Styles P Cooks Up 'Raw' Hip-Hop With Scram Jones On Float

Styles P may not make beats, but he knows a thing or two about great hip-hop production. The Yonkers, New York, MC made his bones in the studio with Diddy as one-third of the LOX in the late 1990s and then worked with Swizz Beatz on their 2000 sophomore album We Are the Streets.

Now the Ghost is prepping a new album, produced entirely by Scram Jones, and even if you've never heard of the underground board banger, just take Styles' word for it: he's pretty damn good.

"I think Scram Jones brings a raw element of hip-hop to the table. I think he brings what the core of a producer is about, which is making a beat to fit the MC," Styles told on Tuesday.

On April 20, P will be releasing Float, a 12-track hip-hop ride produced entirely by Scram. Jones has laid tracks for Fat Joe, Raekwon and Scarface, he also contributed to Lloyd Banks' multiplatinum debut The Hunger For More and the Notorious B.I.G.'s posthumous Duets: The Final Chapter. He also rhymes and DJs, adding to the confidence that Styles puts in him. "He's really in tune with the party scene, hip-hop scene and the golden era," Styles said promising that Float will thrive with raw sonic elements associated with 1990s hip-hop.

New York rap pillars Jadakiss, N.O.R.E. and Raekwon all make appearances on the LP. The album's first single "Hater Love" features P's LOX rhyme partner Sheek Louch. On it, they explore the complex relationship with their biggest detractors, but of course it's more guns than roses. "Small talk is irrelevant, gun will kill an elephant," Styles spits over Scram's menacing drum knock.

"It's hard and very annoying to deal with hate, but having an understanding that hate has to come from love or admiration or envy or jealously made it real simple to make 'Hater Love,' " he said. "Even the haters love it or they wouldn't say anything to you."

What is your favorite Styles P song? Let us know in the comments!