VIDEO: Billy Danze (of M.O.P.) Interview

LISTEN: Billy Danze (M.O.P.) Interview

M.O.P's very own Billy Danze was interviewed about his solo project, whats next for M.O.P and what happened with the G-Unit situation.

LISTEN: M.O.P. - Get Rich ft. Bilal

DOWNLOAD M.O.P. - Get Rich ft. Bilal (MP3)

M.O.P. brings out Bilal to expand on a tired topic, BUT it's that Brownsville swagger that makes it enjoyable anyway.

NEWS: M.O.P. Leaves G-Unit, Finally

According to AHH hardcore geniuses M.O.P. have left G-Unit after three years of nothing. At least they got their debt wiped out.


Brooklyn rap group M.O.P. is searching for a new label home, as they prepare to leave 50 Cent's G-Unit imprint. "As soon as I lock down the new situation, it will be official," [according to the group's manager[ Laze, adding that the terms were definitely “amicable.” While M.O.P.'s three year stint on G-Unit did not yield an album, the group benefited greatly from the situation, according to their longtime manager. "The great thing about the G-Unit deal is that it cleared all the debts the group carried over the years," Laze explained. "So we are starting basically from scratch." More here.

LISTEN: Billy Danze (of M.O.P.) - God Bless & Goodnight

DOWNLOAD Billy Danze - God Bless & Goodnight (MP3)

Billy Danze of M.O.P. fame drops a solo track.


Props to Tobes.

NEWS: J.A.M. Awards Tribute To Jam Master Jay

It killed me to not be able to attend this due to birthday obligations (my own) last night. Mobb Deep, M.O.P., Jim Jones, Papoose, De La Soul, Dead Prez, Everlast, Raekwon, Snoop Dogg and others performed at the J.A.M. Awards, a tribute to the late Jam Master Jay’s vision of Justice, Arts & Music. This sounds it would've hit the old school sweet spot: "EPMD took the stage to perform classics including “You Gots to Chill,” “So Wat Cha Sayin” and “Headbanger.” LL Cool J joined them for a verse, putting his fist in the air for JMJ." (More over at RS)


Related: Inspired by the recent murder of Sean Taylor and other violent crimes recent, P. Rosenberg wrote an interesting, long and worthwhile post about violence, hip hop culture and responsibility here called 'We Must Change This Ourselves'.

LISTEN: M.O.P. - Make Em Clap

DOWNLOAD M.O.P. - Make Em Clap (MP3)


Well gosh darnit. I posted a classic M.O.P. toda and look what gets to me! A brand new funk&fire M.O.P. track! If only it would always work that way I'd be posting classic M.O.P. stuff every day until 50 Cent would let them drop an album. Props to Moe Green for sending it over. Check out his blog too.

LISTEN: Ice Cube + Chuck D + M.O.P.

DOWNLOAD Ice Cube - Endangered Species Remix ft Chuck D (MP3)
DOWNLOAD M.O.P. - Stick To Ya Gunz (MP3)


Since this is a Hip Hop NEWS blog I generally stay away from old stuff, but I felt really odd and soiled after that last post. So I'm doing the blogging equivalent of washing out my mouth after cursing. Here's two of the hardest songs I could think of off the top of my head. The Ice Cube/Chuck D. track is off of the oft forgotten, but excellent Kill At Will EP. The M.O.P. track is of course produced by DJ Premier.

LISTEN: Busta Rhymes - Step Up (Prod. by J.Dilla)

DOWNLOAD Busta Rhymes - Step Up (Prod. by J.Dilla) (MP3)


Busta Rhymes and Mick Boogie have teamed up for a brand new mixtape called Dillagence that also feature Papoose, Cassidy, Talib Kweli, M.O.P., Rah Digga and others. This track shows the genuinely joyful Busta we know and love pre-hardbody.

Unrelated Bonus: Freeway got on the mic the other night when Mick was spinning in a club.

CONTEST: Win Cormega Tickets

DOWNLOAD Cormega - 718 ft. Lil Fame (MP3)

Cormega is set to release his new album/DVD combo Who Am I on November 20th. Mega will be performing at SOBs in Manhattan to celebrate the release. Should be a great show judging from past performances. Do you want to win a pair of tickets?


WHAT TO DO TO WIN: Write me at wes[AT]liberatedmatter[DOT]com (subject line: CORMEGA CONTEST) and tell me what your favorite Mega song is. One winner will be picked for the pair of tickets.

Tuesday November 20th, 9PM
Cormega @ S.O.B.'s
204 Varick Street (at W. Houston)
DVD/Album Release Party
$15/$18 (tix + info)

LISTEN: Hell Rell - The Hardest Out Remix ft. Lil' Fame & Styles P

DOWNLOAD Hell Rell - The Hardest Out Remix ft. Lil' Fame & Styles P (MP3)


Lil' Fame on the right
In a surprising move Hell Rell got Styles P to join him on the remix for 'Hardest Out', the title they previously bickered over. They're both obliterated by M.O.P.'s very own Lil' Fame who spits I'm one of the hardest artist regardless/Of who you crew or squad is/Or who you think is the hardest.

He also address the various labels M.O.P. has been signed to and even speaks some truth on the Rocafella and G-Unit situations. First it was Select/ Relativity next / I'm from the era where record labels were selling cassettes/ Then after that was Loud Records/ Columbia next but them n*ggaz didn't know how to market the Brownsville vets/ Then the Rocafella mishap/ Pardon me Dame/ I'm with the baddest bitch in the hood/ Pardon my chain / And my situation today is looking kinda ugly/ But no matter how it go down/ The streets they'll love me. Ouch. 50 Cent loses.

VIDEO: P. Rosenberg Interviews M.O.P, Royce 5'9", Jeru

P. Rosenberg is such a fanboy haha. Gotta love his passion for the genre. He asks Royce 5'9" is he has heard his name before. P. starts stuttering and stammering when he asks Lil' Fame what he actually says on a particular song.