M.O.P., short for Mash Out Posse, is an American hip hop duo. The duo,
composed of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, is known for the aggressive
delivery typically employed by both emcees[1].[2]. Although they maintain
a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante
Up," released on 2000's Warriorz, and for which they have had
mainstream success[1][2]. The group has frequently collaborated with
DJ Premier. Fame sometimes produces under the moniker Fizzy Womack,
and has produced a significant amount of tracks on all M.O.P. releases
since 1996's Firing Squad, as well as work for other artists including
Big Noyd, Teflon and Wu-Tang Clan[3].
Lil' Fame (Jamal Grinnage)[4] and Billy Danze (Eric Murray)[4] grew
up together in the neighborhood of Brownsville, Brooklyn and formed
a gang called Mash Out People[2]. With a desire to express themselves
through rap, they formed a hip-hop group named after their gang.
Originally, Fame was the DJ of the group. With encouragement from
his older brother, Fame began to write his own rhymes[5].
After contributing to the 1992 compilation Who has the girth, M.O.P.
debuted in 1993 with the single "How About Some Hardcore?",
which appeared on the soundtrack for the film House Party 3[6]. The
underground success of the single, promoted by a low-budget video
from then-unknown director Hype Williams, led to their debut album
To the Death[5]. It was released in 1994 on the small label Select
Records, almost fully produced by DR Period.
In 1996, M.O.P. released their second effort, Firing Squad. Hoping
for better promotion, they signed with Relativity Records. Changing
record labels and production duties to include Gang Starr's DJ Premier
and Lil' Fame himself, the group still kept their energetic style,
and gained a slightly larger following this time round. In 1998 M.O.P.
released the Handle Ur Bizness EP, which was soon followed by the
album First Family 4 Life. Working with the same formula, again with
a heavy percentage of the record produced by DJ Premier and Lil'
Fame, the album featured guest appearances by Guru of Gang Starr,
Treach of Naughty by Nature, OC of Diggin' in the Crates Crew and
Jay-Z. The album had the dubious distinction of being the most stolen
album from New York City's HMV stores in 1998[6].
[edit] Rise to fame
M.O.P.'s fanbase was loyal but remained rather small until 2000,
when they released Warriorz, this time on Loud Records. Mainstream
radio began playing the first single, "Ante Up", produced
by DR Period whom they had not worked with since their debut. The
single was a hit and propelled the album to #25 on the Billboard
200 chart[7]. The follow-up single, the self-produced "Cold
As Ice" (which featured a sample from "Cold As Ice" by
Foreigner), also received radio airplay[5], although almost half
of the song's lyrics had to be censored for the radio version. It
was used in the UK on a TV advert for Ice White toothpaste. Both "Ante
Up" and "Cold as Ice" reached the top ten on the UK
Singles Chart peaking at #7 and #4 respectively[8].
In 2001, a remix of "Ante Up" was released featuring Busta
Rhymes, Remy Ma, and Teflon, which was also very well received[5].
That same year, they collaborated on a song titled "Life is
Good" with the pop group LFO. The song reached #40 on Billboard's
Hot Singles Sales chart[9]. Both singles continued the Posse's long-awaited
mainstream success.
In 2002, Loud Records folded, leaving the group stranded. In 2003,
Loud's parent label Sony/Columbia issued a greatest hits album titled
10 Years and Gunnin. M.O.P. later joined Jay-Z and Damon Dash's Roc-A-Fella
Records[5]. Their first recording for the label was a guest appearance
on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse; they
were set to release their album titled Ghetto Warfare, but the eagerly
anticipated album was shelved. Two other albums were recorded: one
titled The Last Generation, the other titled Kill Nigga Die Slo Bluckka
Bluckka Bloaoow Blood Sweat Tears and We Out[10]. A Dash-produced
track "It's That Simple" with Spice Girl Victoria Beckham
was created, and received a premiere on radio stations in July 2003.
This generated mixed reviews and further criticism, with the feeling
being that Beckham was far from convincing as an urban act.
During this waiting period, the group kept busy by releasing a slew
of mixtapes and appearing on soundtracks to films such as Bad Boys
II. They also contributed two songs ("Ground Zero" and "Put
it in the Air") to the popular game NFL Street 2, and another
("Fire") to Fight Night 2004 - another video game. They
also contributed Ante Up to the third installment of the popular
Midnight Club video game series. Also in 2004, M.O.P. joined the
successful rap rock band Linkin Park on the second stage of the Projekt
Revolution Tour[3].
The group also released a mixtape called Marxmen Cinema (under the
name The Marxmen), as well as a self-titled rap rock album (under
the name Mash Out Posse) recorded as a collaboration with heavy metal
group Shiner Massive[6]. In 2004, Damon Dash sold his share of Roc-A-Fella
to new Def Jam president, Jay-Z, and kept M.O.P. on his new label,
Dame Dash Music Group. The group was left feeling uncomfortable with
the situation. They announced their departure from Roc-A-Fella and
Dame Dash in May 2005[10].
[edit] Recent events
In June 2005, M.O.P. officially announced their signing with 50
Cent's G-Unit Records, around the same time as Queens rap duo Mobb
Deep. 50 Cent is a big fan of the group, and has stated his plans
to gain the group more mainstream success. The duo completed a song
with 50 Cent which was featured on the Get Rich or Die Tryin' soundtrack
entitled "When Death Becomes You." Months after the signing,
M.O.P. released a compilation album entitled M.O.P. Salutes the St.
Marxmen, consisting of several tracks recorded while the group was
signed to Roc-A-Fella. In July 2006, M.O.P released the long-shelved
Ghetto Warfare.
As of February 2008, M.O.P left G-Unit Records due to creative differences[11].
Billy and Fame plan to release their next album as M.O.P., The Foundation,
in 2009 on E1 Music. The album will feature production from DJ Premier,
Statik Selektah, The Alchemist, and Jake One, and guest appearances
from Heltah Skeltah, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Beanie Sigel, Styles
P and Redman[12]. The first single from the album, "Blow the
Horns" featuring Busta Rhymes, and another track called "Street
Life," which is a collaboration with dancehall artist Demarco,
have already been released on the internet. Also, according to one
of Billy Danze's recent Facebook statuses, the album is complete
and is now awaiting release.
On October 14, 2008, M.O.P filed suit in a New York Federal Court
against the WWE and John Cena. The group claims that Cena and the
WWE stole parts of their song "Ante Up" for Cena's theme
song "The Time is Now". The theme song is also featured
as the first track on Cena's album You Can't See Me. M.O.P. is seeking
the destruction of the song and asking for $150,000 in damages. The
lawsuit has since been dropped, it is unknown if a settlement was
reached outside of court[4].
In June 2009, with extensive production from Lil' Fame (as Fizzy
Womack) and a historic guest-list (Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, Sadat X),
the RZA-executive produced "Wu-Tang Chamber Music" debuted
in the Top 50 within its first week. M.O.P. themselves appeared on
the album cut "Ill Figures" alongside Raekwon and Kool
G Rap.
[edit] Discography
Main article: M.O.P. discography
Album Year
To the Death 1994
Firing Squad 1996
First Family 4 Life 1998
Warriorz 2000
Mash Out Posse 2004
St. Marxmen 2005
Ghetto Warfare 2006
Foundation 2009
BrownsVILLAINZ TBA