Billy Danze, Brownsville Hip Hop stellar who needs no introduction enlists DJ Premier and TooBusy for his new single “Take a Step.”
The post Billy Danze (M.O.P) – “Take a Step” Ft. DJ Premier, TooBusy first appeared on UndergroundHipHopBlog.
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com
Billy Danze, Brownsville Hip Hop stellar who needs no introduction enlists DJ Premier and TooBusy for his new single “Take a Step.”
The post Billy Danze (M.O.P) – “Take a Step” Ft. DJ Premier, TooBusy first appeared on UndergroundHipHopBlog.
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com
Less than six weeks ago, Hip-Hop Heads suddenly learned that a Gang Starr album was on its way. DJ Premier had spent more than a year producing songs around previously unreleased vocals from his longtime creative partner, Guru. The MC/producer had passed away in 2010, nearly seven years removed from the duo’s previous LP, The Ownerz. Now, approaching a decade since Guru departed, Gang Starr’s legacy lives on through One Of The Best Yet. The new collection of songs and interludes involves some of the group’s closest affiliates, along with some noteworthy Rap peers that stand for the duo’s everlasting message. Earlier this week, a New York Times report by Paul Cantor revealed that this TTT/Gang Starr Enterprises LP may be the first of two potential albums from the group. Regardless of when and where these verses were recorded, O.O.T.B.Y. has messages that feel destined for the Rap group that Guru (as “Keithy E”) had co-founded in 1980s. The J. Cole-assisted “Family And Loyalty” plays like a decree to the Gang Starr brotherhood, complete with Big Shug in the video (as well as Guru’s son). Shug was with Guru back in the first iteration of Gang Starr, in mid-1980s Boston. He remained a fixture in Gang Starr Foundation after Premier and Guru had carried on the group together, meeting in New York City later in the decade. A New Report Details How DJ Premier Rescued Guru’s Lost Recordings Like “Family And Loyalty,” album closer “Bless The Mic” is another prophetic reminder of the Gang Starr bond. “Whether wrong or right / A lot of people fight / But I’m here the mic,” Guru raps in what has become the chorus. Those words carry perspective for a complicated period between 2003 and 2010 for the two men. Guru’s verses flaunt the kind of wisdom that Elam loved serving “dumb rappers” on songs like “Speak Ya Clout” and “Just To Get A Rep.” For this listener, it is hard to imagine the song recorded to any other beat. It has that tailor-made chemistry that outlasted trends in Hip-Hop, a changing business model, and so much more that the industry witnessed between 1989 and 2010. Through their respective mediums, these men are communicating with each other, getting the last word to their brilliant history. One Of The Best Yet also allows proper sendoffs from affiliates like Jeru The Damja and Group Home. These artists became Gang Starr’s proteges, eventually stepping away on later albums. “What’s Real” with Lil Dap and Melachi The Nutcracker has that trip down the New York back-streets. Royce 5’9 joins the moment, a disciple from the dark imagery of Group Home, and Preemo’s more recent beneficiary, thanks to PRhyme. As he did so well during the mid-1990s, Jeru hits the pocket of “From A Distance” with his nimble flow and distinct brand of lyrical substance. Billy Danze and Lil Fame give the M.O.P.-assisted “Lights Out” two shining verses. Freddie Foxxx (aka Bumpy Knuckles) and Shug honor “The Militia” series with a fourth installment, with some fresh raw denim bars, over-top some crisp scratches and pounding percussion. Gang Starr’s New Video With J. Cole Keeps Guru’s Legacy Alive (Video) Pre-album single “Bad Name” stands tall within this body of work. Guru’s love for Hip-Hop culture permeated everything he did. Repping for fallen comrades Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal’s call for better behavior in the community sounds brand new and relatable. Those sentiments echo on “So Many Rappers,” as well as the brief-but-potent “Bring It Back Here.” So many of these songs defy feeling 10-plus years old, a testament to Guru’s pen and plausibly, the behind-the-scenes surgery of Premier. This group had intricate ways of making its albums in Calliope and D&D Studios from the very beginning. Now, with Guru’s ashes at the control panel, that chemistry still bubbles at Queens’ HeadQCourterz, named after another fallen Gang Starr family member. Gang Starr’s impact on Hip-Hop cannot be understated; DJ Premier and Guru’s love and brotherhood can never be undone. Heads have known these facts for decades. One Of The Best Yet is a pleasant reminder for your speakers. DJ Premier Discusses The Making Of Gang Starr’s Hard To Earn 25 Years Later At AFH TV, DJ Premier provided a 20th-anniversary “Making The Music” in-depth interview regarding Gang Starr’s Moment Of Truth. There are other videos related to Preemo and Nas. We are currently offering free 7-day trials. “Bad Name” and “Family and Loyalty” are presently included on the official AFH Playlist. Gang Starr Press photo (by Chi Modu) provided by TTT.
Source: AmbrosiaForHeads.com
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April 5 is an interesting day in Hip-Hop music. Rarely is a rap record released on this day — we did the research, but feel free to prove us wrong! — but there was one influential LP that jumpstarted the careers of two Brownsville natives and competely shook the game up in 1994. Yes, we’re talking about the Mash Out Posse, who you may know better as M.O.P., and today we show them love as their debut album To The Death turns 25.
Select Street Records
Released on April 5, 1994, To The Death was yet another milestone in the domination that New York had on the rap game, with Lil’ Fame and Billy Danze both representing Brooklyn with the ruggedness and street appeal that shaped the attitude, look and overall sound of Hip-Hop at this time. The album itself was a precursor for rappers like Nas (Illmatic), Outkast (Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik), Da Brat (Funkdafied) and The Notorious B.I.G. (Ready to Die) amongst others that also debuted in 1994, with M.O.P. coming out swinging with three singles and a modest peak at #68 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The album was produced entirely by legendary East Coast rap producer and fellow Brownsville native DR Period, aside from the closing track “Guns N Roses” which was handled by Silver D and executive producer creds going to silent M.O.P. member Laze E Laze. The musical themes highlight the climate of life in hoods throughout America in the ’90s — gang violence, “fake ass gangstas,” staying fresh and just surviving the “rugged neva smoove” streets of New York City.
Of all the singles released off this shining debut, the highlight would of course be the anthem cut “How About Some Hardcore.” It was the most successful performance on the charts and amongst the hardest of Hip-Hop fans, peaking in the Top 40 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart at #36. For those that liked it raw, M.O.P. provided that effortlessly on this record with impressive lyricism, dope production and a tenacity to make it big that we’d see the duo accomplish even greater on the DJ Premier-produced follow up album and the 2001 smash hit “Ante Up (Remix).” And to think: all of this originated from a chance standout appearance on the soundtrack to House Party 3!
The post Today in Hip Hop History: M.O.P. Drops Their Debut Album ‘To the Death’ 25 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.
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Although “Ante Up,” may not M.O.P.’s highest-charting single, the street anthem is a cornerstone of Billy Danze and Lil Fame’s catalog. Released in late 2000, the Loud Records single produced by D/R Period was emblematic of the menacing music that the Brownsville, Brooklyn Rap duo had been making since 1994’s To The Death. At a time when so many artists were bragging about jewels, medallions, and flossing the “iced out” lifestyle, the Mash Out Posse reminded the high-posters that stick-up kids are forever out to tax. As the Warriorz single delivered M.O.P. to radio, music videos, and crossover markets, a remix enhanced the song. Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma, and longtime group affiliate Teflon appeared on the second offering, complete with a video (embedded below). However, in a new conversation with Doggie Diamonds’ The No Filter Podcast, Bill Danze reveals that another legendary lineup was originally intended. Billy Danze Takes A Classic Rick James Sample & Hammers It At 2:00, the show host asks Billy Danze how a young Remy Ma landed on the remix. “Remy forced her way on the record,” says the veteran who just released his solo project, 6 Pack. “What I mean by that is, she just did such a good verse. We didn’t have her in mind.” In the next few years after the breakthrough appearance, Remy Ma (who was still known as “Remy Martin”) would officially sign with SRC Records, Steve Rifkind’s imprint after Loud. Bill continues, “Really, [JAY-Z] was supposed to get on the song. Prodigy had did a [verse] for the song. I didn’t want to use Prodigy’s verse because he was actually talking about Jay. Remember, they had a lil’ beef then. So I hit Jay and was like, ‘Yo, nevermind. Don’t worry about the verse; we’re closing the song now.'” Bill continues that Jay likely knew that the Mobb Deep MC was going to be on the record. “He knew that was gonna happen. But I couldn’t allow that—even if it was the other way around. If Jay was on the record dissing Prodigy, I would’ve took Jay off the record. Nahmean? You don’t bring your beefs or lil’ war into my house; I don’t do that.” Just Blaze Says He’s Given M.O.P. All The Beats Intended For Their Roc-A-Fella Album At the time, Prodigy’s beef with Jay was just bubbling to the surface. According to a 2017 Complex feature, tensions started in 1998 when JAY-Z rapped, “It’s like New York’s been soft ever since Snoop came through and crushed the building,” on “Money, Cash, H*es.” In 1995, Capone-N-Noreaga, Tragedy Khadafi, and Mobb Deep has responded to Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop Dogg’s “New York, New York” with “L.A., L.A.” “Jay was nowhere to be found when that drama popped off between Mobb Deep, Dogg Pound, [Tupac], and Biggie,” Prodigy would later tell The Source, as quoted in his My Infamous Life memoir. “That was our little personal beef, not a coastal war… so JAY-Z is a b*tch-ass ni**a for making that quote in his lyrics.” Jay eventually landed in Tupac’s scope of enemies, although he has worked with Snoop and Tha Dogg Pound. Smif-N-Wessun Detail The Making Of The Album Where They Truly Gave Their All (Video) Less than a year after “Ante Up,” those tensions and alleged subliminal disses came to the surface on Jay’s “The Takeover” and Mobb’s “Crawlin’.” In a 2017 interview with Rap Radar Podcast, JAY-Z revealed that he and Prodigy made peace before his former counterpart’s passing. In 2000, Prodigy and M.O.P. were Loud label-mates. After Warriorz, Billy and Fame signed with JAY-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records. Although the pair appeared on Jay’s “U Don’t Know (Remix),” they did not complete an album. Just Blaze recently revealed that he gave Lil Fame a drive of the beats set aside for that early 2000s project. Just also revealed in 2017 that Prodigy was the first MC to rap on “U Don’t Know.” In 1998, M.O.P., Jay, and Teflon collaborated on First Family 4 Life video single, “4 Alarm Blaze.” In 2014, M.O.P. and Mobb Deep teamed for “Street Certified.” N.O.R.E. & Havoc Have An Intense Conversation About The C-N-N/Mobb Deep Beef (Video) New music from Billy Danze is currently on Ambrosia For Heads‘ official playlist. 6 Pack features Fame and Teflon. #BonusBeat: M.O.P.’s “Ante Up (Remix)” video, featuring Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma, and Teflon:
Source: AmbrosiaForHeads.com
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M.O.P.’s Billy Danze is still on his rap grind. The hip-hop veteran has called up longtime sidekick Lil Fame and Teflon for their new “Ain’t Gone Do Sh*t” single.
The post Listen: M.O.P.’s Billy Danze Returns W/ Lil Fame & Teflon On “Ain’t Gone Do S**t” appeared first on SOHH.com.
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