Photography by Alexander Richter

Want over 30 MOP tracks, all masterfully mixed together? Simply click here to cop DJ Eleven’s ‘Fight Music: The Best Of MOP’, which pretty much does what it says in the title. Now read on to hear him break down the science of the mix… Salute!

When did the idea to do an MOP mix come about?
“I’ve always felt like dudes were criminally underrated, long been a huge fan, and had always wanted to do a project which would allow me to listen to MOP for months on end. So when I was presented with the chance to get a connect to them through the Spitkicker guys, I jumped at the chance. Sure, it took well over a year to make it happen, but it was worth the wait.”

Have you had any feedback from the Mash Out Posse camp on the mix?
“Very little directly. Fame and Danze did drops for the mix, so they knew it was coming. After the fact, a friend also gave Premier a copy.”

If you had to recommend one track on the mix to introduce people to the power of the mighty MOP, what would it be?
“You got to start with ‘Ante Up’. I like other songs more, but nothing captures them doing what they do as well.”

Which mix or blend are you proudest of on the mix?
“If I had to pick anything, I’d pick the ‘Intro/Ode To A True MOP Fan’. Shit gets me amped every time I hear it, still!”

What’s the most violence-inducing moment on the mixtape?
“The mix into ‘Cold As Ice’ just made me throw a bar stool through a wall. Guess that’s the winner!”

Which version of ‘Downtown Swinga’ is the best?
“‘98, for the line “Fuck the cassettes, I don’t plan to die no time soon”. It’s just a great sentiment and the reference to the first two ‘Downtown Swinga’s is genius. (”When I die, bury me with a cassette of ‘Paid In Full’,” in the first one and “…bury me with a cassette of ‘To The Death’,” in the second one.)

Finally, if you had to play one MOP song on a romantic dinner date, what would it be?
“MOP will not get her in the mood quicker. And, if it will, you don’t want to get romantic with ‘her’.”

(Click here to check out HHC’s most recent interview session with Billy and Fame.)