PAGE 22 THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY FEATURES October 24, 2000 Mash Out Posse's Latest Release Keeps It Real "We 're the voice of the streets, and The subsequent EP, Handle Ur Bizness, arms and step lightly. we're .not letting that title go anywhere," and the release First Family showed that I pop shots at foes Album Review says Mash Out MOP still knew how .to touch a vein. Soren that don't entice me," ------Posse's Lil' Fame in Baker of the LA Times reported that MOP, warns Billy Danze in by Jada lokeman the Brooklyn rap besides of course Run D.M.C. and the the opener "Welcome group's fourth and latest release, Warriorz, Beastie Boys, "were the first to enjoy to Brownsville." from Loud Records. · respect in the hip-hop community while Here, a bass line And they haven't gone anywhere. combining rock and rap in tl:ieir music." Of ·ripped from a '70s Despite changes in the industry as well as today's acts that have found success in car chase television the group's own label switch, MOP contin combining hip-hop and rock, namely Limp show is interspersed ues to deliver the hardcore in abundance. Bizkit, Korn and Kid Rock, she observes with a one-handed Although their trademark style of "undilut that "these rockers were beaten to the piano riff and pun~tu ed, unapolegetically underground ·sounds punch by MOP." In this period, they uti ated with a screech for hip hop purists (i-Music)" is difficult to lized less of DJ Premier's vast resources ing carpet bomb justify as responsible music, Warriorz dis and cultivated their own unique sound. The sound effect. The plays the type of natural growth only best example of this was a song built from intended effect is achieved by true groundbreakers. the sample of Foreigner's Rocky II hit, unsettling. Lil' Fame and Billy Danze comprise the "Eye of the Tiger." Hip-hop still wasn't "Everyday," the first last generation of MOP. Over the years, ready for such bold originality. It would Primo track, is still they have struggled for perfection. Their take Jay-Z, Puff Daddy or some other com rugged despite har flrst single, "How about some Hardcore," mercially viable rap act to make '80s rock momzmg from from 1991's To the Death, touched a vein samples hip. Product G&B. "Ante among hip-hop fans tired of a dance-happy, On Warriorz, MOP strives for under Up" follows, •an culturally-conscious climate. An instant standing. As Lil' Fame explams, "On this unmistakable classic: I can still remember the beat. album we decided to do all rowdy songs. anthem, injected with However, that album was, overall, lacking We didn't want to get too emotional. We adrenaline. "Face off- in terms of production quality. Their next wanted to take a step away from songs that 2K1" fmds Primo ref release, Firing Squad, recruited a major . were too depressing. We didn't want any ereeing a gentleman's effort from Brooklyn's DJ Premier. stress on this album. We just wanted under lyrical sparring File Photo However, even with top-shelf production, standing." The music is a two-headed match. I couldn't call On the Frontline: MOP ''first to enjoy respect in the hip-hop Firing Squad suffered from the abrasive beast, combining DJ Premier's classic beat a winner. "On the · community." ness of MOP's delivery. Onyx and other making with the cultivated ruggedness of Frontline," a medita high-decibel rap groups emerging at the MOP's own production. It is a phenomenal tion on confrontation, embodies a military Make no mistake, MOP is as real as it gets. time had the same problem: You can't yell _ effort that displays how much they have sense of urgency. Lil' Fame reaches back to One of my friends who observed them at a all the time. The more you played the learned while taking clear aim at the fronts another Foreigner sample on "Cold as Ice." photo shoot was disgusted by their behav album, the more the shouting drowned out where they have encountered resistance. "Calm Down" is my favorite, a rolling per ior. ''They were drunk and disruptive. They every other aspect of the music. Hip-hop They are raising the stakes to the point cussion accompanied by a sample looped had no respect," she complained. Like they wasn't ready to take part in the neo-punk where fake gangsters can't ante up. from some soul record. "Foundation" ends care. "The game is so real, that even with revolution that was consuming rock at the "Should you be alarmed? You better the album with a reflection on what is truly out a record deal, we would still shine for time. grease your palms. You better grip your · important in life. the field," sings Danz~. Minority Warnings for New Green Day Warning: This is a public service announcement. This is only a test. Green Day's new release is out and it's just like the rest. · Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dint -and Tre Cool, the three creative elements of Green Day, are not exactly musical inno Album Review vators. Since its breakout hit Dookie by Scott Daugherty in 1994, the band has consistently put out albums that are simple, catchy and reflect whatever trend in alternative music that might be going on that week. Record stations place them in heavy rotation, drilling all 10 lyrics into your head so you are mumbling them to the incredibly repetitive rhythm for weeks: N'sync for the openly dysfunctional pre teens. Warning, Green Day's fourth major label release is as commercially successful as the last three. Thirteen-year-olds in Hot Topic evidently couldn't wait to buy the Fine Line Features landmark release on Oct. 3. The hit single, . Words of Warning: Mike Dint, Billie Joe Armstrong and Tre Cool of Green Day "Minority," has been on the charts for eight return with an album that's good - if you don't listen too closely. weeks and is number one on Billboard's Modern Rock charts. the greatest denOiifnator of the public, the periodic mailings to keep the idiots updat- The catchy chorus of "Minority" epito band showed an hour-long concert on ed on what the band is doing. · mizes the wonders of Green Day: "I want MTV, "Green Day Warning LIVE," Mayte this review is a little too hard on to be the minority/1 don't need your Saturday night. What a creative title. the band. Green Day is not, or at least it authority/down with the moral If the MTV special is not enough for the should not be intended as great music. It's majority/' cause I want to be the minority." millions of Green Day addicts of the fun music. The album isn't really that bad, Minority, authority, majority; what a clever world, then one can go to the Green Day and I was actually thinking of buying it rhyme lead singer Billy Joe laced together. Web site and become a Green Day before I exploited my position at The Sure it's obligatory, but cheesy rhymes are "IDIOT," literally. For $20 a scrawny 13- Retriever Weekly and swiped this copy to mandatory, even compulsory, to a Green year-old can get an official Green Day review. Day song. "IDIOT" membership card, an exclusive T If you don't analyze the lyrics and just In keeping with the Green Day tradition shirt, "IDIOT" temporary tattoos, post listen to it as what it is, a cheesy pop of distilling punk to make it acceptable to card/pictures of the band, a sticker and album, it's great.
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