PnB Rock comes through Tuesday afternoon with a surprising freestyle over Kanye West's "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1." "I like the way that Kanye did it/But Imma do it way way different," spits PnB. The first bar is an accurate description of what comes next as the Philly rapper dives into some intense biographical territory about his childhood, his mother, and the rough patches he has survived.
While Kanye's original focused on prayer, PnB's focus is on his own personal resurrection. "I've been through hell and back times two," he raps likely in reference to the two times he was sent away at first to a youth detention program and at age 19, to prison. From there, personal lyrics glide over 'Ye's foundation with a melodic ease as he flips the whole thing to reflect on his fucked up mornings. There's also a real ease in believing what PnB says when he raps on the hook about his plans to go farther, go harder, and be smarter because he just sounds so incredibly confident about it all.
The whole thing is a welcome addition to the growing group of remixes that artists are starting to push out. We've already heard a remix of The Life of Pablo track courtesy of DJ duo Dodger Stadium and their cinematic take on the original that 'Ye debuted at his "Famous" video event. West's close friend and collaborator Virgil Abloh also got his hands on the track and played it on a nearly hour-long loop at his most recent Off White fashion show today in Paris.
Still, there is something incredibly powerful about PnB's own take that definitely makes it worth your time. Earlier in the year, PnB had us going with his steamy Fetty Wap collaboration "Spend the Night." but "Stretch My Bandz" might be one of the rapper's strongest bangers yet.
