Mobb Deep - The Infamous

Mobb Deep is a hip-hop duo that formed in 1991, consisting of rappers Havoc and Prodigy, and were apart of the flourishing New York hip-hop scene in the mid 90s, which also consisted of famous acts like Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, and Biggie Smalls. The first track of the album, The Start of Your Ending, sets up important character building of Havoc and Prodigy, who establish themselves over a slow and chilling beat, with Prodigy specifically stating “We do damage to limbs in ‘91, stomping you out in black Timbs.” This shows that Havoc and Prodigy are cold-blooded killers that shouldn’t be messed with. The next track, Survival of the Fittest, shows that contrary to what they’ve established, they still have struggles within the street life. The first verse shows these issues right away, with Prodigy stating that “There’s a war going on outside no man is safe from, you could run, but you can’t hide forever,” showing that despite the fact that they show themselves as top dogs in the game, they aren’t immune to getting shot down at any moment.

The album continues and leads up to the most heartbreaking skit, The Grave Prelude, where an associate of Prodigy is shot, and he’s desperately trying to keep him awake before the ambulance comes. This shows the incomprehensible lows of being a kingpin and is a frightening reminder that being cold-blooded isn’t all the glory that it’s seen as. This leads to the climax of the album, with Mobb Deep’s most famous song, Shook Ones Pt. II. This song is without a doubt the highlight of the record, with one of the most dark and entrancing beats that I’ve ever heard, combined with masterful lyricism by the rap duo that expose the fake thugs that act hard, but when it comes down to who can perform, they aren’t real. If you’re looking for a hip-hop album that is raw and is filled with vivid storytelling, The Infamous is the album for you.