M.O.P. & Snowgoons - Sparta Review

Posted by Bill Wannop on 11.22.2011

M.O.P. are back with an album that is completely produced by the Snowgoons. Can the Snowgoons utilize their hard hitting beats to put M.O.P. back on top of hip hop, or this case of another hip hop group past their prime?

If you missed it be sure to check out the exclusive interview we conducted with M.O.P., where they talk about their new album Sparta, working with the Snowgoons, giving back to their fans, helping unsigned artists as well as their upcoming releases for 2012!

As well don’t forget to follow me on Twitter!

M.O.P. has long been regarded as a group that holds nothing back with their raw, hard hitting beats, gritty rhymes and high powered energy in their songs. Since they released their debut album in 1994, the group has consistently put out hard hitting album after hard hitting album. The group however has been plagued with label issues throughout their career, and the result has been over 2 years without releasing a new album. The group however is setting to have a very productive 2012 and with the increase in productivity starting now as the group is releasing their first collaborative album, with Sparta an album completely produced by the German super production crew the Snowgoons. Can the Snowgoons utilize their hard hitting beats to put M.O.P. back on top of hip hop, or this case of another hip hop group past their prime?

Tracklisting
1. Sparta
2. Back At It
3. Get Yours
4. Blasphemy (Blast 4 Me)
5. Opium
6. Hard Niggaz
7. Rollin'
8. No Merch
9. Break 'Em
10. Body On The Iron

The album starts off setting the mood perfectly with a sample from the movie 300 with Gerald Butler yelling Sparta, before the beat to the title track drops hard. From the sound of this track you can tell that Billy Danze and Lil Fame are back to form and that this collaboration is going to work perfectly (and perhaps something that should have happened long ago). While the title track is more of a punch you in the face, warrior type beat, the Snowgoons change up the pace with ”Back At It”, a more classical hip hop sound crutched by the epic horns giving it a grand type feel. Danze and Fame again show that they are back at it with their lyrics spitting rhymes such as “The hood don’t stop, HELL NO/ You ain’t official, I suggest you get low/ The legendary M O P, O G we emerged from death row/ to spit it in a way nobody did it before/ This is convict music, start shit music, however you view it this is mosh pit music”



The album continues along at a ferocious pace, getting to one of the stand out tracks, “Blasphemy (Blast 4 Me)” with a hard hitting piano laced beat, where punchlines such as "I'm the ghetto Mr. Universe, call me Lou Ferrigno / I push a lot of iron, I don't do it in the gym though". As the album moves along each track is someone distinct from one another really showing the versatility of the Snowgoons. They were able to provide some slow beats in “Opium”, complete with menacing chants and horns that pound, with M.O.P. riding the beat perfectly.



While the album is quite consistent from top to bottom, there are a couple of tracks that just do not stand up to the rest of the album. “Get Yours” has a somewhat slower beat and Is not bad but just cannot keep up to the rest of the album. As well it is somewhat disappointing that the album is a little on the short side. There are only 10 tracks, and after track 10 is finished, it leaves you wishing that there was a couple more tracks.

M.O.P. & the Snowgoons managed to get together and make the great album that everyone knew they could. The beats hit hard and fit the lyrical and aggressive style of M.O.P. perfectly. Whether you are an old school fan of the Mash Out Posse or someone who is just listening to them for the first time you will be equally impressed with this album. M.O.P. made a statement with this record that they still have much to give the world of hip hop.

The 411: M.O.P. make a triumphant return to the raw, gritty hip hop that they are loved for. With great production from the Snowgoons, mixed with the hardcore lyrics from M.O.P. the album moves along at a quick pace and has you wishing there were more then 10 tracks. Whether you are an old school fan of the Mash Out Posse or someone who is just listening to them for the first time you will be equally impressed with this album.

Final Score:  8.5   [ Very Good ]