DJ Premier - So Wassup? Episode 46

DJ Premier is back with the 46th episode of So Wassup?, dedicated to the process of how the tracks "Rugged Neva Smoove" & "Downtown Swinga" from M.O.P were created.

 

M.O.P. - To The Death 2xLP -2022

2xLP - 2022 - Get On Down / Tuff Kong Records 

"The legendary Brownsville duo of Lil Fame and Billy Danze followed up their first group single "How About Some Hardcore" with their first full-length studio album, To The Death, in the Spring of 1994, and they haven’t let up the pressure since.  While some solo offerings came earlier - most notably Fame’s appearance on The Hill That’s Real compilation- the classic aggressive energy the two emcees exhibit while trading rhymes back and forth is what street-rap fans have come to know and love from the group.  If you are not into the that smash-ya-face-in style, then simply put, the Mash Out Posse is not for you. 

The album was produced entirely by DR Period, except for track "Guns N' Roses" (produced by Silver D), and it solidified what has become a successful 30 year career for M.O.P.  Fame and Danze haven’t waivered from their grimy, crimey, high-energy boom bap style to this day, and the songs on this album established that fact early on.  Tracks like "Rugged Neva Smoove", “Blue Steel”, “Guns N’ Roses”, and the robbery-story driven "Heistmasters" are early indicators of the ruckus they would later bring on anthems like “Stick To Ya Gunz” and “Ante Up”." - courtesy Of Get On Down

 

A1. Crimetime 1-718 

A2. Rugged Neva Smoove

A3. Ring Ding 

A4. Heistmasters

B1. Blue Steel 

B2. Who Is M.O.P.?

B3. To The Death 

B4. Big Mal

C1. Top Of The Line

C2. This Is Your Brain 

C3. Drama Lord

D1. F.A.G. (Fake Ass Gangsta) 

D2. How About Some Hardcore 

D3. Positive Influences 

D4. Guns N' Roses

Available on Opaque Orange wax via Get On Down, and also available in Europe on Turquoise wax via Tuff Kong Records... 300 copies each. 

New Joint : Dom Dirtee - Take It To War feat. Teflon & Lil Fame - 2022

 

"Take It To War" featuring Teflon & Lil Fame of M.O.P. is the first single dropped by Dom Dirtee, off his forthcoming album "The Hardcore Composer 2" dropping June, 24 2022... stay tuned ! 

It's Ugly On The Hill - M.O.P. in Elemental Magazine

From Elemental Magazine - Issue #22 - 1998 -  Scans courtesy of Tim Burton 

 

Apathy - The Widow's Son - 2018

LP - 2018 - Dirty Version

01. The Spellbook (prod. by Apathy)

02. Chaos (prod. by Stu Bangas)

03. Never Fall Off feat. AG & DJ Mekalek (prod. by Apathy)

04. The Widow's Son feat. Ryu (prod. by Chumzilla)

05. The Order (prod. by DJ Premier)

06. Alien Weaponry (prod. by Nottz)

07. Hypnosis feat. Brevi (prod. by Messiah Musik)

08. I Keep On feat. Pharoahe Monch (prod. by Pete Rock)

09. A View of Hell feat. DJ Eloheem (prod. by Buckwild)

10. Fist of the North Star feat. Diabolic & DJ Eloheem (prod. by Stu Bangas)

11. Stomp Rappers feat. M.O.P., Celph Titled & Chumzilla (prod. by Apathy)

12. Legend Of The 3rd Degree feat. Tone Spliff (prod. by Stu Bangas)

13. Rise and Shine feat. Locksmith & DJ Mekalek (prod. by Apathy)
14. Obi Wan (prod. by Smoke The World)

"Apathy may be more than 20 years into his career, but the Connecticut native has never sounded better. To say he's revitalized would mean he's slowed down at some point, but he's essentially been on a tear since spitting crazy guest verses on Jedi Mind Tricks' '97 debut, The Psycho-Social CD. Ap's passion for his art is palpable, and it's just one of the many reasons why his latest solo album, The Widow's Son, is so instantly satisfying.

The 14 tracks that make up this record demonstrate an artist at the top of his respective game, spitting dizzying bars and throwing out quotables that seem almost unfair. Part of it feels like he's in constant competition with himself, his contemporaries, and his heroes—all of whom make an appearance on The Widow's Son.

You can hear two of Ap's favorite producers of all time, Pete Rock and DJ Premier, on album singles "I Keep On" and "The Order." "Workin with Preem, for me, is crazy because of the pressure," Ap says of the collaboration. "I tend to overthink sh*t, because he's my favorite producer of all time—and the legendary status he brings to the table."

Not only that, but "I Keep On" boasts a stellar guest performance from Ap's biggest rhyming influence, Pharoahe Monch. Elsewhere, the Demigodz rapper is joined by frequent collaborators, such as Ryu on the title track and M.O.P., Celph Titled and Chumzilla on the self-produced, "STOMP RAPPERS."

While much of The Widow's Son may lead you to believe this is simply Ap at his highest form—and it certainly is—there's also a deeper message to it all. He made this record as a dedication to his love for Freemasonry, because he's a proud 32º Master Mason who takes his role in the community seriously. "Freemasonry is a self mission, but you come together with like-minded brethren," he says. "It's about being a better man, doing positive things, and making the most of your life. It's something that inspires me, and intrigues me."

Ap tapped into that dedication when crafting the themes that pop up throughout the record—a concept he says was inspired by some of his favorite albums (Midnight Marauders and 36 Chambers). "I wanted this album to create a cohesive feel, and have its own energy," he explains "I wanted to inspire that energy through the intrigue and depth of Freemasonry. The album as a whole isn't purely focused on the order, but it does has heavy themes that do focus on what it's truly about."

The Widow's Son becomes available for stream and download, as well as all physical formats (CD, vinyl and cassette) on March 2nd, via Dirty Version. Head over to the Demigodz online store for various pre-order options, and bundle packages" - PRLog



Available on Vinyl / CD / Cassette ...
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