So many people have been raving about the Detroit rap scene, myself included of course, and while I have heard claims that the region has reached a pinnacle and there isn’t much more room for growth, I had to firmly disagree because I can see exactly how many of these talents are just hitting stride and gaining traction, even with all of the success they’ve seen prior to now. One thing that I think gets overlooked way too often is the producers who have been crafting the sound of this Midwest renaissance, because even though the emcees are as individualistic and distinct as they come, the very foundation of this sound should be credited to the beat smiths of the city.
Hitmakers like ENRGY, Cash Out, Michigan Meech, and more have been crafting a style that is unapologetically Michigan’s very own, and while other producers have attempted to run with this type of instrumentation as well, there is no copying this whatsoever. On another note, Helluva isn’t just one of the most innovative producers coming from the northern state, but he is also credited with spearheading this movement that began years ago.
Thanks to his work with almost anyone worth listening to in Michigan such as Tee Grizzley, 42 Dugg, Icewear Vezzo, Peezy, and more, he is in the upper echelon of Detroit rap’s fruitful history, and his upcoming album Helluva Life is going to drive this point home even further. Expected to feature an entire cast of all-stars from the city, Helluva teamed up with BabyTron and Dave Fio to give us a glimpse of what to expect on this project with their single “Money Flow”, and it’s about as impressive as it gets thanks to an accompanying Diego-directed video. The upbeat instrumental is infectious, and it seems to suit Tron’s nonchalant, spitfire delivery flawlessly as he rifles through lines full of imagination and double entendres.
Dave Fio was a name I had heard before, but until I witnessed his unbelievable talents on the hook of this record, I had no clue what I was missing out on. His voice is angelic, shining brightly over a beat that shouldn’t necessarily work with his style of singing in a conventional sense, but it differentiates and revolutionizes as he juxtaposes Tron’s smooth yet relaxed cadence immaculately. I was absolutely blown away by just how different and enthralling this single turned out to be, so I am on the edge of my seat to listen to this project as a whole when it eventually drops early next year!