Toronto, Ontario’s MoSS is one of those longtime producers whose works are immediately known but not easily attributed to a name. With notches under his beatmaker belt that include Obie Trice’s album Special Reserve, Ghostface Killah’s “Kilos” from 2006’s Fishscale, and Raekwon’s “Have Mercy” off of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt II, he’s preparing for the release of November 13’s Marching To The Sound Of My Own Drum, his debut solo album which features AZ, DJ Premier (MoSS was once signed to Preemo’s Works of Mart label), Sean Price, Jon Connor, Skyzoo, Inspectah Deck, Havoc, Onyx, Slum Village, and more.

His lead single, “Kids,” sports heavyweight lyrical contributions from Joell Ortiz, who goes in on MoSS’s production work. Hard-hitting yet soulful, the song is a warning to anybody underestimating those with ambition and an urge to survive (“it ain’t always good where I’m from, these kids will lay you down/They don’t wanna bad, they just want what they don’t have”) and a tale of personal redemption after life’s losses lose their grip on hearts and minds. Press play to hear the straight dope, and pre-order Marching To The Sound Of My Own Drum on iTunes.

Related: AZ, DJ Premier & Joe Budden Put It Down For MoSS’s Breakthrough (Audio)