Back in 2008, DJ K.O. recruited some of Hip-Hop's finest emcees and producers to craft his debut offering. Picture This had track after track of dream collaborations between the likes of Royce da 5'9", Talib Kweli, Elzhi, Phonte, Masta Ace, O.C., Skyzoo, Emilio Rojas and Silent Knight and delivered exactly what the fans wanted...real hip-hop.
Simple formula - raw beats, raw rhymes. To take the record to another level, the album featured additional production from the likes of 9th Wonder, Analogic, Ayatollah, Black Milk, Buckwild, !LLMIND, Khrysis, M-Phazes & Marco Polo.
While EMPBeTheTeam may lack the blockbuster names of its predecessor, it certainly does not fall short of the level of quality established by Picture This. "Again, I tried to approach this album as a hip-hop fan," says New Jersey native, DJ K.O. "I wanted to provide my team with opportunities to showcase what makes them unique as artists, yet still give fans a sound they’ll find familiar" he says.
The result is an album that offers both style and substance. Most of the songs are good, old-fashioned hip-hop," he explains. "There’s a raw, angry gutter sound mixed with more smooth, soulful tracks." EMP veterans like Silent Knight, East and K-Hill continue to put their lyrical prowess on display, while newcomers like MadKem, Jered Sanders and Justin Bates set the bar for what's to come.
EMPBeTheTeam will be available on iTunes and fine music retailers nationwide on September 18.
Tracklisting and credits for DJ K.O. EMPBeTheTeam LP:
1.) "Stand Up!" f/ Silent Knight, Jered Sanders, Justin Bates, K-Hill, East & MadKem (Produced by DJ K.O. & !LLMIND)
2.) "I Can Tell" (Remix) f/MadKem, Silent Knight & K-Hill (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
3.) "Pick A Card" f/ Justin Bates (produced by DJ K.O. & Madwreck)
4.) Meek Man's Dream f/ Jered Sanders (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
5.) "Drunk Girls" f/ MadKem, Jered Sanders & Silent Knight (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
6.) "EMP Cypher" f/ MadKem, Silent Knight, Jered Sanders, Justin Bates & K-Hill (produced by DJ K.O.)
7.) "Power Of The Tongue" f/ K-Hill (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
8.) "Ogre" f/ Silent Knight (produced by DJ K.O.)
9.) "Kill 'Em" f/ MadKem & Justin Bates (produced by DJ K.O. & Madwreck)
10.) "A Few Good Men" f/ MadKem, Justin Bates, Silent Knight & K-Hill (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
11.) "Do Ya Thing" f/ East (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
12.) "Seize The Moment" f/ MadKem (produced by DJ K.O. & Drop Beats)
DJ K.O. to release new album in September
Back in 2008, DJ K.O. recruited some of Hip-Hop's finest emcees and producers to craft his debut offering. Picture This had track after track of dream collaborations between the likes of Royce da 5'9", Talib Kweli, Elzhi, Phonte, Masta Ace, O.C., Skyzoo, Emilio Rojas and Silent Knight and delivered exactly what the fans wanted...real hip-hop.
Simple formula - raw beats, raw rhymes. To take the record to another level, the album featured additional production from the likes of 9th Wonder, Analogic, Ayatollah, Black Milk, Buckwild, !LLMIND, Khrysis, M-Phazes & Marco Polo.
While EMPBeTheTeam may lack the blockbuster names of its predecessor, it certainly does not fall short of the level of quality established by Picture This. "Again, I tried to approach this album as a hip-hop fan," says New Jersey native, DJ K.O. "I wanted to provide my team with opportunities to showcase what makes them unique as artists, yet still give fans a sound they’ll find familiar" he says.
The result is an album that offers both style and substance. Most of the songs are good, old-fashioned hip-hop," he explains. "There’s a raw, angry gutter sound mixed with more smooth, soulful tracks." EMP veterans like Silent Knight, East and K-Hill continue to put their lyrical prowess on display, while newcomers like MadKem, Jered Sanders and Justin Bates set the bar for what's to come.
EMPBeTheTeam will be available on iTunes and fine music retailers nationwide on September 18.
Tracklisting and credits for DJ K.O. EMPBeTheTeam LP:
1.) "Stand Up!" f/ Silent Knight, Jered Sanders, Justin Bates, K-Hill, East & MadKem (Produced by DJ K.O. & !LLMIND)
2.) "I Can Tell" (Remix) f/MadKem, Silent Knight & K-Hill (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
3.) "Pick A Card" f/ Justin Bates (produced by DJ K.O. & Madwreck)
4.) Meek Man's Dream f/ Jered Sanders (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
5.) "Drunk Girls" f/ MadKem, Jered Sanders & Silent Knight (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
6.) "EMP Cypher" f/ MadKem, Silent Knight, Jered Sanders, Justin Bates & K-Hill (produced by DJ K.O.)
7.) "Power Of The Tongue" f/ K-Hill (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
8.) "Ogre" f/ Silent Knight (produced by DJ K.O.)
9.) "Kill 'Em" f/ MadKem & Justin Bates (produced by DJ K.O. & Madwreck)
10.) "A Few Good Men" f/ MadKem, Justin Bates, Silent Knight & K-Hill (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
11.) "Do Ya Thing" f/ East (produced by Analogic & DJ K.O.)
12.) "Seize The Moment" f/ MadKem (produced by DJ K.O. & Drop Beats)
