Brooklyn's Teflon burst on the scene in the late '90s with first family M.O.P. After some time away from the game, Tef returns with 2 Sides To Every Story, a full length project produced by DJ Premier and Jazimoto. The 14 track project, which drops today (6/30), features guest appearances by M.O.P. and Benny The Butcher.

In an exclusive interview with Rock The Bells, Teflon says that it was second nature to jump right back in after taking a hiatus from music.

"Music has always just been a part of me so even during times when I’m not consciously trying to make a song, my creative juices are still at work," he explains. He continues between laughs, "This has all been second nature. If I hear a sound that stays in my head, lyrics just come and sometimes I would catch myself just flowing in my head and be like, 'oh shit, what did I just say, I gotta remember that.'”

Teflon says that the politics of the industry soured him on the business, but the way that music is distributed today gives him more creative freedom.

"I did fall back because of the politics, which are still messy," he says. "It’s just that now, with being independent and having direct access to fans, you have more freedom to release the type of music you want, when you want. Only thing is, social media and streaming platforms are still controlled by the big dollar which gives big corps the power to regulate who gets more light, and where your music is placed."

M.O.P. reunites with Teflon on the Jazimoto produced "Know Our Way Around" and "The Thoro Side" produced by Preemo. Lil Fame is featured on the Jazimoto banger "It Is What It Is". It's a full circle moment for Tef whose name has been heavily linked to M.O.P.'s discography since their '96 album Firing Squad.

Teflon has a relationship with M.O.P. that goes back three decades. Billy Danze tells Rock The Bells that the fact that they have a history and friendship that was nurtured in Brownsville before music makes working together effortless.

"Our relationship dates back 30 years," Danze explains. "It’s also easy cutting records with Tef...you just know it's going to be dope because the chemistry is magic." Fame echoes Billy Danze, "Definitely, one thing about my team we always support each other so making music is easy. I’m always amped when we’re in the studio together. I knew Tef way back before we was doing music. We all grew up on the hill in Brownsville together!"

"We grew up together from when we were kids up on the Hill in Brownsville," Tef explains. "We did our ‘tours of duty’ so to speak together, and always held the block down. From Saratoga to St. Marks. The name M.O.P derived from there so we never really considered ourselves just a group. I guess that’s why there’s a longevity here that you don’t see with a lot of 'groups' that came out when we did. We are family, brothers, and have been for years, way before the music. So even if we don’t see each other in a while, when we do hook up, it always a family vibe, like hooking back up with your kinfolk at the family BBQ. So whenever we hit the booth and make music, that fire is still there."

Jazimoto produced seven tracks on 2 Sides To Every Story and she explained the source of her cinematic productions to Rock The Bells.

"I play everything you hear," she says. "I am a classically trained musician (violin and piano). Since I was three years old I’ve taken private lessons and attended conservatories. I use all live instruments and I play all the drums you hear, no chopped samples or drum loops. My early influences as far as producers go include Quincy Jones, Prince, Berry Gordy, John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, DJ Premier, and J Dilla."

She credits her father and uncle as musical teachers and influencers.

"From my uncle and dad passing, I knew I had to stay focused on my music," she says. "They were the ones that gave me structure and molded me to the person I am today. My uncle Butch and my dad had a huge impact on me when I was little. Teaching me sound, tonality, rhythm, pitch. etc. That's why, I'm so meticulous about my music production."

Jazimoto explains that her affiliation with M.O.P. dates back to 2009. "I met M.O.P. at the Rock The Bells in 2009. Bill heard my music before that, and when I saw them performing in San Bernardino he asked me to come up on stage. It was priceless. I’ve been working with M.O.P. ever since. I produced 'Shake Em Up' off their Street Certified LP from 2014."

DJ Premier explained that some of the tracks that he produced for 2 Sides To Every Story originally were for a shelved Def Jam project. "Tef had a brief deal at Def Jam when we started recording the album," he recalls. "When some of the execs were leaving the label we were given the option to take our masters with us. We updated a couple of songs and created brand new ones, with the help of Jazimoto. Now Tef and I own the masters on a 50/50 split."

Premier also detailed his long history with Teflon. "I first met Tef back when we were in New Jersey at a show with BIGGIE (R.I.P.). Lil Fame had just produced his first demo and was playing it backstage on a boom box. I liked his voice and rhyme style delivery. Then M.O.P. had a show at Wetlands downtown on the west side of NYC. Tef came onstage to warm the stage up for them and his stage presence was so on point I immediately told him we should record together. First record we did was, 'Firing Squad.' It continued from there."

On "Contraband," DJ Premier utilizes his trademark technique of scratching various vocal pieces from classic rap songs to form a hook. He explains the process to Rock The Bells.

"My process is simple,"Premier explains. "It comes from hearing so many incredible records during the ’80s era. Understanding how the deejay was incorporated in these songs, I was able to adopt my own version of continuing the approach. I usually search for vocal snippets from the name of the song, the lyrics or subject matter, and sometimes the artist gives me a scratch idea. Guru, Jay-Z and BIG have done that."

Tefon explains the meaning by 2 Sides To Every Story. "Most people know me as an underground artist, but this is only partially who I am," he says. "Yes, I definitely rep the streets, but I also have personable traits that need to be on display to get a full picture of who I truly am. 2 Sides To Every Story allows me to illustrate that over the production of both Preem and Jazimoto. They both deliver different styles; Preem who caters to the traditional boom bap sound, and Jazi who creates these melodically orchestrated compositions that helps showcase my creative reach. It also gives me a chance to put the spotlight on 420 Music’s flagship producer, who I think is the missing piece and will end up filling that void in today’s music game."

He says he's been thinking about returning to music for a while, but was finally motivated to start creating, mostly because music drives him creatively.

"I’ve been teetering on my return to the game for a while," he says. "After all, when you love something, you can’t stay away from it forever. When I met Jazimoto, we clicked immediately and our styles complimented each other organically. It was the total fit that I had been looking for, that’s when I knew the time was right to jump back in."

Stream 2 Sides To Every Story here, and buy physical copies here.