M.O.P. (short for Mash Out Posse) is an American hip-hop duo composed of rappers Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, best known for their song "Ante Up."

Origin

Lil' Fame (Jamal Grinnage; born April 9, 1976) 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.

thumb|Performing in [[Hamburg, Germany, in 1999]]

History

Rise to Fame (1992–2005)

After contributing to the 1992 compilation The Hill That's Real, M.O.P. debuted in 1993 with the single "How About Some Hardcore?", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film House Party 3. The underground success of their single, promoted by a low-budget video from then-unknown director Hype Williams, led to their debut album To the Death. under the label Relativity Records. Production duties now involved Gang Starr's DJ Premier and Lil' Fame himself, and the group continued to grow their following. In 1998, M.O.P. released the Handle Ur Bizness EP, soon followed by the album First Family 4 Life. Once again, much of the record was produced by DJ Premier and Lil' Fame. The album also 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 was the most stolen album from New York City's HMV stores in 1998. The follow-up single, "Cold As Ice", a self-produced track (which featured a sample of "Cold As Ice" by Foreigner), also received radio airplay, In 2001, M.O.P. collaborated with Krumbsnatcha to make the song "W.O.L.V.E.S.", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film Training Day.

In 2001, a successful remix of "Ante Up" was released featuring Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma, and Teflon. 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 an album titled <nowiki>10 Years and Gunnin'</nowiki>. M.O.P. later joined Jay-Z and Damon Dash's Roc-A-Fella Records.

Modern success (2005–present)

In 2005, M.O.P. began affiliating with 50 Cent's G-Unit Records, around the same time as the Queens rap duo Mobb Deep. In July of the same year, they were signed to the label. The duo completed the song "When Death Becomes You" with 50 Cent, which was featured on the Get Rich or Die Tryin soundtrack, and also contributed their rap vocals in a remix of "I'll Whip Ya Head Boy". At the end of the year, M.O.P. released a compilation album entitled M.O.P. Salutes the St. Marxmen, consisting of both new and old tracks. In July 2006, M.O.P. released the long-shelved Ghetto Warfare.

In February 2008, M.O.P. separated from G-Unit Records, due to creative differences. Billy and Fame released their next album, The Foundation, in 2009 on E1 Music. The album featured 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. The first single from the album "Blow the Horns" featuring Busta Rhymes, and "Street Life," a collaboration with dancehall artist Demarco, were both released on the internet.

On October 14, 2008, M.O.P. filed suit in a New York Federal Court against World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and John Cena. The group argued 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. The lawsuit has since been dropped, and it is unknown if a settlement was reached outside of court.

In June 2009, a Wu-Tang Chamber Music compilation album was released, the majority of which was produced by Lil' Fame (as Fizzy Womack). M.O.P. themselves appeared on the track "Ill Figures" alongside Raekwon and Kool G Rap. Lil' Fame also produced the 2011 Wu-Tang Clan compilation Legendary Weapons alongside Noah Rubin and Andrew Kelley.

On October 24, 2011, M.O.P. released "Get Yours", their first single from their collaborative album Sparta with the German production team Snowgoons, on Babygrand Records.

Lil Fame and Termanology teamed up on a collaborative album, Fizzyology. It was released on November 6, 2012, via Brick Records.

On November 18, 2014, M.O.P. released a new EP, Street Certified, on Nature Sounds. It is executive produced by DJ Premier and features guest appearances from Maino, Mobb Deep, and Busta Rhymes. In 2019, M.O.P. released the single "Never Give Up" with DJ Tomekk.

Danze and Fame each contributed a verse to DJ Kay Slay's 2020 track "Rolling 50 Deep" alongside 48 other MCs.

thumb|1999

Discography

Studio albums

  • To the Death (1994)
  • Firing Squad (1996)
  • First Family 4 Life (1998)
  • Warriorz (2000)
  • Mash Out Posse (2004)
  • Marxmen Cinema <small>(as The Marxmen)</small> (2004)
  • St. Marxmen (2005)
  • Ghetto Warfare (2006)
  • Foundation (2009)
  • Sparta (2011) <small>(with Snowgoons)</small>
  • Street Certified (2014)

References

  • Official M.O.P website
  • Interview on Mixery Raw Deluxe (February 2010)
  • HipHopCanada.com Interview (April 2008)
  • ItsHipHop.tv Video Interview
  • Interview
  • MOP discuss their future in an interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio September 2010