delivered with a clean flow and the kind of authenticity that cannot be faked.

Held in high regard by Detroit’s underground, he has also worked with artists like fellow 313 natives Helluva and Black Milk, as well as countless others, earning a place in the city’s distinct lyrical DNA.

That said, Stretch has never felt the need to box himself in.
From street hits to introspective cuts, his sound has gradually evolved over the years, only seeming to get better with time.

Stretch’s later projects, such as “25 Miles Per Hour” and “Time Is Money,” showcase an artist in transition—older, wiser, yet still just as hungry for more.

Since his rise in the mid-2000s, he has begun thinking more about his long-term legacy, financial literacy, generational wealth building, and long-term survival beyond the rap game.

That said, music remains his main passion.

In a city flooded with noise, he has stood strong as one of the few lyricists with an actual story to tell beyond just flexing.
He doesn’t rely on gimmicks; he just needs a good beat and the truth.

In short:

Stretch Money may have had a fast come-up, but he’s not just another Detroit one-hit wonder.

He is a street spokesman – clear-headed, sharp-tongued, and as resilient as they come.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: September 24, 2025