Yah Mos Def (The) - Plays Ugly for Suckers EP

Name: Yah Mos Def (The) 
Album: Plays Ugly for Suckers EP
Year: 2005
Style: Rap-Rock
Similar Bands: Armalite, Low Budgets, Beastie Boys, Suburban Hoodz, Zebrahead
"One-Word" Review:
Based Out Of: Philadelphia
Label: N/A

Cover, Back, CD Back, CD

Lyrics

Plays Ugly for Suckers EP (2005)

1. New Direction 2:52
2. Global Liberation Army 2:02
3. I'm Gonna Be Under Your Bed 2:38
4. Jive Like Jehu 2:29
5. Scoty Biebin Owes Me Money 3:36

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Distro (Rick Mitchell) - Vox,  (The Clocks, S Prcess, Capital Action)
• xB.Aewsomex (Brian Poerner) - Vox (Hour of the Star, Track Star Records, 
• Joey Sweeney - Photo
• Mr Mike Robinson (King God) - Production
• Pink Skull - Production
• Krash - Recording, Mastering (Krash Is King Shit)

Unknown-ness: I had seen the band's name around the Philly scene for Khyber (picture was from there) or North Star Bar shows back in the early-mid 00's but never saw them. So picked this up at AKA records for a dollar to see what I was missing, but never even put this in to listen to. So not sure, but i imagine it will be some interesting high intensity synth collages, jokey stuff, and maybe an indie take on hip-hop, as the name hints.

Album Review: The Philly duo loves their classic punk and in this outfit, lays rap vocals, many Philly-centric, over the well worn tracks. Then persuaded to change their name from the rapper with the same name, YMD began with one album in 2008. This EP precedes it. The duo reunited in 2014, too. And recently, Brian Poerner became the CEO of North American's Diadaro market (Feb'24).

Included in the local lyrics added are Mike Schmidt, Killtime, Bryn Mawr, (Joey) Sweeney and all the neighborhoods as well as some dated lyrics about The Wire and borrowed lines from Ween and Bikini Kill. The dual lyricists do call back to the Beastie Boys with their different intensities, pitches and rhyme styles. And as advertised, the rapid fire lyrics overtop guitar loops work as well as any synth sample.

Stand Out Track: Jive Like Jehu

Links:

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XPN Reunite

Comedy Minus One

Poerner: NA pres of Diadora