mobb-deep Archives - New Hip Hop News

Today in Hip-Hop History: Mobb Deep Dropped Their Fifth LP ‘Infamy’ 23 Years Ago

December 11, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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On this date in 2001, NYC kings of crime rhyme Mobb Deep released their fifth full-length studio album entitled Infamy on the Loud/Columbia imprint.

As the QB duo’s first album following their publicized beef on wax with Jay-Z, the controversy helped to bolster the album’s sales, recognized by the RIAA as certified gold, despite being created during the advent of the internet, in an era that will forever be known as ringtone music.

As one of the last full-length projects from the Mobb, Infamy offered up one of the few albums during that era that was approved by the streets as well as the industry. Tracks like “Get Away” and “Hey Luv,” which featured Bad Boy R&B group 112 spearheaded the album to commercial success with a more “acceptable” sound, while tracks like “The Learning (Burn)” featuring Rapper Noyd and Vita is an example of their ability to show you that the Mobb is still “Infamous”.

Salute to Prodigy (RIP), Havoc, Noyd and the rest of the Mobb who helped create this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

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Roots Picnic Is Returning To The Hollywood Bowl With ‘Class Of ’95’ Featuring Lil Kim, Red & Meth, E-40, And More

December 9, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Roots Picnic has been an annual tradition in the band’s hometown, Philadelphia, for the past decade, but this year, they expanded that tradition to the West Coast with a concert at the Hollywood Bowl featuring a slew of rap pioneers like Arrested Development, Black Sheep, Common, Queen Latifah, The Pharcyde, and more. The show was a success, so it’s returning in June 2025 with A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95.

This time around, the lineup consists of acts that had their biggest breakouts in the middle of hip-hop’s golden decade, with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DJ Quik, E-40, Goodie Mob, Havoc of Mobb Deep, Lil’ Kim, Raekwon, and Redman & Method Man all billed to take the stage, backed — as always — by The Roots and Black Thought. As for why they picked 1995 as the focus year, Questlove explains in the press release:

1995 was our true arrival. Nineteen eighty-seven was the Year of the Creative Adhesive, the year that tied together [Black Thought]’s world and my world in high school, and 1991 was the Year of the Green Light, the year we gave ourselves permission to take our resources and passion and pursue our dream. But 1995? That was the Year It All Came Together, the year when our first major release, Do You Want More?!!!??! was sent into the world. Hip-hop was an entirely new ballgame back then, on an entirely new playing field. Those were the days when there were still things like mainstream terrestrial radio, bloated video budgets, and creativity at both the regional and the global levels. Those were the days that produced classic album after classic album, unleashing countless new ideas about art. Those were the days when the world was our oyster. This is the story of those days

A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95 takes place on 6/8/2025. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, December 11, at 10 am PT at hollywoodbowl.com.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Mobb Deep Released Their ‘Hell On Earth’ LP 28 Years Ago

November 20, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 1996, the “infamous” crew from Mobb Deep dropped album number three entitled Hell On Earth. The Mobb-produced project was released under the epic Loud/RCA imprint introduced many of the extended QB/Mobb family including raspy-voiced Twin Gambino, Big Noyd, and a few others. Hav and P enlisted some of the game’s top dogs of the time for this album including their QB brethren Nas, Wu’s Raekwon the Chef, and Method Man.

This certified gold classic was unquestionably a part of the East Coast arsenal against the West Coast during the height of the rivalry, with tracks such as the title track, “Still Shinin’”, and of course, “Drop A Gem On ‘Em”, sending overt threats at Tupac Shakur and his cohorts. Other standout joints include “G.O.D. Pt.III”, where Prodigy drops some street knowledge, “Blood Sport”, and “Give It Up Fast” featuring Noyd and Nas.
This album was also the project that confirmed Havoc’s skills as a producer, which led to several other projects outside of the Mobb.

Salute to P, Hav, Noyd, Gotti, Twin, Ty Nitty, Nas, Rae, Meth, Steve Rifkind, and everyone else involved with this classic album!

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Today In Hip Hop History: Prodigy Dropped His Debut Solo Album ‘H.N.I.C.’ 24 Years Ago

November 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

TodayInHipHopHistory:ProdigyReleasesHisDebutSoloAlbum'H.N.I.C.'YearsAgo

On this day at the turn of the century, Prodigy, the lyrical half of the legendary QB duo Mobb Deep, dropped his debut LP, H.N.I.C., released under the Loud/Violator/Steve Rifkind Co./Infamous Records imprints.

Produced by behind-the-board experts like his partner Havoc, The Alchemist, Rockwilder, and Just Blaze, this album became the first part of the P’s H.N.I.C. (Head Nigga In Charge) trilogy. It also inspired other similar album titles in the 21st century from premiere artists such as Kendrick Lamar (Y.H.N.I.C.) and Wiz Khalifa (O.H.N.I.C.).

Prodigy showed off his versatility on this project, which included love songs(“Trials Of Love”), renewed history tracks (“Infamous Minded”), crew love tracks(“Can’t Complain”, “Dealt With The Bullshit”), and of course, the album-leading, no chorus having “Keep It Thoro”.

Salute to Prodigy in his physical absence, however, his music will forever be etched in Hip Hop History!

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Happy Heavenly 50th Birthday To Mobb Deep’s Prodigy!

November 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Mind Squad would like to send a supreme posthumous born day salute to Albert “Prodigy” Johnson, the lyrical half of the “Infamous” Mobb Deep. In 2017, the Hip-Hop community lost Prodigy in what is recognized as a freak hospital accident, with reports stating that P passed after choking on an egg while hospitalized for his sickle cell condition.

Prodigy will forever be remembered as one of NYC’s powerhouses of the rap game, repping the Rotten Apple in feuds within the five boroughs (Jay-Z, Tru Life) and cross country (Tupac, Crooked I). With his QB partner Havoc, the Hempstead, Long Island native inherited the crown as the king of NYC crime rhyme from his elder Queens comrade Kool G. Rap and upheld his position for over two decades. P’s solo career was stellar in its own right, with his H.N.I.C. trilogy as one of the best solo efforts from an NYC artist who came from a group since Busta Rhymes.

Salute to Prodigy on what would’ve been his 50th birthday, and his contributions through his art and music will maintain his relevance in Hip-Hop forever. R.I.P.!

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Today in Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Fourth LP ‘Murda Muzik’ Turns 25 Years Old!

August 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this day in 1999, Mobb Deep released their fourth LP, Murda Muzik. Coming after a three-year pause and numerous release date push-backs, Murda Muzik did everything but disappoint. Peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart and shipping 1,000,000 copies in the year of its release prove that, commercially this album was a success. The album also earned the #6 spot on the Canadian album charts.

Aside from its monetary success, the album was a hit. During a time in rap when Diddy and Master P were calling the shots, a project of this caliber came with much surprise and admiration. Havoc and Prodigy‘s stark realism and imagery depicting the darker side of the streets brought a necessary contrast to a game flooded with gold watch/diamond chain rap. Havoc’s production style, although the majority unchanged from his previous work, was also a shift away from the norm of the ’99 to 2000. This album has most definitely earned its respect and acclaim.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Fourth LP ‘Murda Muzik’ Turns 25 Years Old! first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Fourth LP ‘Murda Muzik’ Turns 25 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Havoc Pens Heartfelt Tribute To Prodigy On Anniversary Of His Death

June 21, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Havoc and Prodigy changed hip-hop. As Mobb Deep, they perfected the hardcore East Coast sound. They also sold three million records in the process, making them one of the most respected duos in the genre’s history. Havoc and Prodigy also found success as solo artists, but the latter’s life was tragically cut short by sickle cell disease. Prodigy died on June 20, 2017 at the age of 42. A lot of time has passed, but Havoc is still paying respects to his former partner.

Havoc took to Instagram on June 20 to honor Prodigy’s memory. He posted various photos of him and Prodigy over the years, along with a heartfelt caption. “Missing my brother,” he wrote. “Today marks 7 years, feels like just yesterday we were rocking them stages and reflecting on our journey.” The rapper followed up this post with a second. A simpler post, with only one photo and one phrase, but emotional nonetheless. “Day one’s,” he wrote under a photo of the two rappers as children. This isn’t the firs time Havoc has spoken highly of his partner in public.

Read More: Remembering Prodigy Of Mobb Deep

Havoc And Prodigy Were Childhood Friends

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A post shared by Havoc (@mobbdeephavoc)

The rapper was questioned by TMZ shortly after Prodigy’s death and asked to make a statement. he made it clear that he needed time to grief. “I’m still f**ked up,” he admitted. “I can’t even listen to ‘Shook Ones’ or any songs. I can hardly look at the pictures… [we] met when I was 15. I’m 43 right now.. I still can’t believe it.” Havoc was continued to brandish and celebrated Mobb Deep’s legacy in the years since Prodigy’s passing. Especially when it comes to the anniversaries of seminal albums like The Infamous.

Havoc, who considers himself to be lyrically masterful, told Billboard that Prodigy outshined him on their breakthrough release. He does maintain, however, that he got Prodigy on the album before. “The whole album he stepped his game up,” Havoc conceded. “[When] we were on Juvenile Hell, I thought I was the lyricist of the group. When we started working on The Infamous album… as time went on I said ‘goddam, this dude is a animal.’” In 2023, Havoc announced that a new Mobb Deep album would be released with previously unheard Prodigy verses.

[via]

The post Havoc Pens Heartfelt Tribute To Prodigy On Anniversary Of His Death appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Havoc Pens Heartfelt Tribute To Prodigy On Anniversary Of His Death

June 21, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Read More: Remembering Prodigy Of Mobb Deep

Havoc And Prodigy Were Childhood Friends

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Havoc (@mobbdeephavoc)

[via]

The post Havoc Pens Heartfelt Tribute To Prodigy On Anniversary Of His Death appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Today In Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Classic ‘The Infamous’ LP Released 29 Years Ago

April 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

TodayInHipHopHistory:MobbDeep's'TheInfamous'LPReleasedYearsAgo

Much more successful than their debut, The Infamous is hailed as a New York classic. Its gritty underground style is a staple in the hardcore movement going on at this time in New York. This album helped New York Hip Hop separate itself from the mediocre backpacker style that was popular a few years prior. Havoc and Prodigy‘s production shaped a new sound that could separate them from any NYC crime rhymer at the time.

Helping to pave the way for future artists like The Diplomats or A$AP Mob, The Infamous promoted a sound a lifestyle that appealed to a side of New York that wasn’t being spoken to or about by the politically charged artists that came in the late 80s and early 90s. Much like Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Mobb Deep acted as street prophets, spitting the truths of the hood without trying to be outwardly righteous about it. Featuring artists like Ghostface Killah, Nas, and Q-Tip, this project is a titan among its peers.

The album was a commercial success debuting at #15 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the R&B/Hip Hop charts. The album was certified gold within the first month of its release, and the three singles from the project all made appearances on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, with “Shook Ones Pt. II” and Survival of the Fittest” both making it on to the Billboard Hot 100.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Classic ‘The Infamous’ LP Released 29 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Classic ‘The Infamous’ LP Released 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.