Ras Kass, Method Man, Lil Fame & RJ Payne Roll On MCs
Ras Kass knows a thing about super-groups. The Southern California veteran MC co-founded HRSMN with Kurupt, Killah Priest, and Canibus 25 years ago. He also linked with Xzibit and Saafir for several memorable songs, amid onetime reports of an album in the works.
In 2024, Razzy Kazzy has teamed Philly-by-way-of-Brooklyn battle MC RJ “The Reign Man” Payne—who Heads know from his solo albums, along with work by Benny The Butcher, Erick Sermon, and Method Man. The two MCs are join the legendary Havoc to produce the upcoming GUTTR album (planned for May 3 release). In a press statement, Ras Kass said, “We all miss Prodigy and that classic Mobb Deep energy, there is no replacing that or him period.” He continued, “While we can’t replace him, I wanted to pay homage to them and channel that vibe. Havoc being on board to set the musical canvas on an entire album for brothers to paint these bars has been the opportunity of a lifetime.”
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The lead single, “Roll Call” released today (March 29) and is currently atop the Ambrosia For Heads playlist (follow here). The song features star-studded guests in Method Man and M.O.P.’s Lil Fame, along with some words from legendary radio host and Hip-Hop personality Sway Calloway. Ras Kass raps first, with cutting wordplay including a jab at Tekashi 6ix9ine, and shouting out Payne. Method Man spits next. “Son of a gun, feel like Marvin Gaye on a Father’s Day / Won’t bite my tongues, and these raps is blacker than marmalade / A two-piece with a biscuit, but this is different than mama made / Ya boy gifted, in fact, I’m probably ya mama age / Put pen to page, I done pulled a pin out of my grenade.” Meth’ digs in to remind people he made his fame without dissing others, and maintains his status as one of the nicest MCs.
RJ Payne raps third, coming in with a revved-up flow. “Get a load of me, give ’em poetry / I been gettin’ busy since Diddy was still with Jodeci / N___as ain’t know that by dissin’ they still promoted me / Been dope since n___as was still gettin’ b___hes still on the rotary,” he spits. Lil Fame of M.O.P. raps last, packing his menacing brand of punchlines almost 30 years to the week after To The Death. Sway closes things out for gravitas.
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The upcoming Fat Beats-distributed GUTTR album will reportedly also feature Raekwon, Kurupt, Twista, and Kid Capri.
The AFH playlist (follow it here) also includes selections from Redman and Potatohead People, Snoop Dogg and DJ Premier, ScHoolboy Q, Ransom & Harry Fraud, and others.
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#BonusBeat: In 2016, Ambrosia For Heads interviewed Ras Kass about the 20th anniversary of his debut album Soul On Ice: