SOHH NYC: Throwback Monday: Mobb Deep
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SOHH Blogs - Found Apr. 20, 2009 If you think I hate Prodigy, raise your hand. Aight cool. But there was a time when Mobb Deep was coming with that real. |
Album review: 'The Safe is Cracked,' by Mobb Deep
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Middletown Transcript - Found Apr. 18, 2009 Mobb Deep released back-to-back stone-cold classics with their debut, 'The Infamous,' and its followup, 'Hell on Earth.' Both were hollow, stark and |
Album review: 'The Safe is Cracked,' by Mobb Deep
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Dover Post - Found Apr. 17, 2009 Above, Mobb Deep's 'The Safe is Cracked,' a partial return to their classic, ultra-bleak sound. |
Album review: 'The Safe is Cracked,' by Mobb Deep
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Marie Evening News - Found Apr. 17, 2009 Mobb Deep released back-to-back stone-cold classics with their debut, 'The Infamous,' and its followup, 'Hell on Earth.' Both were hollow, stark and |
Q & A with local artist: SomeOne
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Examiner.com - Found Jul. 2, 2009 La Soul, LL Cool J, MC Hammer (gotta be honest), Slick Rick, A Tribe Called Quest, Mobb Deep, Nas, Blackalicious, Oldominion, Aceyalone, and... |
Hip Hop, R&B community unite for Michael Jackson 16 hrs ago - ...
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Examiner.com - Found Jul. 1, 2009 Maybe, like Prodigy of Mobb Deep said (from jail), MCs wanted to be MJ; as we all did! |
Mobb Deep Associate Talks Prodigy, "50 Cent's Trying To Get P Out A ...
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SOHH - Found Jun. 30, 2009 'Shout-out to Fif because that's why I love him so much,' he said in an interview. |
THE GREAT MUSIC DEBATE (1)
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Nigeria Guardian - Found Jun. 29, 2009 Flow-ssik, Raprince, Bionic, Fabulous, Jadakiss, Nas, Swiss Beatz, Dj Khaled, Maze, Yung Buck, Maino, MoBB Deep, Lloyd Banks, Olivia, Lady... |
A nation's identity crisis
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Daily Triumph - Found Jun. 21, 2009 Flow-ssik, Raprince, Bionic, Fabulous, Jadakiss, Nas, Swiss Beatz, Dj Khaled, Maze, Yung Buck, Maino, MoBB Deep, Lloyd Banks, Olivia, Lady... |
A Nation's Identity Crisis
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Nigeria Guardian - Found Jun. 20, 2009 Flow-ssik, Raprince, Bionic, Fabulous, Jadakiss, Nas, Swiss Beatz, Dj Khaled, Maze, Yung Buck, Maino, MoBB Deep, Lloyd Banks, Olivia, Lady... |
Mobb Deep Biography
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Mobb Deep
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| Mobb Deep | |
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 The 2 current members of Mobb Deep, Havoc and Prodigy
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Queens, New York City, New York |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Label(s) | 4th & B'way/Island/PolyGram Records Loud/RCA/BMG Records Loud/Columbia/SME Records LandSpeed Records Infamous/Jive/Zomba/BMG Records G-Unit/Interscope, Koch, Siccness |
| Associated acts | Big Noyd Nas Wu-Tang Clan Infamous Mobb Ty Maxx Gotti Illa Ghee Q-Tip Cormega Capone-N-Noreaga The Alchemist Bars & Hooks Littles G-Unit Un Pacino Nyce 40 Glocc Da Youngstas |
| Members | |
| Havoc Prodigy |
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Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The group is perhaps best known for their dark, hardcore delivery as shown on the single "Shook Ones Pt. II." Although the group has not seen as much commercial success as some of their peers, the majority of its albums have met with critical acclaim, in particular The Infamous, which is considered an East Coast classic.
Contents |
Biography
Origins
Prodigy, Havoc, Killa Black (Havoc's older brother), Big Noyd, The Twins (Gambino and Scarface), Ty Nitty, Godfather Pt. III, Ty Maxx, Yambo, Gotti, Money No, Karate Joe, Stovo, and Littles all grew up together.
Havoc & Prodigy started rhyming in the late 1980s when the duo met at the High School of Art and Design in New York City. Havoc took the role of producer and secondary MC, while Prodigy assumed the position of primary M.C. Originally dubbing themselves the Poetical Profits, the duo later changed its name to Mobb Deep in order to "reflect their reputation on the streets."citation needed In the group’s early career, it released the single "Cop Hell." While members of the clique were only 17, the released its debut album Juvenile Hell, which was led by the single "Peer Pressure." The album sold very poorly and was met with harsh reviews that wrote the duo off as just another hardcore group with little to distinguish them from the rest of the hip-hop world—especially with the group legal—despite production by DJ Premier and Large Professor. However, a few songs from Juvenile Hell gained a little recognition, such as "Hit It from the Back," "Locked in Spofford," and "Me and My Crew." Also in 1993, Havoc had a guest appearance in the critically acclaimed Black Moon album Enta Da Stage, on a song called "U Da Man."
Rise to success
While still at a young age, the duo catapulted itself to the top of the hardcore hip-hop scene through its straightforward narration of street life. As with their first lyrical production, Mobb Deep portrayed the struggles of living in New York City's Queensbridge Houses. Following its release, The Infamous became one of the most influential hip-hop albums of the East Coast hardcore hip-hop genre. The duo's production also was noticed as the beats were often hard-hitting and direct, a testament to Havoc, who produced the duo's tracks almost exclusively throughout their careers.1 Furthermore, the smash hit single "Shook Ones Pt. II" received critical acclaim and was well-received within the hip hop community. Its third album, Hell on Earth was released in 1996, debuting at number six on the Billboard album chart. The album continued the duo's portrayal of harsh street life, while further pushing them to the forefront of the hardcore hip-hop scene, along with contemporary East Coast emcees such as The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang Clan collective, Jay-Z, and fellow Queensbridge associate Nas.
In 1998, the duo collaborated with reggae dancehall rapper Bounty Killer on the track "Deadly Zone" for the soundtrack to Blade. In 1999, they released the highly anticipated Murda Muzik album. Despite extensive bootlegging (nearly thirty songs of unreleased material leaked onto the Internet) and countless delays, the album debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and quickly received platinum certification—further highlighted by the popular single "Quiet Storm." Shortly afterward, Prodigy released his long-awaited solo album H.N.I.C., in which the emcee collaborated with other artists (B.G., N.O.R.E.) and producers (including The Alchemist, Rockwilder, and Just Blaze).
Changes
Mobb Deep subsequently released Infamy in 2001. The song "Burn" (featuring Vita) was perceived as a response to Jay-Z's diss on The Blueprint and "Crawlin'" Where Prodigy's two verses both mention Jay-Z. The album marked a major stylistic change that in which the duo moved away from the raw, minimalist, stripped-down beats of their hardcore roots toward more commercial fare with such songs as "Hey Luv (Anything)." This transition fostered accusations of "selling out" — upsetting many long-time fans who did not wish to see them veer away from the duo’s original style.citation needed
Although these stylistic adjustments opened up Mobb Deep to a wider audience, many critics and fans credit Prodigy's feud with Jay-Z as damaging to Mobb Deep's gangsta image and record sales (most evident when comparing the platinum-selling Murda Muzik to Infamy, which struggled to attain gold-record status). There were no retaliation dis records back from these emcees.
In 2003, the group split with Loud Records and released Free Agents: The Murda Mix Tape, in which they proclaimed themselves as "free agents" and addressed the group's split with its old label and its search for a new label. Jive Records signed the duo later in the year through a deal with the group’s own imprint and subsequently released Amerikaz Nightmare in 2004, which was seen by the general hip-hop audience as a weaker release by the duo, resulting in poor sales and the group’s subsequent departure from the label.2 Today, as a result of various mergers, all of Mobb Deep's studio albums from 1995-2004 are owned by Sony Music Entertainment.
G-Unit Records
Infamous Records was a record label started by Mobb Deep in the late 1990s, but it did not get an imprint deal until 2004. It is now a subsidiary of G-Unit Records. In June 2005, Prodigy and Havoc surprised fans when the duo announced that it had signed with 50 Cent's label G-Unit Records. The move was surprising because 50 Cent had included an indirect diss to the group in his song "Piggy Bank." 50 Cent had a connection to the duo, as he grew up in Queens and also had used Havoc as a producer for several different beats for G-Unit's, Lloyd Banks' and Tony Yayo's albums. The relationship strengthened as Prodigy of Mobb Deep and 50 Cent each received tattoos to pledge their loyalty to each other. Prodigy has the word "G-Unit" tattooed on the side of his right hand and 50 Cent has "Mobb Deep" tattooed on his wrist. Upon signing with G-Unit, both Prodigy and Havoc were given new Porsches, a gift for two artists who had received very little monetary compensation in the past. And later Mobb Deep signed different artists on Infamous/G-Unit Records such as Nyce, 40 Glocc & female rapper Gail Gotti. 40 Glocc has his own "Zoo Life" label on the Infamous label right now and it contains artists such as Tiptoe,Sun and Village Boo
Mobb Deep's album, titled Blood Money, was released on May 2, 2006. It features G-Unit members 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Young Buck, as well as Mary J. Blige and Nate Dogg. This marked the duo’s eighth release. On November 3, 2006, Mobb Deep became the first ever American hip-hop duo to perform in India, via VH1's Hip Hop Hustle. It performed in a nightclub called Enigma from 12:30 am onward.citation needed As of October 2007, the group and its future albums are on hiatus due to Prodigy's arrest.
Group Split Rumors
In November 2008, rumors surfaced that Havoc supposedly did not want to work with group mate Prodigy any longer due to legal and money issues. This, however, was confirmed by Havoc to be false. He stated during an interview with BET, "Prodigy is his own person and at the end of the day, he’s my brother, but we have two different views most of the time,” he clarified. “Like I said, he’s still my brother and I ride with him on some issues.”
Disputes
East Coast vs. West Coast
During the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry was occurring. The beef started when Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound released "New York, New York". Mobb Deep took offense to that and with Capone-N-Noreaga and Tragedy Khadafi they released "LA, LA" in response.
During 2Pacs incarceration, members of 2Pac’s group The Outlawz allegedly attended a Mobb Deep concert. They then visited 2Pac, maintaining that the duo had snubbed them at the concert. 2Pac dissed Mobb Deep in "Hit 'Em Up" and "When We Ride on Our Enemies" and made fun of Prodigy's sickle cell disease. Mobb Deep responded in a diss track called "Drop A Gem On 'Em" on their 1996 album Hell on Earth. which was released after 2Pac was murdered. 2Pac also dissed Mobb Deep on the song "Against All Odds" and "Bomb First" which was released after his death.
Jay-Z
Shortly after the release of Murda Muzik, Jay-Z spoke out against the duo, leading to an increase in publicity. Rumor has it that Prodigy took issue with two Jay-Z lines that he felt were subliminal shots at Mobb Deep. Later, at the Hot 97 Summer Jam show of 2001, Jay-Z performed "Takeover," which attacked Prodigy and was later re-recorded for his album The Blueprint. He also revealed photographs of a young Prodigy dressed up like Michael Jackson in 1983, although Jay-Z claimed it was 1988.
Nas
In 2006, Nas signed to Def Jam Recordings, as a response to Mobb Deep signing with G-Unit Records, due to his rivalry with 50 Cent. Nas claimed that "Mobb Deep signing to G-Unit is a disgrace to hip-hop". Nas attacked the duo in "Don't Body Ya Self" criticizing them for their move to G-Unit.
The Game
Since joining G-Unit, Mobb Deep has also become involved with the G-Unit vs. The Game feud. In the music video of "Outta Control", Mobb Deep is wearing T-shirts that say "G-Unit Game Over," referencing the Game's departure from G-Unit. Mobb Deep disses him in a 15-minute dis song with the rest of G-Unit called "300 Shots." The Game responded by refering them as 'Mobb Sleep' due to decline in their album sales since they signed to G-Unit.
Discography
- Juvenile Hell (1993)
- The Infamous (1995)
- Hell on Earth (1996)
- Murda Muzik (1999)
- Infamy (2001)
- Amerikaz Nightmare (2004)
- Blood Money (2006)
- The Safe Is Cracked (2009)
References
- ^ Mobb Deep MTV, Accessed 24 July 2007
- ^ Mobb Deep and Jive Records split MTV, Accessed 24 July 2007
External links
- Mobb Deep at MySpace
- Mobb Deep Fan Site
- Interview with Prodigy - 2006
- 2007 Interview with Prodigy
- Infamous Minded Mobb Deep Fan Site
- Infamous Minded FORUM The Forum of the Infamous Minded fan site
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![The Safe Is Cracked [Explicit]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cg2E-05tL._SL160_.jpg)
