DMP: Dollars Mean Profit For These Cats

Feature: DMP
Album: “Dollars Mean Profit” LP


By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief
April 15, 2007

Hailing from Ashbury Park, Newark, old school meets new school, five-person hip-hop act DMP; whose new self-titled LP, “Dollars Mean Profit,” released fall ’06 bring conscious hip-hop a new name with songs ranging from street life to bettering the African-American communities in America.

“So old school but oh so different,” says DMP on their song, entitled, “Everyday.”

Crafty and talented, these five lyricists, all ranging in age between 26 and 27-years-old, made up of J.J. Budget [starving artist], Rob Relish [producer], Vernon Stones [producer], Filth Spot and Tony Black are on their way up in the independent industry with talented songs such as, “It Was All A Dream,” reminiscent of a Beastie Boys sound with old school sampling, bringing the hustle and grind out in the open. This song is important to the album because it shows people about the limited opportunities that are available to men in poverty-ridden areas.

“I would say our sound is vintage, an inverted version of old school hip-hop with a feel for today,” explains Vernon Stones.

One track, entitled, “Skit,” is a parody of Wheel of Fortune and features young black men from poor, black neighborhoods who receive prizes from the show that echo their lives such as a weekend stay at the local Comfort Plaza…Inn along with two tricks [turned out prostitutes/women who sleep around], years worth of child support and ½ pound of weed. When they win money on the show, it is small amounts like, $10 per spin. This “Skit,” is to show the unfortunate side of these communities, illustrated through a parody-light.

DMP brings the old school styles of Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, Beastie Boys and even a slight KRS-1 and RUN DMC up to date and rock shows with their original beats and tight sampling as well as a political edge that is necessary in hip-hop.

Staying “grounded in the roots of hip-hop and still be[ing] innovative with a new, fresh sound,” according to Tone Black is what keeps DMP on their hip-hop level.

“We want to establish a credible name for ourselves in the industry as individuals and as a group. We want our names to be associated with what hip-hop is,” declares Vernon Stones who first wanted to be an actor but then took the emcee route when his brother persuaded him to get involved in hip-hop 10 years ago.

Recently, aside aggressive weekly mini-tours and merchandise selling at venues throughout the New York City, DMP signed a promotional distribution act with Mondo Distribution to sell their LPs in Tower Records and M1 stores in the Philippines.

Online, DMP fans can grab albums at http://www.CDBaby.com, http://www.itunes.com, http://www/rhapsody.com, http://www.audiolaunch.com to name a few.

“Our record is going to be on the same shelves as all the major releases,” says Relish who originally is from Puerto Rico and moved to NY when he was a child then on to New Jersey until he was 17-years-old.

DMP’s fan base is made up of “sick, drug-addicted degenerates who continue to press crowds with their presence,” jokes Relish, “Hopefully it grows beyond the weirdo’s who come to our shows now. I’m just kidding Mom!”

The guys have been emceeing it up since ’96 and have been featured on various albums but never created an album until ’06. An as-of-yet untitled follow-up album will be released summer ’07.

“They’ll disagree but we were not ready mentally, financially or business-wise until ’06 when our record was released. Up until that point, we were only worried about partying and getting pussy,” explains Relish.

“Actually, my dream as a kid was to play football for Notre Dame. Then one day, I smoked weed and all the sudden I wanted to be a rapper! I would have been a bad ass football player,” teases Relish.

Check out DMP and see if their musical slogan, “the music that’ll make ya grandmomma smack a dummy,” is correct for yourself! Learn more about DMP at http://www.verserecordings.com and http://www.myspace.com/dollarsmeanprofit.