In the early 90’s there were few better places to go to hear unsigned or breaking Hip Hop talent then the Stretch & Bobbito Show. The radio program aired in the graveyard shift, 1AM to 5AM, from 1990 until 1998 on Columbia University’s WKCR. Hosts Adrian “Stretch Armstrong” Bartos and Robert “Bobbito” Garcia welcomed many emcees who would go on to become legends in the game, including Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Big Pun, and a sixteen year old Nas in 1991, three years before Illmatic dropped.
Speaking to the Village Voice Bobbito discussed the cult like following the show developed, “You had to be able to listen [live], or be in good graces with someone who had taped the show and was kind enough to give you a dub. A lot of people have told me they didn’t share the fact our show existed, because they wanted it to be their secret.” But word did get out and in the years since their show went off the air fans have been dreaming of the duo teaming up again. And now they will get their wish.
On February 10th at New York’s (le) Poisson Rouge Stretch and Bobbito will reunite live on stage. The format will be the same as their legendary show. Bobbito explains, “People will get on the mic and rhyme, but no one is performing. . . . Everything will be in the flow of the party.” For more details on the event check out the (le) Poisson Rouge site.
