M.O.P. have never quite managed to get the accolades that they deserve in hip-hop. However, those in the know recognize the place that the Brownsville duo have carved out for themselves. Perhaps label-changes and hold-ups have prevented them building on the undeniable highlights they enjoyed at points in their career, the breakaway success of 'Ante Up' is certainly worth a mention.

M.O.P. make a welcome return on the 10-song, 34-minute  foray that is 'Sparta.' In a time when audiences have become accustomed to sprawling 80-minute releases, 34 minutes is clearly short. However, the quality is evident throughout, as M.O.P. maintain the hardcore 'hood-hop style that has won them so many loyal fans over the years.

Opening with the 300-type title track, the duo deliver their lyrics with real fire and no small amount of style, before they move onto the massive, horn-assisted, 'Back At It.' 'Get Yours' see M.O.P. call out fakes while stamping their veteran status on the game and holding up New York. 'Blasphemy (Blast For Me)' brings a rumbling bass and a piano loop to allow M.O.P. space to further big up their reps. 'Opium' slows matters down for the mid-way point of the album, but still simmers with menace.

The production across the album remains tight as The Snowgoons are called in to handle all the tracks. This gives 'Sparta' a coherent feel that perfectly matches the East Coast swagger of M.O.P. Lyrically, M.O.P. bring strong wordplay and metaphors that enliven their gangster-fied street tales beyond the usual cliches.

'Hard Niggaz' is a self-explanatory slice of self-aggrandizement  that dodges with the lightness of a professional boxer, before 'Rollin' comes with a West Coast feel that Snoop Dogg would feel at home with. 'No Mercy' follows up with a frenetic feel ahead of, 'Break Em,' which sees M.O.P. come with yet more solid lyrical tag-teaming. The whole affair is rounded off with 'Body On The Iron' which maintains the high tempo set by the other nine tracks, but with a darkly brooding edge that gives a sense of danger to the murder music.

'Sparta' is undoubtedly a short stop release, but the quality is high throughout, making this a must-have for M.O.P. fans. Sticking to their guns, the Brownsvillians continue to bring the heavily New York feeling music they have become known for. Forget the gimmicks and the pop charts, this is real hip-hop right here...

M.O.P. SPARTA

© 2012. All Rights Reserved. All Original Works of www.GrindModeConnect.com. No Duplication or Reprint without Written Permission.

Hailing from Brooklyn comes MyFam Productions with their forward-thinking mixtape, 'Lowkey Presents: Futurism - Generals On The Mic.' With a style that sits just outside of traditional hip-hop styles, Lowkey and his various fellow artists begin with a party-ready feel that verges on the call-and-response tracks more usually associated with the South. This is shown through the driving beat and almost electro styles of 'Feels Like Africa,' and the Dancehall-lite of 'Sexy.' 

Elsewhere, MyFam drop into a more lyric-heavy style with a flossing flavor on the brand-heavy, 'Everyday Fresh,' and bring some R&B inflected flavor with, 'Heavy.' Other notable moments include the synth R&B styles of the interpolating, 'Ten Digit Hookup' and the gritty, 'Bad Nerves.' MyFam also take matters to the streets with tracks such as 'Watch Your Back.' In fact, it is the changeable nature of the music on this mixtape that is both its gift and its curse. With styles being switched across the tracks, this mixtape gives a good indication of the different styles to be found in the MyFam camp. However, at the same time, it makes this outfit quite tricky to pin down.

The 16 tracks here would certainly find appeal among DJs, who should dig out something to move dance floors, as the collectin has something to suit most tastes. Furthermore, those who are happy to chance an eclectic collection will find this mixtape will scratch a number of itches. That said, it also feels like there needs to be just a little more coherency to give MyFam a more defined style.    

MIXTAPE - LOWKEY PRESENTS: FUTURISM - GENERALS ON THE MIC

Hailing from the Bay Area, soul singer Goapele has released her sixth album, 'Break Of Dawn.' Having dropped her debut, 'Closer,' back in 2001, Goapele caught the ears and attention of names like Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Prince, Stevie Wonder and Kanye West. This peer-popularity has not always transferred to sales but, once introduced, the power of her voice and music is hard to deny.

Opening with, 'Play,' Goapele opts for a down tempo, slow-burning track that highlights the strength of her vocal performance, while recalling the sounds of names like contemporary inspiration, Alicia Keys. As the perfect vehicle to showcase her talent, this emotive style continues on the somber, piano-blessed, soul of, 'Tears On My Pillow.' The beautifully presented, 'Undertow' sees a deep production feel that would not be unusual for acts like Portishead, which lets Goapele's voice once again shine with a sorrowful glory. 

With an 80s synth feel, 'Break Of Dawn,' feels like a slice of true vintage soaring soul as Goapele brings a sensibility that Sade would not be adverse to. Of course, while comparisons are a fine way to offer an understanding of Goapele's output, she is far from an imitator, as her music smolders with its own fire. 'Hush' employs a lullaby feel to smartly bring a first-person ode to single motherhood, before 'Money' sees an off-kilter, yet uniquely funky, pitch-bending back-drop let Goapele channel Prince and offer a treatise about how money can't touch love.

Matters slow once more for breath with the acoustic guitar backed 'Pieces,' as Goapele brings a strangely uplifting, yet still melancholy, take on the end of a relationship. The final two tracks see Goapele move away from the emotive stance of much of the rest of the album as she lets her hair down a little for the club-orientated 'Right Here' and 'Milk And Honey.'

Throughout this album, whether delivering sorrowful blues-heavy numbers, odes to love or more up tempo fare, Goapele maintains a 'neo-soul' edge which should see her translate readily from radio to the lounge and the (candle-lit) living room. While 'Break Of Dawn' is short by modern standards, at nine tracks, and just under 35 minutes in length, it still packs a powerful punch that should find a place in the hearts of her existing fans as well as those of acts like Jill Scott and Alicia Keys. Mature, confident and content to bring music that stays true to her heart, Goapele's 'Break Of Dawn' may not make waves with the club-hopping, chart-focused listener, but is instead a silken and smooth experience.

GOAPELE - BREAK OF DAWN 

© 2012. All Rights Reserved. All Original Works of WWW.Grindmodeconnect.com. No Duplication or Reprint without Written Permission.

Naughty By Nature's seventh album, 'Anthem Inc,' is a fine way for fans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary trio  - it is also the first album to feature all three members together since 1999s 'Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury.' The group originally recorded under the name 'New Style,' but found success with a name change and their, self-titled, 1991 debut album. They went on to Platinum success and Grammy Award-winning as they released tracks, including 'O.P.P.,' 'Hip-Hop Hooray' and the underground staple, 'Uptown Anthem.'

By combining chart-savvy production, at times based around well-known samples, with street-smart wordplay, Naughty By Nature gained a considerable following while staying respected by the hardcore hip-hop crowd and this album is no different. A short intro leads into 'Naughty Nation,' which sees the group stamp their authority from the off over a deep piano loop, head-nodding snares, sirens squeals and flows that Eminem would tip his hat to. From the hard-hitting opener Naughty by Nature quickly move to the clubs with the contemporary-sounding, 'Throw It Up.' However, long-time fans needn't worry that Naughty have sold out as, in true tradition, the lyrics root this to the 'hood-hop as expected. Sonny Black drops past, with a style that will recall Nine or Party Arty, for 'I Gotta Lotta' as Naughty take matters to the block with a track that will rumble car speakers and sound systems.

'Perfect Party' sees Joe take his guest spot for a sure shot dance floor filler - if you liked 2002's single, 'Feels Good,' you can't go wrong here. 'Flags,' sees heads turned towards God as Balewa Muhammad brings some soul to the veteran's perspective street sermon. The anthemic feel comes with the full-sounding, 'Name Game (Remember),' as Kate Nauta brings a pop-sensibility with her vocal performance that seems, at once, at odds with Treach's lyrical fire but, at the same time, adds a fine aural juxtaposition. Queen Latifah, who introduced Naughty By Nature back in 1991, drops past for the 'hood-hugging, 'God Is Us,' which, for all the good intentions, comes off as just slightly saccharine. However, before matters get too sweet, Naughty By Nature head straight back to the streets for 'Gunz & Butta,' which sees the MCs (including guests) go back-to-back like an underground cypher.

By the halfway point, Treach, Kay-Gee and Vin Rock have hit all the bases with a solid mixture of street-savvy, party-pleasing and radio-ready hip-hop. It is, therefore, a slight shame that the trio seem to step quite so far out of their zone with, 'I Know What It's Like,' however, what at first sounds like a bandwagon reach is far from a bad track, as Treach anchors the almost synth-pop production with his lyrics. 'Ride' sees the production take on a menacingly brooding, yet still anthemic, status to allow the lyrics to flip over the top with easy effect, before 'Impeach The Planet' returns to a cypher-like feel over a classic breaks-and-bass back-drop. Syleena Johnson rounds off the guests with her appearance on the smooth, head-nodding, radio-ready, 'Doozit,' which certainly has single written all over it. In fact, 'Doozit' would have been a fine way to round off the album, but this is a 20th Anniversary Release so the party keeps going with a retrospective finale.

No doubt the years of experience have gone into the special anniversary versions of the final five classic tracks. 'Uptown Anthem,' 'Hip-Hop Hooray,' 'O.P.P.,' 'Feel Me Flow,' and 'Everything's Gonna Be Alright' (aka 'Ghetto Bastard'), thankfully stay true to the originals, but with enough production additions to show an impressive musical maturity. Although some may wonder why these five tracks in particular, were chosen (no, 'Written On Ya Kitten,' for example?), there is no doubt that the anniversary versions do them justice - importantly without risking the anger of any existing fans. Overall, 'Anthem Inc.' is a very solid release that is certain to please existing fans of the NJ outfit. Sure, some tracks may stretch the more entrenched listeners but, beyond everything else, Naughty By Nature maintain their identity and credibility - traits which should see them push on well into their next twenty years in the game...

NAUGHTY BY NATURE - ANTHEM INC.

Currently getting powerful co-signs from Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg comes Los Angeles rapper Slim The Mobster. Signed to Aftermath, due an official full-length release and working on Dre's anticipated 'Detox' album, the future looks bright for the man born Anthony Johnson. Helping to build his growing buzz, Slim The Mobster has released his street album, 'War Music.' Clocking in at just over 30 minutes in length, the 11-track release is a small taste of what Slim has to offer the masses. That said, guest spots from the likes of Snoop Dogg ('What Goes Up') and Dr Dre ('Back Against The Wall') will certainly help gain attention. Witha strictly gangster-fied swagger, Slim The Mobster hits hard on track like the Yummy Bingham assisted, 'F*ck You' and the street-heating, 'Gun Play.'

Style-wise, Slim The Mobster brings a hard-edged manner that has little space for light-hearted wordplay (unlike Snoop, for example, with his appearance here) and, in doing so, readily recalls the likes of fellow Aftermath alumni, The Game.  Serious and street-stuck, Slim The Mobster never-the-less brings some superb West Coast gangsta rap across the length of this release. Outside of Slim's contributions, the beats bump hard throughout with a commercially viable sound that ignores the trends from down South in order to keep things strong for the left coast. Meanwhile the guests all add their own distinct flavor - whether it is the input of the likes of Nikki Grier, D Brown and Sly in smoothing the edges with soul-dripped hooks or Slim's fellow MCs. Certainly shaping up as one to watch, Slim The Mobster comes hard for the West Coast with this release and successfully builds the anticipation for his official release. Like many mixtape and street-promotional releases, you can currently cop this for free online - just point your browsers towards this promising talent - you won't be disappointed!

SLIM THE MOBSTER - WAR MUSIC (STREET ALBUM)

© 2011. All Rights Reserved. All Original Works of WWW.Grindmodeconnect.com. No Duplication or Reprint without Written Permission.

Houston rapper hasHBrown has released his 17-track underground hip-hop tour-de-force 'Break Something,' available online at bandcamp.com (use your search engines people!). Having grown listening to local heroes like Scarface, the Houston raised / new Orleans born MC began freestyling at a young age, and this lyrical background is clear in hasHBrown's flow. On tracks like 'Dear Bartender,' hasHBrown brings a nod to hip-hop of yesteryear while, elsewhere, the fine 'Underground' delivers with a sound that matches the title. As for the beats, hasHBrown, who himself produces too, opts for a changeable palette that comes with everything from rock-tints through to soulful chops (check 'This Is It' and the fine, sample-blessed, 'Crazy').

With assistance from a number of fellow underground denizens, including Guilty Simpson, Thurogood Wordsmith, John Dew and the gifted female MC Nya, this album is not the usual pop-chart aimed affair. Without the rolling snares, auto-tune and tired synth lines that have flavored so much of hip-hop through 2011, hasHBrown instead opts to go for a more organic, straight-up hip-hop style. Lyrically-speaking, there are no high fantasy tales of gunplay, drug selling, strip-clubs or gangster living.  Instead, hasHBrown brings a more down-to-earth and believable journey, such as on the hooptie-riding 'My Cutlass / My Cadillac,' where he opts to deliver a tale that is more accessible to the masses than rhymes about Bentleys and Benzes. But don't get it twisted; hasHBrown's eyes are not closed to the struggle, as evidenced on the superb 'Break The Chain.' Elsewhere, hasHBrown takes time for a little introspection on cuts like 'My Island.' Plus hasHBrown may be one of a very select number of hip-hop artists to have sampled the late Jimmy Saville (check the superb hidden bonus cut at the end). The longer tracks are interspersed with instrumental and lyrical interludes that give the whole album a fluid feel, rather than just a collection of seperate tracks. Hard-rhyming and uncompromising, fans of straight-up beats and rhymes-type hip-hop will find enough to latch onto here. Pure underground hip-hop is still going strong and, if you are not convinced or want to check this yourself first, you can give this a listen online for free before you commit to buy... You can't say fairer than that!