Mop Top ‎- Forever (Verbal Assault) / I'm Alright - 1996

12" - 1996 - Break A Down Records 

In 1994, a group named Mop Top was invited by Stretch & Bobbito on WKCR for an interview and a freestyle session. Here is the session aired that night on January 20, 1994 : 

Two years later they were back with their debut 12" released on Break A Dawn Records, a record label managed by David "Davelove" Sanguinetti. Mop Top originally consisted of Link, Big Leaf and Buddha Stretch who were also members of the Brooklyn-based group called Ten Thieves.  

Big Leaf : "We formed the group in 1989. We were already together meaning myself, Stretch and Link. Because Stretch had a record deal with Atlantic Records, we were the Wize Guyz... Me and Link use to be the back dancers for the group... that was around 88-89. Later that year in 89 Stretch decided to form a new group called Mop Top with Him, Me and Link and in 1990 we added Ejoe. We have always been friends who worked and make music together since then Brother for life.

Myself and Link are from Canarsie Section of Brooklyn, Buddha Stretch is from Flatbush Brooklyn and Ejoe is from Uptown Bronx. We got signed to Break A Dawn Records because we already were on the label with the group Ten Thieves."

The wax is composed of the lead single "Forever (Verbal Assault)" featuring Big Grei, Diablo, Freestyle, Inner Soul & Nine, available in its Clean, Dirty and Instrumental versions on the A-side. On The B-side you can listen to the track "I'm Alright" available in its Straight Mix and Instrumental versions, and a bonus track titled "Move Ya Body", everything produced by Buddha Stretch. 

Big Leaf : "We met Nine when we were on tour with Ten Thieves, Nine had us open for him so that's how we met the rest of the MCs, we have been working in the industry since 1989, we also were some of the first groups to be apart of Lyricist Lounge which Mos Def, Da Bush Babies... performed before we got signed." 

Photo courtesy of Ramier Sellers 

MOP TOP (Buddha Stretch & Big Leaf) at Lyricist Lounge - Photo courtesy of Big Leaf

This wax was their first and only one 12" released by a record label. Even if the group has never dropped anything else after that, they're still in the game, doing their own things.

Big Leaf : "We never stopped making music but aside from making we also teach Dance and have doing both all these years..."

Photo courtesy of Melika Dez

Mad Props to Big Leaf, thanks for your time !