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!
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!
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.!
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.
Mobb Deep and The Alchemist are cooking. Hitting Instagram, Havoc and Al teased unreleased music. In the video, Havoc stated “New Mobb Deep coming soon. R.I.P. Prodigy.”
The Alchemist added, “You already know what it is. Mobb Deep coming soon, baby. Infinite.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Juvenile Hell was the first album by duo Mobb Deep that paved the path for many other East Coast rappers of their genre, which only a few know preceded their most revered LP, The Infamous.
Dubbed as one of the most acclaimed East Coast rap duos of all time, MCs Havoc and Prodigy came together to release their first album, Juvenile Hell on this day, April 13, 1993. Hailing from Queensbridge Housing projects in New York City, Mobb Deep was rather young when they released their first album, at the early age of 19.
At the time of its’ release, Juvenile Hell wasn’t received on groundbreaking levels. The new sound of the duo was too hardcore for some, very street-oriented, and the album provided one major single entitled “Hit it from the Back”; which peaked at 18 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart that same year. It wouldn’t be until later that Mobb Deep would become a Hip Hop classic and household name. In time they have gained longevity with their sound inspiring practically all other east coast rappers of their caliber. Had it not been for their first album, and their street poetry over tracks produced by the likes of DJ Premier and Large Professor, the map would never have been drawn for much of the major East Coast sound.
“Dirty Feet” by Daly-Wilson Big Band, “Kitty With The Bent Frame” by Quincy Jones, “Jessica” by Herbie Hancock, and “Shook Ones” by Mobb Deep all walk into a bar. The result? One of the greatest rap songs of all time. Moreover, “Shook Ones, Pt. II” by the legendary duo sampled all these cuts and became one of the genre’s most iconic songs ever, especially for the East Coast scene. It’s a legacy that continues to endure to this day, as the LL Cool J-founded rap organization Rock The Bells recently crowned it the best beat of all time. Other competitors in the top five are A Tr*be Called Quest’s “Electric Relaxation,” Craig Mack’s “Flava In Ya Ear,” “Still D.R.E.” by Dr. Dre, and “N.Y. State Of Mind” by Nas.
That’s one heck of a New York bias, right? Jokes aside, this writer can’t help but agree: few tracks encompass the energy, technique, aesthetic, and cultural impact of East Coast rap and hip-hop at large as well as “Shook Ones, Pt. II.” Whether it’s the crisp drum pattern, the wailing sirens, or the most ominous key line you’ll ever hear, this song is legendary for a reason. One half of the Mobb, Havoc, produced this cut, and for those curious, the panel that judged these top 50 beats had DJ Epps, Cool of Cool & Dre, DJ Scratch, and Torae as its make-up. Funnily enough, RapCaviar‘s same list last year had RTB‘s No. 2, “Still D.R.E.,” as No. 1, whereas “Shook Ones, Pt. II,” RTB‘s No. 1, was their second pick. Watch the panel debate the list down below.
Rock The Bells Panel Discusses “Shook Ones, Pt. II” As The Best Hip-Hop Beat Of All Time: Watch
“I just want to say how honored I am to have ‘Shook Ones, Pt. II’ by Mobb Deep produced by myself, voted number one hip-hop beat of all time,” Havoc expressed about the praise. “I remember being in the projects in Queensbridge. Me and Prodigy just being there trying to make something for the world to hear our voice. And here we are this many years later, being saluted and held as the number one beat and hip-hop greatest of all time. But I just want to say thank you to all the hip-hop fans, rest in peace to my brother Prodigy. He would be just excited— as excited as I am, and I just want to thank all y’all fans, man. Salute.”
Meanwhile, the MC and producer recently debunked a myth about this classic. “You know when a myth [takes] a life of its own?” Havoc said on SiriusXM’s WkndWork. “You just be like, f**k it, you don’t wanna hurt nobody’s feelings, so you just agree with the myth? I be like, ‘Alright, f**k it. Yeah, [the hi-hat on ‘Shook Ones, Pt. II’ is] from the stove.’ The truth of the matter is that the hi-hat that I used on the actual track of ‘Shook Ones’ sounds similar to a project stove.” For more news and the latest updates on Mobb Deep, stay logged into HNHH.
