4/5
The Prodigy
Deeper than rap, Mobb Deep remain, in spirit, one of the best brotherhoods in hip-hop. No group was dirtier or grimier. The violence of the genre immortalized in something scarier than 'Shook Ones'. No halfway crooks allowed. You only had to see Eminem lip-sync along to them, rapping in the mirror to begin his legendary battle-rap movie '8 Mile'. Prodigy and Havoc were so renowned, even 50 Cent has to sign them, like fellow legends M.O.P. and Ma$e at the peak of his powers. This was a pair who weren't afraid to go up against the late, great 'Pac. But you can't listen to them diss tracks any more in all good faith. Tragedy struck in 2017, three years after their last album (2014's 'The Infamous Mobb Deep') when Prodigy passed away due to accidental choking. The rapper, real name Albert Johnson, had been battling with sickle cell anaemia his whole life. His legacy lives forever.
And now it's immortalized once more in the 'Infinite' album for infinity. A part posthumous Mobb Deep album and the final LP from the pair as previously unreleased vocals from capital P are mixed with producer and rapping partner Havoc, and longtime collaborator and the legendary producer of this album, The Alchemist (nobody works harder). Part of the year-long 'Legend Has It...' series from Mass Appeal records, it joins Nas and DJ Premier, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, De La Soul, Big L, and Slick Rick as one of the best rap albums of the year. And, like Big L, a life after death one. The amazing artwork, a tribute testament to their style, feels like they're still here together. And Prodigy again is immortalized forever in the accompanying Marvel Comics series that turns these legends into the superheroes that they are. Frequent flyer Nas gets down with Mobb on 'Pour The Henny' (like that, 'Bron, 'Bron?) and the sweet sample of the 'Down For You' single, featuring soul singer Jorja Smith ("If bein' in love is my downfall, then I'll be down for you.") for one of the best rap songs of the billboard year. Not to mention it's 'Love The Way' part two featuring H.E.R. herself. And after their own 'Legend' albums, Wu-Tang members Raekwon and Ghostface appear on 'Clear Black Nights'.
The reformed Clipse also shoot some on 'Look At Me' after their own amazing album reunion in 2025. Joining big hitting singles like the opening 'Against The World' Mobb opera and the grand 'Taj Mahal', built for the fans. Between all the 'Gunfire' and closing 'We The Real Thing', there's even a Big Noyd on 'The M. The O. The B. The B.' with a curious sample. But it's not like we can listen to 'Diddy' any more, anyway. This album clearly 'Score(s) Points', before the penultimate 'Discontinued' that will never happen to this band of brothers. They give it up for 'My Era' and all their classic contemporaries. And they also stick to their violent wordplay for 'Mr Magik', which won't bring you back after sawing you in two. It's like Prodigy says on 'Easy Bruh', "Longevity in hip-hop/The run is endless, our cash don't stop/You the great prеtender, you not this hot/I'll boil over, I'll mеlt the whole pot." Or when Havoc simply puts in "R.I.P.". These two will live on together in infamy. What else could you expect from the Infamous Mobb Deep? Legend has nothing on this. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Down For You (Feat. Nas & Jorja Smith)', 'My Era', 'Clear Black Nights (Feat. Raekwon & Ghostface Killah)'
Spin This: Mobb Deep - 'Infamy'.
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