Credit: Alamy

Some hip-hop anthems simply can’t be touched. However, there are some that only become anthems when they are hit with the remix. One need only look at Bysta Rhymes‘ classic ‘Touch It (Remix)’ for what can be achieved when inviting a whole host of rappers to spit a verse on an iconic beat. The same happened for MOP, after their 2000 hit ‘Ante Up’ was infiltrated by a cacophony of great emcees.

Featuring the talents of MOP alongside Busta Rhymes, Teflon, and the illustrious Remy Ma, the song has become an anthem for a generation hyped by the record. But while there are many great artists on the tune, Remy Ma got her way onto the song in a less than-conventional way.

Zilla Rocca said of the track: “It’s a saying that we got from my mother, every time someone comes through the door she’s like, ‘Where it’s at? Ante up.’ Just the fact that we took it from the street corner—there was two meaning to the record. It was ante up, we’ve been in this game too long you guys see how we demolish the stage, how we make short work of the main major artists when we get on their records and you still won’t give us the props and the recognition that we deserve.”

When MOP were puttng the song together, Remy Ma found a unique way to finesses her place on the track. Rather than agree to being on there, the rapper found a spot in MOP’s studio and began writing her rhymes, knowing if the duo heard them, they would be hard to turn down.

Billy Danze, one half of MOP, had no idea Remy Ma would be on the track until she had already recorded her verse: “When I walk in the studio, it’s blaring. She’s sitting up on the top of the couch and s**t, sitting there bobbing to her s**t. I go play it back. S**t is fire though,” he remembered. “She bullied her way onto the record, basically. And I’m glad she bullied her way onto the record.”

Ma’s verse is undeniably brilliant, as is Busta Rhymes’ ad-libs. However, the song almost featured another East Coast legend on it. Prodigy was set to feature on the number but his verse was cut after it became clear he was using it to take shots at Jay-Z. MOP didn’t want to be a part of any beef so wisely removed Prodigy’s bars.

The two rappers had a long-running feud, but thankfully squashed their beef before Prodigy passed away: “[Prodigy] obviously had a sickness and there’s no control of what happened to him. But we have to take care of ourselves. We really do,” noted Jay. “These guys are dying young. We have to focus on that. I had super respect for Prodigy. In order for me to spar with you, really spar, I gotta respect you in some way. I gotta respect you. I sampled him on my first album, so you know I was aware of him and had a respect him.”

While Prodigy was cut, Remy Ma’s verse was kept on the ‘Ante Up’ remix and has gone down in history because of it. And all it took was a little bit of bullying.