Mobb Deep
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mobb Deep | ||
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 Mobb Deep's album Infamy
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| Background information | ||
| Origin |  Queensbridge, New York, USA |
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| Genre(s) | Hip-hop | |
| Years active | 1992 - present | |
| Label(s) | G-Unit/Interscope | |
| Members | ||
| Prodigy Havoc |
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Mobb Deep, also known as The Infamous Mobb Deep, is a hip hop duo made up of Havoc and Prodigy (born Kejuan Muchita and Albert Johnson, respectively). They are perhaps most famous for their landmark album The Infamous, and for their accompanying hit single, "Shook Ones Pt. II".
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[edit] 1992-1994: Beginnings
Prodigy and Havoc started rapping in the late 1980s when the two met at the High School of Art and Design in New York City. Havoc took on the role of producer, while Prodigy assumed the position of primary rapper. Originally dubbing themselves the Poetical Profits, they later changed their name to Mobb Deep in order to "reflect their reputation on the streets."[1] In their early career, they released the single "Cop Hell". While both members of the duo were only 17, they released their debut Juvenile Hell, which was lead 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 rap world. However, after Mobb Deep's second album was released, a few songs from Juvenile Hell gained a little recognition, such as "Hit it From the Back" (referenced in the Ras Kass song "Drama"), "Locked in Spotford," and "Me & My Crew". Also in 1993, Havoc had a guest appearance in the Black Moon album Enta Da Stage, on a song called "U Da Man". While the album was very successful, Havoc's appearance was widely forgotten.
[edit] 1995-2000: Rise to Success
Still at a young age, the duo powered themselves to the top of the hardcore rap scene through their 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 perhaps one of the most influential hip hop albums of the East Coast hardcore rap genre. Their production also was noticed as the beats were often hard hitting and direct, a testament to Havoc, who produced the duos' tracks almost exclusively throughout their careers [2]. Furthermore, the smash hit single "Shook Ones Pt. II", received critical acclaim and was well-received within the hip hop community. Their third album, Hell on Earth was released in 1996, debuting at number six on the Billboard album chart. The album continued their portrayal of a harsh street life, while further pushing them to the forefront of the hardcore rap scene, along with contemporary East Coast rappers such as The Notorious B.I.G., the Wu-Tang Clan collective, Jay-Z, and fellow Queensbridge associate, Nas (who was also noted as a big part of Mobb Deep's success).
In 1999, the duo 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 Billboard and quickly went platinum — further highlighted by the popular single, "Quiet Storm." Shortly afterwards, Prodigy released his long awaited solo album H.N.I.C., in which the rapper collaborated with other artists (B.G., N.O.R.E.) and producers (including The Alchemist, Rockwilder and Just Blaze).
Shortly after the release of Murda Muzik, rapper 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, which he felt were subliminal shots at Mobb Deep. One line from Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter states, "How dare you look at Jigga like I'm shook like boo", which he interpreted as a reference to Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones" single. These remarks were compounded with a line from another one of Jay-Z's albums, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life: "What the deal is? (huh?)/Its like New York's been soft,/Ever since Snoop came through and crushed the buildings," which Prodigy felt referenced Mobb Deep's beef with Tupac, Snoop and Death Row records. Later, at the Hot 97 Summer Jam show of 2001, Jay-Z performed "Takeover", which attacked Prodigy and which he later re-recorded for his album, The Blueprint. He also revealed photographs of Prodigy dressed up like Michael Jackson in 1988.[1]
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. The album marked a major stylistic change that saw the duo move away from the raw, minimalist, stripped-down beats of their hardcore roots, towards a more commercial fare with such songs as "Hey Luv". This transition fostered accusations of "selling out" — upsetting many long-time fans who did not wish to see them veer away from their original style.[citation needed] Although these stylistic adjustments opened up Mobb's audience to a wider variety, many critics and fans credit Prodigy's feud with Jay-Z as damaging to Mobb Deep's gangster image and record sales (most evident when comparing the platinum-selling Murda Muzik to Infamy which struggled to attain the gold record status).[citation needed]
In 2003, the group split with Loud Records and released Free Agents: The Murda Mix Tape which proclaimed "Free Agents" on the cover, addressing the group's split with Loud and search for a new label. Jive Records signed the duo later in the year and subsequently released Amerikaz Nightmare in 2004, which was seen by the general rap audience as a weaker release by the two, resulting in poor sales and the subsequent dropping of the duo from Jive.[2]
[edit] G-Unit Records
In June of 2005, Prodigy and Havoc surprised fans when they announced that they had inked a deal with 50 Cent's label G-Unit Records. The move was seen as 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 nearby Jamaica, Queens and also had used Havoc as a producer for several different beats for Lloyd Banks & Tony Yayo. The relationship strengthened as Mobb Deep and 50 Cent each received tattoos to pledge their loyalty to each other. Prodigy has the words "G-Unit" tattooed on his right hand and 50 Cent has "Mobb Deep" tattooed on his wrist. Upon signing to 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.
Mobb Deep's most recent 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 their seventh release. Since joining G-Unit, Mobb Deep has also become involved with The Game feud. In Outta Control (Remix) video, Mobb Deep have been wearing T-Shirts that say "G-Unit Game Over" symbolizing The Game's departure from G-Unit. Mobb Deep disses The Game in a 7 minute diss track with the rest of G-Unit called "300 Shots."
Many saw the group's movement to G-Unit as a departure from the original "Mobb Deep sound" that had characterized their earlier releases, especially since 50 Cent, who has become especially involved in freestyling over many of Havoc and Prodigy's tracks, is known for his predominantly commercial sound as heard on his albums The Massacre and Get Rich or Die Tryin', not to mention the fact that Havoc himself has become less involved in the production of the group's music. Havoc, however, sees things differently: "This is not a new Mobb Deep. For us to look at it is a re-introduction would mean that we’re erasing our past and erasing our history and that’s too important. We’ve built something that shows what it takes to be here for the long run. Some of our fans are aspiring artists. Mobb Deep is here for a reason: to show that you can be here for a long time."[3]
Mobb Deep made history on November 3, 2006, by becoming the first ever American rap act to perform in India, via Vh1's Hip Hop Hustle. They performed in a nightclub called Enigma from 12:30am onwards. Although Prodigy called in sick, Havoc performed with other members of The Infamous Records such as 40 Glocc and the night was a huge success.
In November 2006 there was speculations of increasing tensions between 50 Cent and Havoc. Though rumors have gone around saying that Mobb Deep has left G-Unit to go to Koch Records (home of commercial rap artists such as Jim Jones (rapper), Cam'Ron and Dipset), this is only half true, as they will still be on G-Unit as a group, but recording with Koch as solo artists. Koch have confirmed that Prodigy will release solo material on the record label before the end of 2007.[4] Havoc, however, declined to sign with Koch, instead choosing to join a smaller, more independent label.[5]
[edit] Infamous Records
This label was started by Mobb Deep in the late 90's, but it did not get an imprint deal until 2004. This is a list of the current artists on the label:
- 40 Glocc - Originally from Texas, but was raised in California.
- Nyce - An emcee from Southside, Queens.
- Gail Gotti - The first lady of the Infamous Family, former Death Row Records artist and wife of Dogg Pound MC, Kurupt.
- Lil He - 40 Glocc's 9 year old son.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Album Cover | Album information |
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Juvenile Hell
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The Infamous
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Hell On Earth
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Murda Muzik
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H.N.I.C. (Prodigy)
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Infamy
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Free Agents
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Amerikaz Nightmare
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Blood Money
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Return Of The Mac (Prodigy) |
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Kush (Havoc) |
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H.N.I.C. 2 (Prodigy)
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[edit] Singles
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Peer Pressure" | Juvenile Hell |
| 1993 | "Hit It From The Back" | Juvenile Hell |
| 1995 | "Shook Ones Pt. II" | The Infamous |
| 1995 | "Survival Of The Fittest" | The Infamous |
| 1995 | "Temperature's Rising" (Feat. Crystal Johnson) | The Infamous |
| 1996 | "Drop A Gem On 'Em" | Hell On Earth |
| 1996 | "Hell On Earth" | Hell On Earth |
| 1997 | "G.O.D. Pt. III" | Hell On Earth |
| 1997 | "Still Shinin'" | Hell On Earth |
| 1999 | "Quiet Storm" | Murda Muzik |
| 1999 | "Quiet Storm (Remix)" (Feat. Lil' Kim) | Murda Muzik |
| 1999 | "It's Mine" (Feat. Nas) | Murda Muzik |
| 2000 | "U.S.A." | Murda Muzik |
| 2000 | "Keep It Thoro" | H.N.I.C. |
| 2001 | "Rock Dat Shit" | H.N.I.C. |
| 2001 | "Y.B.E." (Feat. B.G.) | H.N.I.C. |
| 2001 | "Burn" (Feat. Big Noyd & Vita) | Infamy |
| 2001 | "Hey Luv" (Feat. 112) | Infamy |
| 2002 | "Get Away" | Infamy |
| 2002 | "Pray For Me" (Feat. Lil' Mo) | Infamy |
| 2003 | "Solidified" | Free Agents |
| 2003 | "The Illest" | Free Agents |
| 2003 | "Double Shots" (Feat. Big Noyd) | Free Agents |
| 2004 | "Got It Twisted" | Amerikaz Nightmare |
| 2004 | "Real Gangstaz" (Feat. Lil' Jon) | Amerikaz Nightmare |
| 2004 | "Throw Your Hands" | Amerikaz Nightmare |
| 2004 | "Win Or Lose" | Amerikaz Nightmare |
| 2004 | "Got It Twisted (Remix) (Feat. Twista)" | Amerikaz Nightmare |
| 2006 | "Have A Party" (Feat. 50 Cent & Nate Dogg) | Blood Money |
| 2006 | "Put 'Em In Their Place" | Blood Money |
| 2006 | "Give It To Me" (Feat. Young Buck) | Blood Money |
| 2006 | "Creep" (Feat. 50 Cent) | Blood Money |
| 2007 | "Stuck On You" | Return Of The Mac |
[edit] External Links
| Mobb Deep |
|---|
| Members |
| Havoc | Prodigy |
| Albums |
| Juvenile Hell | The Infamous | Hell On Earth | Murda Muzik | Infamy | Free Agents | Amerikaz Nightmare | Blood Money |
| Prodigy albums |
| H.N.I.C. | Return of the Mac | H.N.I.C. 2 |
| Havoc albums |
| Kush |
| Compilations |
| Infamous Allegiance | The Mix Tape Before 9/11 | Life of the Infamous: The Best of Mobb Deep | The Infamous Archives |
| Singles |
| "Peer Pressure" | "Hit It From The Back" | "Shook Ones Pt. II" | "Survival Of The Fittest" | "Temperature's Rising" | "Drop A Gem On 'Em" | "Hell On Earth" | "G.O.D. Pt. III" | "Still Shinin'" | "Quiet Storm" | "Quiet Storm (Remix)" | "It's Mine" | "U.S.A." | "Burn" | "Hey Luv" | "Get Away" | "Pray For Me" | "Solidified" | "The Illest" | "Double Shots" | "Got It Twisted" | "Real Gangstaz" | "Throw Your Hands" | "Win Or Lose" | "Got It Twisted (Remix)" | "Have A Party" | "Put 'Em In Their Place" | "Give It To Me" | "Creep" |
| Prodigy singles |
| "Keep It Thoro" | "Rock Dat Shit" | "Y.B.E." | "Stuck on You" |
