Jump to content

M.O.P.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeMOP.
M.O.P.
M.O.P. in 2001
M.O.P. in 2001
Background information
Also known asMash Out Posse, The Marxmen
OriginBrooklyn,New York City,U.S.
Genres
Years active1992–present
Labels
MembersLil' Fame
Billy Danze

M.O.P.(short forMash Out Posse) is an Americanhip hopduo composed ofEast Coastrappers Billy Danze and Lil' Fame.[1][2]After years of underground performance, they gained mainstream recognition in 2000 with the song "Ante Up",which would become their biggest hit.[1][2]The group has frequently collaborated withDJ Premierand is part of theGang Starr Foundation.Fame sometimes produces under the moniker Fizzy Womack, and has produced tracks on every M.O.P. release since 1996'sFiring Squad.He has also worked for other artists includingKool G RapandWu-Tang Clan.[3]

Origin[edit]

Lil' Fame (Jamal Grinnage; born April 9, 1975)[4]and Billy Danze (Eric Murray; born November 15, 1971)[4]grew up together in the neighborhood ofBrownsville,Brooklyn,New York City,New York.They formed astreet gangcalled Mash Out Posse.[2]They later formed a hip hop duo under the same name. Danze reported that they kept "losing people in between albums;" their music often reflects emotional themes with a driving beat.[5]

Performing inHamburg,Germany,in 1999

Rise to fame[edit]

After contributing to the 1992 compilationThe Hill That's Real,M.O.P. debuted in 1993 with the single "How About Some Hardcore?", which appeared on thesoundtrackfor the filmHouse Party 3.[6]The underground success of the single, promoted by a low-budget video from then-unknown directorHype Williams,led to their debut albumTo the Death.[5]It was released in 1994 on the small labelSelect Records,almost fully produced by DR Period.

In 1996, M.O.P. released their second effort,Firing Squad,[7]under the slightly larger labelRelativity Records.Production duties now involvedGang Starr'sDJ Premierand Lil' Fame himself, and the group continued to grow their following. In 1998 M.O.P. released theHandle Ur BiznessEP,soon followed by the albumFirst Family 4 Life.Once again, much of the record was produced by DJ Premier and Lil' Fame. The album also featured guest appearances byGuruof Gang Starr,TreachofNaughty by Nature,OCofDiggin' in the Crates CrewandJay-Z.The album was the most-stolen album from New York City'sHMVstores in 1998.[6]

M.O.P.'s fan base was loyal but remained small until 2000, when they releasedWarriorz,this time onLoud Records.Mainstream radio began playing the first single, "Ante Up", produced by DR Period, with whom they had not worked with since their debut. The single was a hit and propelled the album to #25 on theBillboard200chart.[8]The follow-up single, self-produced "Cold As Ice" (which featured a sample from "Cold As Ice"byForeigner), also received radio airplay,[5]although several of the song's lyrics had to be censored for the radio version. It was used in theUKon a TV advert for Maclean's Ice Whiteningtoothpaste.Both "Ante Up" and "Cold as Ice" reached the top ten on theUK Singles Chart,peaking at #7 and #4 respectively.[9]In 2001, M.O.P. collaborated with Krumbsnatcha to make the song "W.O.L.V.E.S.", which appeared on thesoundtrackfor the filmTraining Day.[10]

In 2001, a successfulremixof "Ante Up" was released featuringBusta Rhymes,Remy Ma,and Teflon.[5]That same year, they collaborated on a song titled "Life is Good" with thepop groupLFO.The song reached #40 onBillboard'sHot Singles Saleschart.[11]Both singles continued the Posse's mainstream success.

In 2002, Loud Records folded, leaving the group stranded. In 2003, Loud's parent label Sony/Columbia issued a greatest hits album titled10 Years and Gunnin'.M.O.P. later joined Jay-Z andDamon Dash'sRoc-A-Fella Records.[5]Their first recording for the label was a guest appearance on Jay-Z's albumThe Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse;they were set to release their album titledGhetto Warfare,but the anticipated album was shelved. Two other albums were recorded: one titledThe Last Generation,and the other titledKill Nigga Die Slo Bluckka Bluckka Bloaoow Blood Sweat Tears and We Out.[12]A Dash-produced track "It's That Simple" withSpice GirlVictoria Beckhamwas created, and received a premiere on radio stations in July 2003. This generated mixed reviews and further criticism, specifically that Beckham was unconvincing as an urban act.

During this period, the group released a slew ofmixtapesand appeared on soundtracks to films such asBad Boys II.They contributed two songs ( "Ground Zero" and "Put it in the Air" ) to the video gameNFL Street 2,and ( "Fire" ) toFight Night 2004.They also contributed Ante Up to the third installment of the popularMidnight Clubvideo game series. In 2004, M.O.P. joined the Americanrap rockbandLinkin Parkon the second stage of theProjekt RevolutionTour.[3]

The group also released a mixtape calledMarxmen Cinema(under the name The Marxmen), as well as a self-titledrap rockalbum (under the name Mash Out Posse) recorded as a collaboration withheavy metalgroup Shiner Massive.[6]In 2004, Damon Dash sold his share of Roc-A-Fella to newDef Jampresident, Jay-Z, and kept M.O.P. on his new label,Dame Dash Music Group.Following this, the group announced their departure from Roc-A-Fella and Dame Dash in May 2005.[12]

2005–present[edit]

In 2005, M.O.P. began affiliating with50 Cent'sG-Unit Records,around the same time asQueensrap duoMobb Deep.[13]In July of the same year they were signed to the label.[14]The duo completed the song "When Death Becomes You" with 50 Cent which was featured on theGet Rich or Die Tryin'soundtrack,[15]and also contributed their rap vocals in a remix of "I'll Whip Ya Head Boy".[16]At the end of the year, M.O.P. released a compilation album entitledM.O.P. Salutes the St. Marxmen,consisting of both new and old tracks.[17]In July 2006, M.O.P released the long-shelvedGhetto Warfare.[18]

In February 2008, M.O.P. separated from G-Unit Records, due to creative differences.[19]Billy and Fame released their next album,The Foundation,in 2009 onE1 Music.The album featured production fromDJ Premier,Statik Selektah,The Alchemist,andJake One,and guest appearances fromHeltah Skeltah,Busta Rhymes,Jadakiss,Beanie Sigel,Styles PandRedman.[20]The first single from the album "Blow the Horns" featuring Busta Rhymes, and "Street Life," a collaboration withdancehallartistDemarco,were both released on the internet.

On October 14, 2008, M.O.P. filed suit in a New York Federal Court againstWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE) andJohn 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 albumYou Can't See Me.The lawsuit has since been dropped, and it is unknown if a settlement was reached outside of court.[4]

In June 2009,Wu-Tang Chamber Musiccompilation album was released, majority of which was produced by Lil' Fame (as Fizzy Womack).[21]M.O.P. themselves appeared on the track "Ill Figures" alongsideRaekwonand Kool G Rap.[22]Lil' Fame also produced the 2011Wu-Tang ClancompilationLegendary WeaponsalongsideNoah Rubinand Andrew Kelley.[23]

On October 24, 2011, M.O.P. released "Get Yours",[24]their first single from their collaborative albumSpartawith the German production teamSnowgoons,on Babygrand Records.[25]

Lil Fame andTermanologyteamed up on a collaborative album,Fizzyology.It was released on November 6, 2012, via Brick Records.[26]

On November 18, 2014, M.O.P. released a new EP,Street Certified,onNature Sounds.It is executive produced by DJ Premier and features guest appearances from Maino,Mobb Deepand Busta Rhymes.[27]In 2019, M.O.P. released the single "Never Give Up" withDJ Tomekk.[28]

Danze and Fame each contributed a verse toDJ Kayslay's 2020 track "Rolling 50 Deep" alongside 48 other MCs.[29]

1999

Discography[edit]

Main article:M.O.P. discography

References[edit]

  1. ^abRyan, Chris (2004)."M.O.P.: Biography".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon December 1, 2007.Retrieved2008-11-15.
  2. ^abcCharles, Pat (2000-12-14)."M.O.P. Prove Hip-Hop's Fiercest Warriorz".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon 2006-05-08.Retrieved2008-11-15.
  3. ^abMeyer, Frank (2008-06-03)."Freestyle 101: Lil' Fame (M.O.P.)".G4tv.com.Retrieved2008-11-18.
  4. ^abc"Cena Rumbles with Rappers Over Theme Music".TMZ.com.2008-10-28.Retrieved2008-11-18.
  5. ^abcde"All about Mash Out Posse..."themashoutposse.com. 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 2005-02-08.Retrieved2008-11-15.
  6. ^abcShapiro, Peter(2005) "M.O.P." inThe Rough Guide to Hip-Hop, 2nd edn.,Rough Guides,ISBN1-84353-263-8,p.259-261
  7. ^Larkin, Colin,ed. (1998).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music(1st ed.).Virgin Books.p. 208.ISBN0-7535-0252-6.
  8. ^"Warriorz > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums".allmusic.
  9. ^"M.O.P. - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company".www.officialcharts.com.Retrieved5 April2018.
  10. ^"Krumb Snatcha – W.O.L.V.E.S. Lyrics | Genius Lyrics".Genius.com.Retrieved2020-03-13.
  11. ^"Hot Singles Sales: Life Is Good".Billboard.com.Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2014.Retrieved2008-11-15.
  12. ^abCrosley, Hillary (2005-05-09)."M.O.P. Split From Roc-A-Fella And Dame Dash".MTV.com.Archived fromthe originalon November 13, 2023.Retrieved2023-11-13.
  13. ^Reid, Shaheem (May 23, 2005)."50 Cent Wants To Sign Mobb Deep, M.O.P. To G-Unit Records".MTV.Archived fromthe originalon December 4, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  14. ^Watkins, Grouchy Greg (July 29, 2005)."M.O.P. Signs With G-Unit, Billy Danze Speaks".AllHipHop.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  15. ^Breihan, Tom (November 7, 2005)."Various Artists: Get Rich or Die Tryin' OST".Pitchfork.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  16. ^Roberson, Justin (May 8, 2013)."25 Rap Songs That Make Us Want To Punch Someone In the Face".Complex.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  17. ^Watkins, Grouchy Greg (October 23, 2005)."M.O.P. Salutes the St. Marxmen".AllHipHop.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  18. ^J-23 (July 29, 2011)."Lost & Found: 10 Great Hip Hop Albums From The Vault".HipHopDX.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  19. ^"M.O.P. Leave G-Unit Records".Starpulse.com.World Entertainment News Network.2008-02-07. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-07.Retrieved2008-11-15.
  20. ^"M.O.P. Will Release New Album Foundation on 06/30/09".Wiseguyz Entertainment LLC. 2009-05-12. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-08-08.Retrieved2017-07-21.
  21. ^Breihan, Tom (July 6, 2009)."Wu-Tang Clan: Wu-Tang Chamber Music".Pitchfork.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  22. ^"Wu-Tang Clan - Chamber Music".HipHopDX.July 2, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  23. ^"Wu-Tang Clan Compilation" Legendary Weapons "Tracklisting Revealed".HipHopDX.June 7, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  24. ^"M.O.P. - Get Yours [Prod. Snowgoons]".HipHopDX.October 24, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  25. ^Lelinwalla, Mark (November 21, 2011)."M.O.P., Sparta".XXL.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  26. ^"Lil Fame & Termanology = Fizzyology by Fizzyology".iTunes.6 November 2012.
  27. ^Dowling, Marcus (November 25, 2014)."M.O.P. - Street Certified".HipHopDX.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  28. ^Jones, Grant (February 19, 2024)."An ode to the Mash Out Posse – Part 5".RapReviews.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  29. ^"Kay Slay's Insane" Rolling 50 Deep "Features Raekwon, Ghostface, & 48 More Lyricists".HNHH.13 November 2020.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toM.O.P..
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=M.O.P.&oldid=1231796075"