M.O.P. brings Snowgoons Produced album 'Sparta' to the World November 22nd -2011

M.O.P. have set a November 22nd release date for their new album Sparta (Babygrande Records) produced entirely by The Snowgoons.

Hailing from Brownsville, Brooklyn, Billy Danze and Lil Fame have solidified their reputation as iconic lyricists through their years of hard-hitting rhymes and unparalleled tenacity. Never compromising their style and having shared the mic with industry greats such as Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Styles P, Guru, ODB, Busta Rhymes, and Redman, just to name a few, the duo has rightfully earned its status as one of the most revered acts in hip-hop today.

In late July 2011, Billy Danze took to Conspiracy Worldwide Radio to break the news that M.O.P.’s upcoming album will be a collaborative effort with German & Danish production team, the Snowgoons. Speaking on the album, Danze said, “[Snowgoons] just sent us some fire…those dudes are incredible…when you hear this project, you’re going to be satisfied as an M.O.P. fan and a Snowgoons fan.” Ensuring fans around the world that this will be one of their most diverse sounding albums, the Mash Out Posse member went on to praise the Snowgoons, proclaiming, “they’ve got everything…they’re blazing through and coming from different angles. These guys providing us with that dramatic sound, with those theatrical sounds, with that hard hip-hop…they supplied us with everything. I’m really psyched about this project.”

Listeners can prepare for what Danze & Lil Fame considers “their best project in 10 years.”

Danze says of the Snowgoons:  “We may get some features, but I think M.O.P. on a Snowgoons project and Snowgoons producing a whole project for M.O.P. is enough featuring.“

“Those dudes are incredible,” he continued. “When you hear this project, you’re going to be satisfied as an M.O.P. fan and a Snowgoons fan. I think you’re going to flip your wig,” he continued. “They’ve got everything… It’s amazing to me because most of the time, producers have a signature sound. These guys already sent me like 50 tracks. They sent me 50 tracks and they’re blazing through and coming from different angles.“

Consisting of founders Det and DJ Illegal plus longtime affiliate and now 3rd member, Sicknature, the Snowgoons made their full-length producer album debut with 2007’s “German Lugers,” released on Babygrande Records. The Snowgoons continued their onslaught of orchestral and epic instrumentals the following year with their sophomore producer album “Black Snow.” Since 2007, the Snowgoons have developed a massive following, starting in Europe and spanning the entire world, becoming a staple in the underground hip-hop scene by working with approximately 100 lyricists. They have gone on to release four additional producer projects and worked with some of the most remarkable MCs in the underground.

The first collaboration between M.O.P. & Snowgoons “Anybody Can Get It” was recently released off the A3C Volume 1 Compilation. A3C attendees can catch the duo performing at the festival in Atlanta.

M.O.P. and Snowgoons collaborative album is scheduled for release November 22, 2011 on Babygrande Records. Celebrating its ten-year anniversary, Babygrande has established itself as a pivotal New York label responsible for over 100 titles since 2001. After ten-years and counting, Babygrande continues to consistently work with groundbreaking and world-renowned artists.

Mobb Deep To Drop EP on Black Friday

Mobb Deep isn’t wasting any time now that they have their own record label. Earlier this month, Prodigy and Havoc announced they finalized a deal through Sony’s Red Distribution for their own label, Infamous Records, and now Havoc revealed to XXLMag.com, that the group has a concrete release date for their first official project in over five-years.

“We have an EP coming on Black Friday,” Havoc said, referring to November 25, the beginning of the holiday shopping season. “We didn’t come up with a title yet, but we’ll have a title that will mean something. It will be like seven or eight songs. I did like three. We have some produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Alchemist and this kid named Young Free.”

“It feels good man,” Hav added about he and P’s new deal. “It’s a long time coming. Now we could really be in control of our own destiny. It’s all on us now. For right now we’re gonna focus on the Mobb. But the label situation is set up to break other acts. We’re gonna be versatile with it. We’re not gonna just get the homie from up the block. We’re gonna get talent. We’re definitely serious about it.”

The Mobb’s last studio album was Blood Money, which came out in 2006 on G-Unit/ Interscope. The following year, P was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years for gun possession which put the group on hiatus until Prodigy’s release from jail last March. But the duo didn’t waste any time, and went right back to work, recording dozens of songs over the last few months. Yet Hav says that before doing business with Red, he and his partner talked about going back to G-Unit.

“That was definitely something we all were considering,” he detailed. “We sat down with 50. At the end of the day, us and 50 are still cool. We’re good. But what everybody concluded was that [we] need to go do [our] own thing with no restraints. That was the best decision everybody could have made. The EP is done. It sounds good, seven or eight songs. Some real hip-hop shit, some real substance.”

The yet-to-be-titled project is The Mobb’s first ever EP. So far they haven’t recorded with any guests, however Hav says they have one secret cameo from a huge artist that is currently in the works.

In the meantime fans can catch M-O-B-B performing their seminal album, The Infamous, in its entirety at a special show on Sunday, September 27 at New York City’s Webster Hall as part ofRed Bull Music Academy’s World Tour. —Shaheem Reid

Black Rob – Game Tested, Streets Approved (Album Cover + Track listing + Pre-Order)

Tested, Streets Approved Album set for July 26th on Duck Down Music. 

Pre-Order the Deluxe-Edition on iTunes today. The album contains three exclusive bonus tracks

Guilty Simpson Talks Random Axe's Sophomore LP & "OJ Simpson 2

One-third of supergroup Random Axe speaks on upcoming projects and plans for a sequel to his full-length with Madlib.

Though the group just put out its debut last month,Random Axe is already thinking about its follow-up. Speaking with HipHopSite.com, Guilty Simpson explained that the trio - which also consists of Sean Price and Black Milk - will most likely record solo albums before regrouping to release a Random Axe sophomore effort next year.

“We actually talking about doing the next one now,” he said. “We’re throwing ideas around, just trying to get stuff squared away. I know we’ll all probably do solo endeavors before we come back together and do the Random Axe, but sure, we’re going to get that done next year.”

On the solo tip, the Detroit, Michigan native revealed that he’s planning to hit the lab with producerMadlib for the sequel to their 2010 release OJ Simpson. Additionally, he’ll be recording his next Stones Throw release featuring Black Milk production, exclusively.

“OJ Simpson 2 with Madlib, working on songs with Oh No, and then Black Milk will be producing my next Stones Throw album,” he said. “He’ll exclusively produce that.”

Raekwon Signs Rapper JD Era To Ice H20; Launches Label Presence In Toronto

Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon the shift has expanded the roster of his Ice H20 record label, with the signing of Toronto rapper JD Era.

JD Era, who was featured in AllHipHop.com's Breeding Ground section, will release his debut mixtape "No Handouts" on Raekwon's Ice H20 imprint.

"I’m excited to be working with Raekwon and the Ice H20 family," JD Era explained told AllHipHop.com in a statement. "We’re looking forward to doing some big things for hip-hop in this country."

The signing of JD Era also marks the launch of Raekwon's label's presence in Toronto, which has produced world-renowned rappers like Kardinall Offishall, Drake, Choclair, Maestro Fresh Wes, K'Naan, Saukrates and others. 

"All this talent out here that’s sunken in this situation where they not able to carry it across seas, across the world, across to America, I’m here to give them the opportunity,"  Raekwon told HipHopCanada.com during an interview in April.

"There’s a lot of talent here,” Raekwon said. “It’s been too many years that we’re not able to hear the music like how ya’ll hearing us constantly. I wanna be able to hear ya’ll constantly the same way, and see new artists come and get on.”

JD Era's "No Handouts" mixtape will be available for free download later this month at www.nohandouts.net

Pete Rock, Tek & Steele Chastise NYPD Over Club Raid During Release Party

Super producer Pete Rock and rappers Tek & Steele of Smif-N-Wessun are holding a press conference this afternoon, to answer questions relating to an altercation between the police and fans, during their record release party on Tuesday (June 28th), in New York.

Pete Rock, and Tek and Steele were celebrating the release of their new albumMonumental at Tammany Hall on the lower East side of Manhattan.

The chaos began when a group of concertgoers were turned away by managers and bouncers at the club.

According to a statement released by the rappers, over 15 to 20 uniformed police officers from the 7th Precinct arrived at the venue and began assaulting patrons outside of the venue, for no reason.

"The officers then hurried into the club and began macing and assaulting individuals inside the club, dragging one of them out and pummeling him directly in front of the club," the rappers said in a joint statement released today (June 30th).

"Present at the event were artists, industry tastemakers, fans, photographers, and cameramen. Several people began filming and recording the unprovoked brutality, much to the dismay of the police."

According to their attorney Kenneth Montgomery, the police were “unjustified, unprovoked and simply barbaric considering there was no provocation.”

While Pete Rock, Tek and Steele and most of their immediate associates made it out of Tammany Hall unscathed, some of their family and friends were assaulted by the police.

The group is currently at New York Criminal Court in Manhattan, where they will address the issue and announce their next course of action.