Today In Hip-Hop: M.O.P. Releases Debut Album “To The Death”

On this day, April 12, in hip-hop history...

1994: M.O.P. released its debut album To The Death. Prior to the album's release, the Brownsville, Brooklyn duo enjoyed moderate underground success with the release of their single "How About Some Hardcore?" The track appeared on the soundtrack to Kid 'N' Play's House Party 3 and received video treatment, courtesy of a then-unknown Hype Williams. The song's success led to Billy Danze and Fizzy Womack signing a record deal with Select Records, where they released the D.R. Period-produced To The Death.

In the following years, the Mash Out Posse enjoyed success alongside the likes of the Gang Starr Foundation and Jay-Z, who later signed them to his Roc-A-Fella imprint in 2003. Their biggest hits came in 2000 with the release of "Ante Up" and "Cold As Ice," which appeared on their album Warriorz. The former song was later remixed by Busta Rhymes, Remy Ma and M.O.P. affiliate Teflon.