Grant Jones225. “Brooklyn 2 Jamski”
Artist: Afu-ra feat. M.O.P.
Album: Body of the Life Force Pt. 2 (2012)
“The big dog from the reservoir
Fame goes hard, you know the repertoire” – Lil’ Fame
Terrible hook aside, this is actually a dope track that puts Fame at the start of the track and Billy at the end (which is surprisingly rare). Afu-ra has a solid history with M.O.P. and this cinematic record is one of the better tracks from Afu-ra’s return – there’s even a nice nod to Guru as the beat rides out.
224. “Get Your Weight Up Remix”
Artist: Gros Dinero feat. M.O.P. & Royal Flush
Album: Grustle 101 (2019)
“(You’re just an old head) I’ll slam a 40 into your forehead!” – Billy Danze
A solid guest appearance that’s let down by feeling very bolted on – the beat and vocals suddenly increase in volume when Fame starts spitting. Usually, that’s expected, but this is clearly an audio issue and it distracts from an otherwise decent remix.
223. “How Ya Livin'”
Artist: Positive K feat. M.O.P.
Album: 12″ (1997)
Released as a 12″ in 1997, this forgotten track from Positive K sounds more like earlier M.O.P. effort. Despite only being on the hook, it benefitted Billy and Fame more than K, who hadn’t put out an album since his 1992 debut LP – a familiar, respected name that only added to M.O.P.’s upward trajectory at the time.
222. “We Don’t Stop”
Artist: SK Invitational feat. M.O.P.
Album: Golden Crown (2017)
“I write warrior chants – yeah Sparta!
Body the booth, turn that shit into Pearl Harbor” – Lil’ Fame
An interesting collaboration with Austrian artist SK Invitational that strays from the traditional hip hop beats Billy and Fame usually rap to. It’s a little anti-climactic sonically, but both emcees put down solid verses and show how versatile their style is.
221. “Get the Fuck Outta Here” (J-Love mix)
Artist: M.O.P.
Album: St. Marxmen (2005)
“You gon’ have me stab you in both of your faces
You two-faced bitch!” – Lil’ Fame
Fame delivers a truly vicious performance, detailing his “methods” of dealing with enemies. Compared to the rest of their catalog however, the production from J-Love is fairly ordinary and lacks the punch the lyrics deserve. At least it’s better than the metal alternative.
220. “Ain’t Gon’ Do Shit”
Artist: Billy Danze feat. Lil’ Fame and Teflon
Album: 6 Pack (2019)
“You are just a chimpanzee
I’ll light up your grill like Chef Ramsay” – Lil’ Fame
Not technically an M.O.P. track but one that features both emcees together, this was inevitably the best moment on Billy Danze’s solo venture in 2019. It even has that punchy M.O.P. sound you’d hear on “Street Certified” five years earlier. It’s solid hip hop and a reminder that M.O.P. have never split, separated, or fallen out. It’s First Family 4 Life. Also, the return of Teflon!
219. “You Can’t Hide”
Artist: DJ Jean Maron feat. M.O.P.
Album: True School (2014)
“Gimme the cash I said, unhand that bread
N**** reached so I left his ass half past dead” – Lil’ Fame
French artist DJ Jean Maron, captures the essence of an M.O.P. track much like his European compadres the Snowgoons, throwing their verses over a polished set of drums and scratches. The 50 Cent snippet is slick and the sinister raps combine effectively; Fame’s verse is one of his smoothest with a rare glimpse at his past as a ruthless dealer.
218. “Nightmare Concert”
Artist: White Shadow feat. M.O.P.
Album: Blaze of Glory (2016)
“I’ll leave you bloodier than the UFC” – Lil’ Fame
While there was a heavy metal mashup record called “Mash Out Posse” in 2004, it was a selection of remixed vocals. This “Nightmare Concert” track continues the blend of heavy guitars with that tough vocal style Billy and Fame possess, appearing on Norwegian producer White Shadow’s compilation record “Blaze of Glory” amongst a slew of legends like Kool G. Rap and KRS-One, spitting over similarly sinister production.
217. “Brooklyn”
Artist: Gravy feat. M.O.P.
Album: n/a (2009)
“This ain’t no Making of the Band
This is Making of the BLAM!” – Lil’ Fame
Gravy is evocative of early 50 Cent, as is the piano-pounding backdrop; but “Brooklyn” is largely derivative until M.O.P. arrive. Amongst the gun talk and threats, there are glimpses of their heritage and locale, something Gravy actually overlooks.
216. “Get Down”
Artist: M.O.P.
Album: Marxmen Cinema (2004)
“Y’all rappers about as dumb as the dude
In the Alicia Keys video for You Don’t Know My Name” – Lil’ Fame
Using the wildly popular Dramatics sample, this track proves how soulful an M.O.P. record can be. Albeit, that’s because there’s less rhyming; instead “Get Down” is more a celebration of the duo’s musical influences – it does have a killer Lil’ Fame verse at the start however.
215. “Make Moves”
Artist: DJ Honda feat. M.O.P.
Album: N/A (1997)
“Lil’ Fame’s the gun, Billy Danze the trigger” – Lil’ Fame
An unreleased track from DJ Zooted’s ‘1997 mixtape “Zooted After Death Part II” and later found on DJ Honda’s “Best of DJ Honda”, this is a straightforward slice of New York grit. Perfect mixtape fodder and while it’s not a patch on their later albums, it’s a nice nugget for dedicated M.O.P. fans to ride out to.
214. “It’s The Ones”
Artist: PMD feat. M.O.P.
Album: Business is Business (1996)
“If I don’t like you MOTHERFUCKA I DON’T LIKE YOU” – Billy Danze
While PMD struggled to get his solo career off the ground by 1996 (and the next year, reconciled with Erick Sermon to reform EPMD), this is one of the better offerings on “Business is Business”. It’s typical New York rap of its era, but would be a better track if it didn’t have PMD’s dated monotone – it doesn’t really fit with Billy and Fame’s intensity.
213. “I’ll Whip Ya Head Boy (Remix)”
Artist: 50 Cent feat. M.O.P.
Album: Promo single (2006)
“Send a n**** into a semi-back flip” – Billy Danze
Already a standout 50 Cent single, Fame opts for bars over the usual adlib-heavy style which offers mixed results. On the one hand, he’s dissing The Game, on the other, it lacks the full M.O.P. effect as Billy and Fame are kept separate.
212. “Victim of the Ghetto”
Artist: M.O.P.
Album: Marxmen Cinema (2004)
“You ain’t promised tomorrow, and yesterday’s not coming back” – Billy Danze
M.O.P. are known to inject nostalgia into their album cuts and this track from the “Marxmen Cinema” record is typically reflective, yet has enough punch to the verses to stand on its own as a tough street record, despite being released censored.
211. “Drop Zone”
Artist: BAM feat. M.O.P.
Album: DJ Brans’ Endless (2016)
“We made hits like the Beatles, and your buzz is about as big as a mosquito’s” – Lil Fame
Seven years after BAM had Fame on his breakthrough “My City” (check that one out!) Billy joins them too for a slick track produced by DJ Brans. The hook is a bit repetitive but as a modern, polished collaboration, it’s one of their better ones.
210. “No Holds Barred”
Artist: TP All Stars feat. M.O.P.
Album: Norske Byggeklosser (1999)
“I’ve done fucked up a substantial amount of men” – Billy Danzee
Produced by Norway’s Tommy Tee and part of the TP All Stars album, Billy and Fame stomp all over a satisfying instrumental, but I’m not sure about that ropey Royal Flush hook.
209. “What’s Good”
Artist: Aspects feat. M.O.P.
Album: Grind Over Matter (2014)
“Feel like you got hit by Foreman, feel like you got hit by four men!” – Lil’ Fame
Fame’s having fun with this one, despite recycling some bars, but “What’s Good” is let down by its weak Aspects hook. It uses the M.O.P. template but feels too try hard, saved by a sharp Billy Danze verse (although, again recycled).
208. “Broad Daylight”
Artist: M.O.P. feat. Busta Rhymes
Album: Street Certified (2014)
“My life is Fast+and+Furious, Paul Walker til I crash and burn” – Lil’ Fame
Utilising a Jay-Z vocal snippet and a constipated Busta Rhymes verse, “Broad Daylight” is a single from “Street Certified” that works better on its own than it does on the album, sounding as distinct as it does. That Paul Walker line is bound to offend a few too, but it’s so tongue-in-cheek and darkly humorous that you probably shouldn’t be listening to M.O.P. at this point.
207. “Look”
Artist: Blahzay Blahzay feat. M.O.P.
Album: n/a
A selection of classic M.O.P. quotes make up a familiar hook, as Outloud rhymes over PF Cuttin’s oriental-themed instrumental. It’s a decent track but M.O.P. don’t actively contribute – it’s choice rhyme snippets billed as a feature which is a little naughty and shouldn’t really be on this list. But I’ve started now and I’m not rearranging it now!
206. “Pounds Up (Showbiz version)”
Artist: M.O.P.
Album: Street Talk (2005)
“Murder International: custom-made caskets” – Billy Danze
Quite a rare one this, that draws much of its verses from other M.O.P. songs of the “Warriorz” era. The original by Amed (D.I.T.C.) is superior to Showbiz’s remix benefitting from a lively mid-90s feel – it certainly sounds different to the work on “Warriorz” so it’s easy to see why there was a vinyl release shortly after in 2001 (the remix was 3 years later according to Discogs).
205. “Top of the Line”
Artist: M.O.P.
Album: To the Death (1994)
“Phatter than a fat bitch” – Billy Danze
The Das EFX influence runs throughout this early album cut that boasts a killer bassline (something modern rap often overlooks). It even feels more like a beat off of 1993’s “Straight Up Sewaside” but there’s plenty of M.O.P.’s unique characteristics on display to distinguish it as one of the more solid cuts from their debut album.
204. “First, Last and Only”
Artist: Memphis Bleek feat. M.O.P.
Album: M.A.D.E. (2005)
“We crave fire (BRLLUNG BRLLUGN) We trade fire (BRLLUNG BRLLUNG) We blaze fire (FIRST FAMILY IIIAAHHHH)” – Lil’ Fame
A more understated record than the usual M.O.P. fare, this is nonetheless a solid album cut from Memphis Bleek. It doesn’t try too hard to be a stereotypical hardcore rap song, and benefits from just letting each emcee share what’s on their mind.
203. “Heads Off”
Artist: Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz feat. M.O.P.
Album: Put Yo Hood Up (2001)
“What a ridiculous, conspicuous son of a bitch you is” – Lil Fame
On paper, this should be an instant classic. The hook is solid if basic, but when M.O.P. are rapping it shows the potential greatness this Atlanta/New York combination had and could have been explored further. Lil Jon is probably the closest act to capture the energy and pure power on the microphone, of M.O.P..
202. “Pledge Allegiance”
Artist: Jaz-O & The Immobilarie feat. M.O.P.
Album: Kingz Kounty (2002)
“Put the face to the back of your head” – Lil’ Fame
Poor Jaz-O gets completed overshadowed by Billy and Fame here; a string-laden street track with a brief cameo from Ras Kass. A classic case of an M.O.P. track featuring Jaz-O rather than the other way round.
201. “Nine and Two Clips”
Artist: M.O.P.
Album: Marxmen Cinema (2004)
“I REFUSE to die young” – Lil’ Fame
A neat tribute to Scarface, utilising the beat from Geto Boys’ “My Minds Playing Tricks On Me”. It lacks the potency of Face’s performance but Billy’s verse is similarly powerfully delivered.