There’s a moment on Hasan Salaam and Rugged N Raw’s “Mo Danger” where the mic partners trade bars back and forth “Brooklyn’s Finest”-style, kicking a mix of cypher rhymes volleying between scathe and hilarity. “Street sweeper leave your fam in the cold like FEMA / Ump-out-ya-block when I mollywop the speaker,” raps Hasan blisteringly, followed immediately by RNR’s raucous levity: “I’m sick of know-it-alls and elitists bitching / They got balls on the chin like Peter Griffin.” It’s a moment balanced perfectly by two highly capable emcees smacking the rollicking backdrop with their unique, individual bombast rushing full throttle. It’s a moment that embodies the chemistry these two solo artists captured and emblazoned all across collaborative album, Mohammad Dangerfield.
MD runs like something of an extended reunion. Hasan Salaam and Rugged N Raw have featured on each’s previous solo endeavors (most recently albums, Children Of God and Truth Serum, respectively) and this full-length team-up largely maintains the same harmony the duo harnassed on “Broke & Proud.” On the Budda Blaou-produced “The Gospel” for example, Hasan kicks weighty religion-laced raps ready for the pulpit, while RNR describes the lives of the people filling the pews. RNR breaks down how he’s “getting well known but still struggles for money” on the I.mpaq-produced “Deep Shadows,” while Hasan parallels his life to his father’s numbing the pain with women and alcohol. Both artists are equally adept at reaching inward, tapping into themselves and conveying those defining emotions earnestly and compellingly. It’s what makes them artists. Throughout Mohammad Dangerfield, both maintain interest by spitting from perspectives seldom touched in Hip Hop broadly, never more gut-wrenchingly visceral than on the C4 Sinistah-produced, “Unredeemed,” one of the album’s strongest offerings. Rugged and Hasan Salaam dig deep into abortions had in previous relationships, RNR vividly kicking it from the perspective of the aborted child:
“I hope your Rap career is worth a life / Silencing your pride and joy so you can earn some stripes. / How can anyone call it Pro-Choice / When it doesn’t apply to those with no voice? / The unborn ain’t less harder to kill / So now I’ll live forever in the heart of your guilt. / The unborn ain’t less harder to kill / So now I’ll live forever in the heart of your guilt”
But there’s more to MD than just weighty tomes and possibly wrist-slitting subject-matter. “The BBQ Joint” (featuring Kendal) is absolutely sublime. “On The Creep” featuring Swace Sevah is absolutely about breaking and entering, car-jacking and peeping-Tomming — and all three Emcees get caught at the end of their individual tales. Cypher tracks, “Express Intro” and “Rhyme Like No One” are absolute testaments to the solid lyrical foundation at the root of both skill sets. “Laam’s back so adapt and listen / I’m a man on a mission with a plan and a vision / 21 grams of conviction,” raps Hasan on the former. “Marvel at the awesome my pedigree do. / You can’t beat me / I’m the Dolphins in ’72”, raps RNR on the latter. The paradigm shifting styles and approaches, at times, feels like revolutionary rhetoric meets rollicking revelry. That’s a good thing. Both artists are extremely balanced lyrically, while the stale soundscape is absolutely snooze inducing.
Chum Zilla’s “Generation Kill”, with it’s faint flutes and uninspired marching snare drum and knock-less bass line only grows irritating after repeated listens. As does DJ Insite’s lifeless melancholy on “Truly Yours.” “Valley Of The Kings”, produced by DJ Static snatches Just Blaze’s 2001 anthemic high-hats and subtle soul samples and rides it all the way to forgettable territory. And somehow, despite a seventeen track album with fourteen different producers, Mohammad Dangerfield still drowns in long droughts of audial redundancy. The LP is easily four tracks too long, overrun with too many shots of sonic mediocrity, bringing it entirely too close to stock comparisons, Brand Nubian or General Steele’s Amerikkka’s Nightmare Part 2 for example.
But moments like on “Mo Dangers”‘s second-verse are emblazoned all across Mohammad Dangerfield. Hasan Salaam & Rugged N Raw unleash a two-pronged, lyrical attack on the serious and the cynical, forcing in-depth contemplation and out-loud laughter all along the way. And that’s always appreciated, even if it’s short on replay value.
power shit
this album is fire! they got different typs of styles and rock well together
RnR and Hasan Salaam are dope! This album is fire
This album goes mad hard yall. If ya aint got it yet ya need to get it. This is that straight hip-hop not that watered down shit on the radio they wanna call hip-hop REBEL AMZ SALUTE MY DUDES!!!
This is dope. I got my copy yesterday. $9.99 well spent.
Dope
I don’t know where to begin on commenting. First, Phenomenal(capital P) chemistry between the two, production(5stars). Not too often you get an album and can honestly go through every song without skipping.
As soon as I downloaded Mohammad Dangerfield besides telling my friends to purchase the album, I’ve had this album on repeat. I do have some fav’s that occasionally get a 3times repeat before letting the next song play.Rhyme like no one(def. my fav) The gospel, deep shadows, unredeemed, wrek center, see you again are some of my favs already.
Look forward to hearing more from the two, definitely a dope album from beginning to end!!!!
DOPE ALBUM! Finally rappers who aint trying to imitate weezie or zippity-do-da-sandman. the production & lyrics work with each other! There is alot of trax but they’re all good. If this is slept on, you aint know hip hop. Grimy, Funny, Grown Man Music.
Y’all are buggin’ with the 5’s. Hope you bought it.
I heard the album yesterday and I’m ready to place my order for the cd on payday.
Basically, the album is DOPE!!!
Go cop it.
It’ll be the best legal high (musically) you ever had!
real hip hop is back yall
One simple word for this – “CLASSIC”
8 people have voted, and 7 of 8 gave it a perfect five… you people are fucking unbelievable, you know that right? You give every piece of horseshit that sounds good the fIrst listen a 5. Can you wait 1 fucking day before you christen something a 5? WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THING!?
Agreed. This album will sell 5 copies first week too. It fucks up the fun for everybody else of having a worthwhile review site.
Eh… 5 is definitely a long shot. Even after first listen, with it still being fresh in my head, can’t call this a classic.
Decent album, style is nothing amazing or unique though. 3.5 imo.
I love it. Lots of different elements for different people. Not backpackerish… not too goonish… it’s just real life. It taps into a man’s imperfections, hopes, good times, struggles, every thing we go through. It’s hard for hip hop heads to allow themselves to be outwardly open to it… even though they secretly know they need it. No, MoDanger is not trendy or liked by the critics who are paid to give positive reviews. MoDanger are the underdogs (hence “Dangerfield”). Great storytelling & laughs. Let your guard down. Breathe it in.
not likin it that much
The perfect mix of two dynamic MCs. A great collaboration and purchase you will be happy you made.
Im sure this album is dope ,but all I can say is if you want me to buy it you better at least give me a copy of the CD. I refuse to pay for Mp3’s..!
A phenomenal collaboration! Real hip hop at it’s finest.
Just copped the album last night, yet I have been waiting for it since last year because both brothers are tremendously dope..DOPE Emcees! I say that as a fan and a lyricist. The combination you get from Hasan and RnR’s flows is like an all day buffet, you just keep goin back for more. These brothers have been doing their thing for a long time and if you have never followed them, then now is a perfect time. If you need to do go back and purchase their solo albums, then do it! Just don’t fall to the hater side of things, because they are not what you are used to getting shoved in your face and ears now a days. I give it a 5 star rating and im proud of that. Much props to these brothers. Any of you who would say otherwise either need to step away from your artist view point or if your not an artist, then step away from your radio and just listen.
I love Hip hopdX. Was goin through da latest news and saw this post, seems like a divided crowd in here. so i checked Myself to hear wht the fuss is about. This is ill. I dont see why people hatin on this. i like the snippets, gonna get dis when i get paid tomorrow. big up modanger. Dont let the haterz stop da grind fellas one
Quality!!! I’ll buy 6 copies myself and give them to my friends!!! So, somebody there miscalculated
Dope! 2 MCs with totally different styles came together & rocked it! It’s definitely worth the purchase!
I thoroughly enjoy the album, the lyrical infusion that makes it awesome is a unique and dynamic perspective into the lives and experiences of Hasan & Rugged. These men have different styles in their individual work so to see hear the collaboration come together so fluidly is a testament to their abilities and capacity to evolve. The album may not be for everyone, and quite honestly I don’t think its supposed to be. Theres a difference between critiques/ constructive criticism versus hating; apparently some don’t know the difference.
Whoever did this review is probably a hipster sucker, who never really lived the culture of Hip Hop. It’s such a condescending piece of trash review. MoDanger is 10 times getter and paid more dues than the fashion-hop emo rap garbage that these people dickride. Seriously?!?! 3.5? THis is at least a 4.5. Fuck HHDX. Now delete my comment you self conscious nazis!
3/5? yall smoking dust over there
never heard these blokes before. i’m not mad at the music. great find. great tunes.
Love the Underground, that’s where REAL Hip-Hop and True MCs live. That’s my Home.
Cant wait to get my hands on the full album, contains some of these guys best work thus far imo…also two of the coolest people in hiphop
I don’t have high hopes for most unknown rap groups. I’ve been proven wrong with these niggas. good shit.
Mo Danger have managed to get that rare combination of intelligent ryhmes with a real message over banging production including soul/funk and oldschool beats with a consistency that is hard to master. They have pulled it off seemingly effortlessly.
All of the features on the album are on point. Standout tracks for me are:
The BBQ joint
Rhyme like no one
Break of a star (featuring Immortal Technique)
Deep Shadows
and Truly Yours
An original and thought provoking body of work.
My God I think I m in love with your face
yo. first off, these brothers are crazy talented. Cats always say heads ain’t ready, but i’m sure they are. We, the listeners, are ready for the real. Peace to Hasan and Rugged for keeping it real, raw, gritty, and not compromising their sound. It’s only getting better. This is just the beginning. Put your bets down now, you’ll see a return.
This is exactly the type of album I been waiting for. These cats are crrrrraaazzy lyrically and aint afaid to talk about nothing.
dope! waiting on the videos!
If they don’t perform at the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival this year, hip hop is dead.
Support Raw Hip Hop!
Dope album!!! Looking forward to MUCH more great music.
!!!
I told yall a million times. I’m in the process of getting my MBA & I still can’t write like Hasan Salaam. None of my professors have ever matched Hasan’s depth. Raised in Inglewood CA & we still feel him.
Representing Mo Danger all the way from Berlin,Germany !
This is Hip Hop with 5 stars!
Rugged N Raw for the win!!! I love how he keep evolving!
weeird, beats are Weak dont feel em, overal production are poor, lyrically not bad. But this deffinetly isn’t “classic” album, I am surprise that 26 people give it perfect five … for me 3/5
PS is crazy. I just caught them at SXSW last week. They KILLED IT!!!!! Great stage show. Niggas don’t like you unless you got Dilla or Premier soundin beats. Or suck Hot97 jew dick. I think MoDanger are onto something new. I’ma be on the lookout.
This album is dope! it has different type of content than the everyday im fly gun bang bullshit, the beats are dope and fit with the content of the songs, and the writing is insightful, witty, and fresh to death. i wanna see them at the BK HipHIp Festival this year!
pretty dope