madtheory's Full Review: Mash Out Posse [PA] by M.O.P.
Rap-Rock. How could a concept so fundamentally solid have gone so horribly wrong? Though Run DMC often showed just how vital a true rap/rock collabo could be, most rappers still only occasionally borrow the rock sound for a half-hearted crossover single every so often, and almost none have really embraced it as an important part of their repertoire. And while the majority of existing rap-rockers have shown proficiency with the rock aspect of their music, with the exception of a few, lyrical skill in the genre has been sorely lacking. Think about it: does anyone really want to hear Fred Durst spitting over just a boom and a bap? Will you ever hear Mike Shinoda freestyling for Kay Slay?
Enter M.O.P. In step with the modus operandi of “the '87 stick-up kids,” Brownsville hardcore rappers Billy Danze and Lil Fame sensed the weakness and set out to snatch the rap-rock crown off anyone dumb enough not to tuck it into their shirts. Most likely inspired by their recent tour with Linkin Park, the duo entered the studio with NYC rock band Shiner Massive and emerged as The Mash Out Posse. By combining M.O.P.'s proven high-octane hardcore rap with the rough-hewn power chords of Shiner Massive, The Mash Out Posse hopes to recapture that spark that emerged every time Run DMC opened up the rock box. Honorary member Laze E. Laze sums up M.O.P.'s creation best, "we the first n****s to really get it right since Run-DMC and Aerosmith."
Without question, “Calm Down” is the stand out track on Mash Out Posse. A killer remake of one of the highlights of M.O.P.'s Warriorz LP, the collective only allows a brief intro as preparation before the song quickly descends into headbanging guitar rasps and slamming percussion. The choruses beg for an agile guitar solo, but everything else on the track, all the way down to the sped up denouement, is flawless. Another banger, "Put It In the Air" sports a more gothic feel through the use of harpsichord melodies and haunting operatic voices. Fizzy Womack and William Burkowitz continue their onslaught here, the rappers' nihilistic rage merging with the distorted guitar grinds to create a very effective 'f*ck the world' anthem. Danze combines his defiance with a little braggadocio in his verse: "you can find me on the black block/ everybody know me, I'm admired by the homie who's running the crack spot/ I love to see the shorties with a little 'g' in 'em/ it's like looking in a mirror, I see a little me in 'em."
However, the group isn't hiding flawed music behind high-energy arrangements as far too many recording artists do nowadays. They slow things down for “Get the F*ck Outta Here,” the ruffneck duo trading vengeful rhymes over disquieting guitar ascents and forceful chords. Likewise more relaxed in tempo only, “It’s That Simple” sees the group arranging a piece with noticeable Caribbean roots, Danze and Fame filling in the open spaces between the syncopated drums and brisk melody by varying their rhyme styles and adding raucous ad-libs. Plus for the old-skool aficionados, The Mash Out Posse include an ill cover of the classic Beastie Boys rap/rock hybrid “No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn,” resurrected here as “Hilltop Flava.” If the lyrics are a bit more gangsta than you remember, its because only the Beastie's beat, guitar melody, and chorus are pulled from the original; the First Fam drops their own lyrics as a gully ode to their home borough of Brooklyn.
Despite all the goodness contained on this effort, not everything on Mash Out Posse is pure gravy. For “Stress Y’all,” the group tries to put together another reggae-rock combination, but the off-kilter beat and similarly askew accompaniment throw off the track as soon as it begins. Also, since “Ante Up” was M.O.P.’s beak away hit for 2001, one would expect them to make the rock cover of this song, “Robbin’ Hoodz” as tight as the original. Unfortunately this isn’t the case. Musically, the performers simply recreate the original DR Period-produced track with only minor melodic changes, then marry the vocal track from “Ante Up” to the music. The resulting song significantly more bland and lifeless than the rest of the offerings on the album.
Doubtlessly, fans of hard rock and hardcore rap will find Mash Out Posse one of the best musical examples of the chocolate-peanut butter hybrid scenario (“you’ve got your hard rock in my Hip-Hop!” “you’ve got your Hip-Hop in my hard rock!”). Though not exactly groundbreaking musicianship, Shiner Massive's work is far from anemic and possesses an edge that only adds to M.O.P.'s vocals. On the other side of the coin, Billy Danze and Lil Fame clearly understand that ramping up their already off-the-meter mic presence is key to making the best use of the hard rock soundscapes, and freely put forth the extra effort to make the project a success. Mash Out Posse may not necessarily establish M.O.P. as the new Kings of Rock, but it will help ensure that the collaborative spirit they conceived lives on.
Track Listing:
01. Conquerors
02. Ground Zero
03. Put It In the Air
04. Calm Down
05. Stand Clear
06. Fire
07. Hilltop Flava (No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn)
08. Stand Up
09. Stress Y’all
10. Raise Hell
11. It’s That Simple
12. Get the F*ck Outta Here
13. Robbin' Hoodz
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