What makes Megadef by Styles of Beyond notable?

Megadef received positive critical reception and showcased the group's distinctive lyrical prowess, cementing their place in underground hip-hop. The album features collaborations with notable artists and contributed to the rise of the alternative rap movement in the early 2000s, influencing contemporaries and later acts. Released in 2003, Megadef is Styles of Beyond's second studio album, following their debut, 2000's 2000 Years Later. At this point in their career, they had established themselves within the underground hip-hop scene, contributing to projects like Fort Minor while refining their unique sound.

How many songs are on Megadef?

Megadef has 14 tracks, running approximately 47 minutes.

Megadef

Styles of Beyond · 2003

47 min · 14 tracks · underground hip-hop

A dynamic fusion of sharp lyricism and eclectic beats, capturing the spirit of early 2000s underground hip-hop.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Megadef — This title track exemplifies the album's thematic focus on self-identity and ambition, featuring intricate wordplay that showcases the duo's lyrical dexterity.
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Pay Me — With its catchy hook and hard-hitting verses, this track illustrates the tension between aspiration and reality, making it a standout example of their storytelling ability.
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Superstars / Gigantor — The ambitious closing track merges introspective lyrics with experimental production, representing both a culmination of the album's themes and a bold creative statement.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

53 /100

Foothills

Higher than 40% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong lyricism and varied beats but lacks a fully cohesive flow across its length.

What we noticed

The album opens with a brief intro that sets a tone before diving into the title track, which features rapid-fire verses and layered production.
Several tracks incorporate varied tempos and shifts in beat, particularly noticeable in 'Mr. Brown' and 'Outta Control', which contrast sharply with the more laid-back 'Be Your Dog'.
The lyrics throughout are dense and intricate, often featuring multi-syllabic rhymes and internal rhyme schemes that demand attentive listening.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Intro 1:07
2 Megadef 2:31
3 Mr. Brown 3:33
4 You Lose 3:17
5 Interlude 0:12
6 Be Your Dog 3:37
7 Pay Me 4:33
8 Outta Control 4:06
9 Bleach 3:11
10 Playin With Fire 3:49
11 Live Enough 3:27
12 Round 'em Up 4:01
13 Eurobiks 2:56
14 Superstars / Gigantor 7:09

What to play next

Listen next

Razor Tag

2007

Go back to

2000 Fold

1998

Full Styles of Beyond discography Artists like Styles of Beyond

underground hip-hop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata