Picture a high school cypher. A friend beat-boxes or pounds on lunch tables while others crowd around hopeful emcees. Every high school has a slew of aspiring rhymers mirroring this image, but one such group in Ohio had a lineup that would eventually plant flags all over the Hip Hop globe. Back then, in the mid ’90s, Copywrite, Camu Tao, RJD2, Tage Future and Jakki Da Motamouth formed an alliance known as MHz. Now, more than a decade later, the crew has reemerged as MHz Legacy, dropping their self-titled debut after many tribulations and much anticipation.
If nothing else, the group has persevered. While each individual member has gone through a series of life’s peaks and valleys, the group has also suffered the loss of Camu Tao. “We’re here,” Copy says as “Mass Temple” begins. “Fashionably late, by only 14 years…. Meanwhile, we lost a brother.” With such a pronounced loss, the group managed to pick up the pieces, finally releasing a collaborative effort (including Camu). While the project has bright spots, one can also find missteps along their journey back to this get-together.
It should be noted that they didn’t come back alone. Instead, they gathered up more friends to join their reunion party. Atmosphere’s Slug brings a verse and hook to “Satisfied,” Blu drops a strong addition to “Yellow + Blue,” Ill Bill and Slaine drop by on “Addictionary” and Danny Brown brings an extraterrestrial verse to “Spaceship.” Also, the group benefits from diverse production. This comes by way of !llmind’s soulful approach on “Soul Train (of Thought),” which also features Oh No and Marco Polo’s more potent drums on “Obituary.”
Still, while in good company, the group shines on its own as well, particularly on the mournful ode to Camu, “Tero Smith” (produced by RJD2) and the more upbeat (RJD2 produced) “Out of Room.” While the album is solid because of these highlights, it doesn’t quite stand out beyond this. The aforementioned highpoints simply don’t erase the less stellar “Hindsight,” “Columbus Diss Patch,” “Four Player Mode” or “Somewhere.”
Yes, the group has persevered and their reunion can lead to greater albums if they decide to continue on this journey together. For now, MHz Legacy fits the group’s journey quite well with strong highlights and a few struggles along the way. All that said, their journey doesn’t have to be over and the future for this longtime alliance could be even brighter, with this album being a guiding light of hope.
this album is better then what this reviewer is saying, the tracks u mentioned as flops are actually decent, fuck u talking baout, go listen to some internet hype like kendrick lamar or some garbage like machine gun kelly, kendrick lamar is garbage so is the next guy, good hip hop never gets the accolades it deservves
haha I bet your favorite genre is “real hip hop” too, yabish.
Kendrick Lamar destroys Copywrite.
Kendrick Lamar is cool, but he doesn’t got shit on copy. The MHz prove REAL HIP HOP is still alive!!! isadumb is a dumb ass that doesn’t know a sneeze from a wet fart!!! HAHA
I like Kendrick but you crazy if you think he can eat Copywrite….incorrect.
Hahaha, the 2nd commenter…
You are what’s wrong with this fucking music nowadays, you bitch. Keep smoking that opium pipe, kendrick can’t hold a match to Copy.
lol wut/10
I think this review is a bit low/off. Perhaps I’m nostalgic cause I liked the group as a kid, but 4/5 seems better than 3.5 (especially if Skyzoo and MelloHype are making 4’s by your standards).
The last paragraph is pretty pointless too. Literally.
HEY JERIMIAH….SHUT THE FUCK UP
Whoops, I was mistaken (MelloHype). But Skyzoo, really?
Deserves 4 or more.
Fuck u talking baout, go listen to some internet hype like kendrick lamar or some garbage like machine gun kelly, kendrick lamar is garbage so is the next guy, good hip hop never gets the accolades it deservves
^Cosign
Not bad..
Average
Copywrite’s “Gone” verse was insane. “Tero Smith” & “Yellow and Blue”s beats are “perfect”. Album deserves 4.5/5 -4 at least-. Thank you for “real good” HIP HOP.
5 stars for “yellow and blue” alone. This was a solid album… Atleast a 4/5 not a 3.5
“Bane(Acid Reign)”
http://www.pmpworldwide.com/producer_detail.cfm?p=4C31F03E-FB9A-A1F5-2270DD30DAA97EE9&trackID=B8E89286-980D-FC95-3B6E2E35EF231DF7&
sounds goood, hot production!!!
How often does HipHopDX give less than 3 1/2 stars!?!? The ratings here are USELESS!!!!!!!
I think 3.5 is a bit off…prolly deserves a 4……but really…even tho their a crew….copywrite would hav dun better juss releasing a solo wit these beats…everybody else in his crew is a distant 3rd…(see Obituaries)…skill level is crazy…
Glad they released their first debut album hopefully they continue even with the lost of Camu Tao. Hip-Hop Monks UNITE! Mhz
Def a solid album 4/5. And the people saying KL is garbage are just fools. You may not like him because you have a different OPINION about what “real hip hop” is but dont come on here talking that hatin bullshit. You sound like whining little children.
Haha I remember Camu and Pete(Copy) when they had snotty noses. Them two were inseparable and the most dedicated rappers I can think of. They never quite caught that break but yet they never stopped trying. Now Camu R.I.P was a beast on them tracks. We used to sit in my room banging out beats on Fruity Loops 3 at the time. He would select some of my beats that I thought were throw aways and make it crack. The boy was dumb fast on the MPC too. I miss them days. Pete keep doing your thing bruh.
Matter of fact I used to have to kick them out the pad, because they were addicted to Golden Eye on N64. It’s crazy reading about them. Hahaha!
like real hip hop? check out these beats. similar to El-P.
http://soundcloud.com/knowselfzone
Amazing cop it
Good review.
I think this album is excellent cant make the low score out at all u guess it just boils down to opinion and hes opinion sucks great album one if the best alvums of 2012
Great album ….they evolved as artist.