Internet Money's debut outing is the perfect showcase of the collectives talent

Internet Money

"B4 The Storm"

Release date: 28 August 2020

8/10

28 August 2020, 16:00 | Written by Steven Loftin

(Albums)

(Internet Money)

As a collective, Internet Money has been sowing the seeds of success for a little while now. Getting their start with founder Taz Taylor selling his beats, to finding their production soundtracking the likes of JuiceWLRD and his breakout hit “Lucid Dreams”, it’s been an up and up for Taylor and his various partners in crime.

Proving they’re taking no prisoners, their debut outing B4 The Storm cracks straight in with “Message” ft TyFontaine, an urgently paced jam to determine Internet Money's motive of properly breaking out on their own terms with a definitive collection.

The strongest part of B4 The Storm is indeed the production, as you’d expect. The spots and verses come together to feel like more of a culinary sample menu offering of modern culture, not really honing in on anything cohesive, which, given this is the collectives first statement piece does feel a bit out of bounds.

It also begs the question, just what could they have done to really cement a place they’re already in? Well, it turns out, just do more of what you’re good at, and that’s creating the perfect atmosphere for a new generation of rappers and names to do what they do best.

Standout tracks include “Familiar” featuring TheHxliday, which roots into that urging of emotion with a thunder beat threatening to crack through the speaker, while “Blastoff”, with guest spots from JuiceWLRD and Trippie Redd, alleivates itself of the usual heft to create a playful gentle yearning.

The movement from straight rattling beats into the more sullen and ruminative moments proves the adaptability and sensibility of Internet Money, particularly on “Thrusting” featuring Swae Lee and Future. It’s these gentle percussions and soft piano lines that can evoke just as much as any bar from any of the names involved. These are the moments that stand tallest, allowing you to personally stare into the sparsity of what they can offer. Though that’s not to say the more abrasive club tracks still have a heft to them that pulls you in, it’s also these that tend to avert proceedings, de-railing a solid flow.

All told, B4 The Storm is probably an apt title. Indeed, Internet Money has been making some serious tidal waves for a few years now, but with this collective collaboration bringing everything together, let’s see what happens when the eye hits.