Stretch is an MC’s MC. His sound is reminiscent of a classic era of hip hop, embellished by lush and expansive production sensibilities. Stretch’s artistry bloomed in the 12th grade, rapping to Jdilla beats that he had downloaded on to his HP—after which he became a staple at open mics and cyphers across Toronto. This period was instrumental in helping him to define who he wanted to be as a rapper, and refining his storytelling, with respect to both poetry and musicality.

Eventually, a collaboration with engineer, Nate Smith, led to the recording of his 9-track debut mixtape in 2017, The Ballpark Tape. “It was the result of an organic experience of writing and composition.” Stretch has often viewed baseball as a personal metaphor for life, in the sense that a small movement can have unforeseen ripple effects.

Recently, Stretch has been in the studio working on his sophomore project titled A Man Like Me. This work maintains the soulful hip hop notes that have characterized his sound, while also carving out new space for sonic exploration and growth. This project employs a range of poetic styles to articulate lessons gleaned not only from Stretch’s personal experience, but stories from the folks he’s surrounded by. You can look out for A Man Like Me in 2024.