![UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | MPC | MC x Producer Combination: MOP x DJ Premier There are so many combos we’ve consider when brainstorming for these MC and Producer Combos. However there is no little doubt in my mind that over the span of three decades, only one producer comes to mind, that when added into the formula of an album’s creation has been more impactful than DJ Premier. For years, including a trademark Primo track to an artist repetoire, it immediately launches them a into a special group of hip hop elite. In a recent interview, M.O.P spoke openly about Primo’s influence. They discussed their personal closeness to him and shared some insight to their professional relationship. After reading it we thought it was only right to present the two of them as our next installment of The 10s (and as a follow up in highlighting great MC/Producer combos.) Hometeam in the motherfuckin house!1. Salute Part II feat. GuruAlbum: First Family 4 Life Year: 1998 Breakdown: On their third album, the Mash Out Posse tapped Primo to produce five joints which included one of four classic joints that have featured a MOP/Gang Starr collabo (BI vs Friendship, Who Got Gunz, 1/2 & 1/2). Primo also handled the co-executive producing duties for the album, which held features from Jay-Z, Heather B., Treach, Bumpy Knuckles and O.C.Sample Source: “Keep the Faith” by Mel & TimUNT Quotable: “Sure nuff, shit got rowdy, dumped off my first clip at a house party i love this rap shit, though, the love is clear -but fuck the parties, my nigga, I lost a brother there” - Lil Fame2. Stick To Ya Gunz feat. Kool. G RapAlbum: Firing Squad Year: 1996 Breakdown: One of the fiercest gat packng, gun-toting anthems pairs The Firing Squad with Queens’ original heat holder, Kool G Rap. Primo begins the record sampling the intro to a popular 1930s radio series titled “Gangbusters” in which each episode opened with the sounds of - marching feet, gunshots, sirens and screeching brakes - followed by a strident voice saying - “Calling the police! Calling the G-men! Calling all Americans to war on the underworld!” Sample Source: “Life Has It’s Little Ups and Downs” by Brook BentonUNT Quotable: “Keep ya gun blazed for fuckin with these New York Desperados, we’ll bust open your head like avocados.” - Lil Fame 3. BrownsvilleAlbum: Firing Squad Year: 1996 Breakdown: Primo sets the stage for M.O.P to pay homage to their small section of Brooklyn, Buh-Buh-Buh Brownsville. the gat-popping, timb-rocking duo rep for the 718 over a chopped Malcom McLaren sample. From the Tilden Projects to Mother Gaston, the Firing Squad makes it clear that the 11233 is their battleground.Sample Source: “World’s Famous” by Malcolm McLarenUNT Quotable: “Clack Clack! whole clips in your back -that’s thug style, turning a small section of Brooklyn into the OK Corral.” - 4. Downtown Swinga ‘96Album: Firing Squad Year: 1996 Breakdown: From the staccato of the drum intro to the slow sway of the Hubert Laws’ sampled clavinet, Primo paints a backdrop for M.O.P to swing all over the track. Primo also produced a follow up record, Downtown Swinga ‘98 which appears on their next album, which we’ve included in the mix as a bit of a bonus.Sample Source: “I Had A Dream” by Hubert LawsUNT Quotable: “when i die make sure you bury me with a cassette of to tha death” - Lil Fame5. Handle Ur Bizness (Primo Remix)Album: First Family 4 Life Year: 1998 Breakdown: Although this version is credited as a Primo remix, it is easily more recognizable than its original version, which was produced by Laze E Laze. Primo’s sample adds way more gulliness and is the version which appears on the album. The energy of Billy and Fame is matched by a dark synth sounding straight out of a video game.Sample Source: “Must Be Dues” by Melba MooreUNT Quotable: “is this hip hop? hell no this is war, ive been trying to tell you that since How About Some Hardcore, you don’t listen” - Billy Danze6. Faceoff 2K1Album: Warriorz Year: 2000 Breakdown: Primo flips two Billy Paul samples for this joint and its certainly not the first time that he’s chosen to switch the beat up mid-track. ( I’m The Man, Speak Ya Clout, A Million and One Questions) For the first half of the record, Lil Fame catches wreck over a chopped strings sample, and Billy Danze follows up the second half of the joint over the Billy Paul cover of the Carole King classic, “Too Late”.Sample Source: “Just a Prisoner” and “Too Late” by Billy PaulUNT Quotable: “this ain’t no diamond studded rapper -its the llama stutter slapper” -Billy Danze7. On The Front LineAlbum: Warriorz Year: 2000 Breakdown: From the needle drop of this record, there’s no denying that there’s a special kind of energy in the song. Maybe its the strings, maybe its Billy Danze’s laugh, (which preceded Jada’s laugh) all i know is as soon as Danzinie begins rhyming, i can feel my blood pressure rising. Sample Source: “And God Made Eve” by Pino DonaggioUNT Quotable: “yo, I was raised where, cats blaze automatic weapons and half-steppers don’t half-step, without protection” - Billy Danze8. I Luv feat. Freddie FoxxxAlbum: First Family 4 Life Year: 1998 Breakdown: Mr. Industry Shakedown himself, Freddie Foxx spreads love over the Primo-produced track. I had difficulty ID’ing the sample here, and didn’t find much online for it—so any sample heads or crate diggers, the info would be great to include.Sample Source: N/AUNT Quotable: “(M) Blast (O) Blast, P in your area, Make a move and them cats might bury ya.” - Lil Fame9. Follow InstructionsAlbum: Warriorz Year: 2000 Breakdown: The last major album released for M.O.P, Warriorz, came courtesy of Loud Records. The album featured five Primo-produced records and the intro, both chart-wise and exposure-wise Warriorz was M.O.P.’s most successful album by far. It debuted 65 places higher on the Billboard 200 charts than its previously highest-selling album, and spawned the stick-up classic, Ante Up, produced by DR Period [who we almost did this write up with].Sample Source: “Just Memories” by Eddie KendricksUNT Quotable: ” ayo they stuck me in the line of fire, where everything is wild - I made twenty dollars, and they callin it a mistrial” - Billy Danze10. Breakin’ The RulesAlbum: First Family 4 Life Year: 1998 Breakdown: First Family! This is the first joint off of the album, after the intro and is a bit different from the scratched-chorus formula that appears on so many of Primo’s production. The hook actually features Primo talking during the hook, and may be one of the only records i can think of that Primo handles the hook duties.Sample Source: “Sweet Gingerbread Man” by Michel LegrandUNT Quotable: “Sure nuff, shit got rowdy, dumped off my first clip at a house party i love this rap shit, though, the love is clear -but fuck the parties, my nigga, I lost a brother there” - Lil Fame words by @upnorthtrips / mix by @UNITEDCRATES / graphics by @CNTRBND](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltoviu73qS1qzbwkjo1_1280.jpg)
UpNorthTrips Presents The 10s | MPC | MC x Producer Combination: MOP x DJ Premier
There are so many combos we’ve consider when brainstorming for these MC and Producer Combos. However there is no little doubt in my mind that over the span of three decades, only one producer comes to mind, that when added into the formula of an album’s creation has been more impactful than DJ Premier. For years, including a trademark Primo track to an artist repetoire, it immediately launches them a into a special group of hip hop elite. In a recent interview, M.O.P spoke openly about Primo’s influence. They discussed their personal closeness to him and shared some insight to their professional relationship. After reading it we thought it was only right to present the two of them as our next installment of The 10s (and as a follow up in highlighting great MC/Producer combos.) Hometeam in the motherfuckin house!
1. Salute Part II feat. Guru
Album: First Family 4 Life
Year: 1998
Breakdown: On their third album, the Mash Out Posse tapped Primo to produce five joints which included one of four classic joints that have featured a MOP/Gang Starr collabo (BI vs Friendship, Who Got Gunz, 1/2 & 1/2). Primo also handled the co-executive producing duties for the album, which held features from Jay-Z, Heather B., Treach, Bumpy Knuckles and O.C.
Sample Source: “Keep the Faith” by Mel & Tim
UNT Quotable: “Sure nuff, shit got rowdy, dumped off my first clip at a house party i love this rap shit, though, the love is clear -but fuck the parties, my nigga, I lost a brother there” - Lil Fame
2. Stick To Ya Gunz feat. Kool. G Rap
Album: Firing Squad
Year: 1996
Breakdown: One of the fiercest gat packng, gun-toting anthems pairs The Firing Squad with Queens’ original heat holder, Kool G Rap. Primo begins the record sampling the intro to a popular 1930s radio series titled “Gangbusters” in which each episode opened with the sounds of - marching feet, gunshots, sirens and screeching brakes - followed by a strident voice saying - “Calling the police! Calling the G-men! Calling all Americans to war on the underworld!”
Sample Source: “Life Has It’s Little Ups and Downs” by Brook Benton
UNT Quotable: “Keep ya gun blazed for fuckin with these New York Desperados, we’ll bust open your head like avocados.” - Lil Fame
3. Brownsville
Album: Firing Squad
Year: 1996
Breakdown: Primo sets the stage for M.O.P to pay homage to their small section of Brooklyn, Buh-Buh-Buh Brownsville. the gat-popping, timb-rocking duo rep for the 718 over a chopped Malcom McLaren sample. From the Tilden Projects to Mother Gaston, the Firing Squad makes it clear that the 11233 is their battleground.
Sample Source: “World’s Famous” by Malcolm McLaren
UNT Quotable: “Clack Clack! whole clips in your back -that’s thug style, turning a small section of Brooklyn into the OK Corral.” -
4. Downtown Swinga ‘96
Album: Firing Squad
Year: 1996
Breakdown: From the staccato of the drum intro to the slow sway of the Hubert Laws’ sampled clavinet, Primo paints a backdrop for M.O.P to swing all over the track. Primo also produced a follow up record, Downtown Swinga ‘98 which appears on their next album, which we’ve included in the mix as a bit of a bonus.
Sample Source: “I Had A Dream” by Hubert Laws
UNT Quotable: “when i die make sure you bury me with a cassette of to tha death” - Lil Fame
5. Handle Ur Bizness (Primo Remix)
Album: First Family 4 Life
Year: 1998
Breakdown: Although this version is credited as a Primo remix, it is easily more recognizable than its original version, which was produced by Laze E Laze. Primo’s sample adds way more gulliness and is the version which appears on the album. The energy of Billy and Fame is matched by a dark synth sounding straight out of a video game.
Sample Source: “Must Be Dues” by Melba Moore
UNT Quotable: “is this hip hop? hell no this is war, ive been trying to tell you that since How About Some Hardcore, you don’t listen” - Billy Danze
6. Faceoff 2K1
Album: Warriorz
Year: 2000
Breakdown: Primo flips two Billy Paul samples for this joint and its certainly not the first time that he’s chosen to switch the beat up mid-track. ( I’m The Man, Speak Ya Clout, A Million and One Questions) For the first half of the record, Lil Fame catches wreck over a chopped strings sample, and Billy Danze follows up the second half of the joint over the Billy Paul cover of the Carole King classic, “Too Late”.
Sample Source: “Just a Prisoner” and “Too Late” by Billy Paul
UNT Quotable: “this ain’t no diamond studded rapper -its the llama stutter slapper” -Billy Danze
7. On The Front Line
Album: Warriorz
Year: 2000
Breakdown: From the needle drop of this record, there’s no denying that there’s a special kind of energy in the song. Maybe its the strings, maybe its Billy Danze’s laugh, (which preceded Jada’s laugh) all i know is as soon as Danzinie begins rhyming, i can feel my blood pressure rising.
Sample Source: “And God Made Eve” by Pino Donaggio
UNT Quotable: “yo, I was raised where, cats blaze automatic weapons and half-steppers don’t half-step, without protection” - Billy Danze
8. I Luv feat. Freddie Foxxx
Album: First Family 4 Life
Year: 1998
Breakdown: Mr. Industry Shakedown himself, Freddie Foxx spreads love over the Primo-produced track. I had difficulty ID’ing the sample here, and didn’t find much online for it—so any sample heads or crate diggers, the info would be great to include.
Sample Source: N/A
UNT Quotable: “(M) Blast (O) Blast, P in your area, Make a move and them cats might bury ya.” - Lil Fame
9. Follow Instructions
Album: Warriorz
Year: 2000
Breakdown: The last major album released for M.O.P, Warriorz, came courtesy of Loud Records. The album featured five Primo-produced records and the intro, both chart-wise and exposure-wise Warriorz was M.O.P.’s most successful album by far. It debuted 65 places higher on the Billboard 200 charts than its previously highest-selling album, and spawned the stick-up classic, Ante Up, produced by DR Period [who we almost did this write up with].
Sample Source: “Just Memories” by Eddie Kendricks
UNT Quotable: ” ayo they stuck me in the line of fire, where everything is wild - I made twenty dollars, and they callin it a mistrial” - Billy Danze
10. Breakin’ The Rules
Album: First Family 4 Life
Year: 1998
Breakdown: First Family! This is the first joint off of the album, after the intro and is a bit different from the scratched-chorus formula that appears on so many of Primo’s production. The hook actually features Primo talking during the hook, and may be one of the only records i can think of that Primo handles the hook duties.
Sample Source: “Sweet Gingerbread Man” by Michel Legrand
UNT Quotable: “Sure nuff, shit got rowdy, dumped off my first clip at a house party i love this rap shit, though, the love is clear -but fuck the parties, my nigga, I lost a brother there” - Lil Fame
words by @upnorthtrips / mix by @UNITEDCRATES / graphics by @CNTRBND
