Just as H2O mentioned in his Classic Material write up for De La Soul’s classic De La Soul Is Dead album in that no De La Soul album had been previously selected for the column, the same can be said about Mobb Deep. Searching back from the start of the Classic Material column, no Mobb Deep albums are to be found and a column as prestige wouldn’t be complete without at least one. That’s where Mobb Deep’s second album The Infamous comes into play and fits perfectly among the previously selected albums. 1995 in the Hip-Hop world featured a lot of classic album releases (Liquid Swords, Return Of The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, Livestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous, Only Built For Cuban Linx, Doe Or Die…) and this album can be included in that listing.

The public knew little about the duo of Havoc and Prodigy from Queens after their debut album Juvenile Hell was released two years earlier in 1993, but that would all change after the second album release. What was minimally achieved on their debut album would be the strongest point of their second album, and that was Havoc and Prodigy giving the listener a vivid portrayal and description of their dwelling in Queens. A dark and sinister mood is provided with tracks “Shook Ones, Pt. II”, “Survival Of The Fittest”, and “Eye For An Eye (Your Beef Is Mines)” that take you into the depths of the street life and its daily operations filled with drugs, violence, and ultimately survival. Other than Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) released two years prior, no other album was delivered with such a dark theme and presence about it.

Throughout the album Mobb Deep deliver lyrics spanning a range of topics such as prison (“Up North Trip”), setup (“Trife Life”), fake gangsters/crooks (“Shook Ones, Pt. II”), drinking (“Drink The Pain Away”), and survival (“Survival Of The Fittest”). The songs on this album flow smoothly from one to the next because of the unified production provided by producers Havoc and Q-Tip. As mention previously pertaining to Common’s Resurrection album, it’s this type of unity in both the production and lyrics that allows the album to fit together so precise. This is one major aspect that is missing from a lot of Hip-Hop/Rap albums released nowadays and is really only achieved by working with only one or two producers throughout the entire project. This album can be acknowledged for producing one of the greatest songs in Hip-Hop history in terms of “Shook Ones, Pt. II”. From the subtle instrumental build up at the start of this song it is instantly recognized and Mobb Deep’s lyrics make it complete (it’s no wonder Eminem selected this track for the final freestyle battle scene in 8 Mile). You can be the most humble person in the world, but there’s no denying that the menacing piano keys and pounding drums will stir up feelings of aggression and anger while listening.

For the most part that is what makes this album such a classic 14 years later and why it hasn’t been duplicated by Mobb Deep five album releases later. With this album Mobb Deep brought you into their world and introduced you to their way of living. If you never lived and/or grew up in the hood you got a taste and feeling of the life just from listening to this album, and if you did you were just able to relate with this album and its content even more. Ultimately The Infamous expounded upon Nas’ lyrical storytelling and vivid depictions on Illmatic and presented you with the 41st Side version (read: dark/gritty) of Queens that wasn’t seen with its pioneers Marley Marl, MC Shan, and others.

By now, you have probably heard The Game go at Jay-Z pretty hard in a freestyle in Madrid, Spain..if not, check out the video. The Game taking shots at Jigga isn’t a new thing, he does it from time to time, but ALWAYS takes it back after throwing a jab or two. So with this latest attack I am skeptical about drinking the kool-aid. Let’s face it, the Game can match bars with Jay. There is no question about that, if you deny it, you are lying to yourself. If Game would go at Jay with the same tenacity that he went at Bleek, Budden, Ja, and 50 with, he might can lay the old man down. The time is now, Jay is ripe for the picking. It is time for one of these new school cats challenge Jay and win. The Game might be the one to do it. The old guard must pass it on to the next generation.

My questions to Game: ARE YOU FOR REAL THIS TIME? By the time I post this I hope you have not  issued an apology and said that you was just playing to the crowd and didn’t really mean it. You did call out the man wife..so I’m expecting Jay to really have something for your ass in the next week or so. BE READY. Second question: WHY DO YOU DO MOST OF YOUR DISSES OVERSEAS? What’s up with that? You talking greasy in Europe, but when you get back stateside, you make it seem like you was just “messing around”. When you get back home, can we expect more disses?

So Game, if you are going to do it…GO ALL THE WAY IN. (PAUSE) Make history, this could be one of the best lyrical battles in a minute. Do it for all those that came before you but came up short. Do it for Jaz-O, who simply was upset because the dude he brought in the game became WAY more successful than him. Do it for Prodigy, while I know you and him aren’t like that anymore, but do it because he put pictures of a “gangsta” rapper in a ballerina suit. Do it for Nas, who was involved in a CLASSIC battle with Jigga,and (depending on who you ask) beat him and to turn around and kiss his ring like Superman did Lord Zod and WORK for him! Do it for Dame. No explanation needed on this one.

I would love to see these two go back and forth..could be EPIC, as long as The Game is serious and Jay takes the bait. WE SHALL SEE!

Download: The Game – “I’m So Wavy”

Download: The Alchemist – “Hold You Down”

With Prodigy off the scene currently serving a three-year bid for gun charges, one half of Mobb Deep decided to leave us with an album to bump while he’s doing his time. Being eight years since he released H.N.I.C. back in 2000, does Prodigy still hold claim to the title of being the “Head Nigga In Charge” or is just another nigga serving in the game.

Real Power Is People
Produced by Sid Roams
Prodigy comes out the gate with a straight banger on the opening track. The beat is definitely knockin’ and Prodigy’s lyrics are on point. G.O.D. = Gold, Oil, Drugs (That’s some interesting shit). Prodigy is off to a good start on Part 2.

The Life
Produced by The Alchemist
Prodigy hooks up with a familiar contact in The Alchemist for a beat on this track. The track is grimy with that signature Alchemist sound that fits Mobb Deep so well, so Prodigy is right at home on this one. This track kind of lost some of the album’s energy from the first track though.

Young Veterans
Produced by The Alchemist
On another track provided by Alchemist (he produces five on this album), Prodigy comes correct over a nicely sampled beat. This track picks back up the album’s pace where the first track left off at. Nice track by Prodigy.

Illuminati
Produced by The Alchemist
We have yet another track by Alchemist as he delivers three in a row for Prodigy. While the first two tracks from Alchemist fit Prodigy and the mood of the album, this one is far left. Prodigy sounds decent over this track but it doesn’t really fit together. He should have given P something much darker for this track to fit the track title and the way Prodigy was trying to go. He should have sampled the chorus as well from his verse on “I Shot Ya”, it would have sounded much better. This track is a SKIP.

New Yitty
Produced by Sid Roams
Now this is what I’m talking about. Sid Roams put us back in that grimy mood for the album with this track he produced. Sid Roams is a familiar one on this album with Alchemist, as he produces 5 tracks as well. Prodigy fits comfortably spitting rhymes over this beat as it flows very well. P fell off for a minute but he’s back on track with this one.

ABC
Produced by Sid Roams
Prodigy keeps it going and continues where he left of with the previous track. Another track from Sid Roams that fits P nicely. The only thing that I don’t like about this track is the weak chorus (“A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P…”). Come on P, you must come more creative than some shit like that. Other than that this is a decent track from Prodigy.

Click Clack
Featuring Big Twinz; Produced by Sid Roams
DAMN! Now Sid Roams really came correct with the ill beat that he provided on this track. The smooth track is still gritty enough for Prodigy and the featured Big Twinz to do work. This track is definitely on repeat and goes hard. This track is perfect for late nights ridin’ in the whip. This album would have been near classic with more tracks and beats like this one.

Veteran’s Memorial Part II
Produced by The Alchemist
Alchemist brings it back to where it belongs in terms of the beat after his misstep on “Illuminati”. Prodigy’s lyrics go good with the beat as he does some reminiscing about his homies that have passed on but wishes they were back with him. This is a nice track that does its job and serves its purpose in paying respect to those gone on.

Field Marshall P
Featuring Un Pacino; Produced by Havoc
Finally we get a track produced by Prodigy’s partner in crime and other half, Havoc. Havoc hooks up a good beat that goes well with Prodigy and Un Pacino’s lyrics, but the beat gets monotonous after a while. This causes the song to become somewhat boring after a while. The skip button will probably be hit before you get to Un Pacino’s verse. This is a decent track.

3 Stacks
Featuring Big Twinz; Produced by Sid Roams
Prodigy brings back in the Big Twinz for another Sid Roams produced track. Roams produces a decent beat on this one and it works for the track. This track is average, but doesn’t compare to the “Click Clack” they all were on previously. LOL, it was funny to hear P put his twist on some Biz Markie lyrics in this song though. Y’all Biz fans will know what I’m talking about when you hear them.

When I See You
Produced by Apex
On this track Prodigy gets a beat provided by Apex of “I Get Money” fame. The beat from Apex is pretty average, nothing special like his previous famed work. Prodigy is able to flow comfortably on the track, but he’s not saying much of anything. This track is pretty boring and is a SKIP for me.

It’s Nothing
Featuring Big Noyd; Produced by The Alchemist
On the last beat provided on the album from Alchemist he finishes off strongly on this track. Prodigy takes time to give Big Noyd a spot on the album coming off a good song in “Things Done Changed”. Big Noyd does his thing in kicking off the song, as P comes after him finish the song in good fashion.

I Want Out
Featuring Havoc & Un Pacino; Produced by Havoc
Arriving at the last track of the album, Havoc produced a beat that really fits the only Mobb Deep connection on the entire album. All three emcees spit nice rhymes over the dark track provided by Hav. This is a good track to close out the album.

ABC (Vox Spanish Remix)
Produced by Sid Roams
This is the bonus track on the album in a remix vox Spanish version of “ABC”. The difference between this track and the original version on the album are the Spanish lyrics inserted with Prodigy’s verses. The track isn’t really much different from the original besides that fact as the beat and shitty chorus is still present.

Bottom Line:
This album from Prodigy is ultimately an average release from him in comparison to his past two previous solo releases in H.N.I.C. and Return Of The Mac. This album will definitely hold over hardcore Prodigy fans during his three-year bid until he’s able to record and release some new solo and Mobb Deep material. That’s really the biggest damage with him doing time in jail, knowing that there won’t be any new Mobb Deep material until his release unless they recorded some before he went in. While this album isn’t on the same level as H.N.I.C. with tracks like “Keep It Thoro”, “Can’t Complain”, or “Three”, it does offer some gems to be found within listening. Overall, even though Prodigy initially claimed the “Head Nigga In Charge” title, with him away from the game now there might be a new nigga runnin’ things.

nappy Picks: “Click Clack”, “I Want Out”, “Real Power Is People”, “Veteran’s Memorial Part II”

Download: Prodigy – “Real Power Is People”

Prodigy returns to solo form with the follow up to his respectable H.N.I.C., providing us with Return of the Mac. Prodigy provides the listener with a completely self contained CD devoid of commercial beats and high profile collaborations. The entire soundscape of the CD sounds reminiscent of the glorious mid 90’s New York sound. This may in fact be the albums blessing and curse due to the fact that “real” New York shit isn’t exactly the most popular form of rap these days. Having said that, Prodigy maintains his integrity and represents New York and the lifestyle every second that it’s available to him. Let’s see if his shoulders are strong enough to hold up the New York sound so that the whole world can appreciate it.

1. The Mac Is Back Intro
Completely uninspired and brings nothing to the table artistically or pop culture wise. It’ pretty much a juxtaposition of song references to The Mack.

2. Return of the Mac
Prodigy starts the album representing New York to the fullest with a track that ironically samples Tupac’s voice. Ironic due to the fact that towards the end of his career, Tupac was a west coast representer and a devout enemy of Mobb Deep (Prodigy’s rap group).

3. Stuck On You
One of those clichéd song glorifying money, hoes, guns, etc…. Not much in terms of creativity.

4. Mac 10 Handle
Normally this would be considered a stand out track on the album but it suffers due to the fact that DMX used the exact same beat nine years ago and did a much better song. Despite this, Prodigy does an okay job of providing material to cover the beat with.

5. Down & Out in New York
A 32 second skit (nothing more, nothing less)

6. The Rotten Apple
Another attempt by Prodigy at sharing the pain and desperation of New York’s grime and crime scene. Nothing spectacular, just a semi-documentary view on living in the Rotten Apple.

7. Madge Speaks
Uninspired; really doesn’t add anything to the album in terms of art or creativity. By all means skip it.

8. Take It to the Top
One of the few energetic songs off the album. It does the necessary job of bestowing upon us the typical themes celebrating drugs and violence.

9. P Speaks
Skip it please

10. 7th Heaven
One of the few stand-out tracks from the CD. It’s actually well rounded (nice production/nice lyrics and delivery).

11. Bang on ‘Em
Everything about this song reminds the listener of that grimy, self deprecating production and word play that was birthed around 94′. It provides the listener indirect references to the era that Biggie rapped about being sick of life and wanting to commit suicide on the Ready To Die album.

12. Nickel and a Nail
Another Alchemist produced track. More predictable tough guy talk from Prodigy. What makes that track interesting that it comes from the perspective of the common thug and not the super baller.

13. Legends
One of the better songs of the album. The production, lyrics and delivery make the whole song feel authentic and sincere.

14. Stop Fronting
Another one of those songs where there is an heir of believability to it. It feels like and authentic look into a rapper/celebrities plight. It gives some insight to why they are so jaded.

Bottom Line:
The album is at best in the middle ground of current Hip-Hop offerings. It doesn’t quite hold weight and power in the era of super producers, ego maniacs, pop appeal and soap opera antics. Despite this, if you are looking for some unfiltered Hip-Hop that’s reminiscent of the era when Biggie spit, then this album may be what you need.

nappy Picks: “Return of the Mac”, “Mac 10 Handle”, “7th Heaven”, “Bang On ‘Em”, & “Legends”

Download: Prodigy – “7th Heaven“