In 1993, Queens duo Mobb Deep (Albert "Prodigy" Johnson and Kejuan "Havoc" Muchita) released Juvenile Hell, their debut while at their late teens (Prodigy around 17 and Havoc was nearly turning 18). Just a few years before the album, they had met at an art high school in NYC (High School of Art & Design) and both wanted to become rappers; calling themselves the Poetical Prophets before changing it to Mobb Deep, to reflect on the streets. The album was released by 4th & Broadway and ended up being a flop with mixed reviews, causing the duo to get dropped by the label. While this all happened, they decided to record a second album, but first with a demo.
The 1994 demo tape had the duo signed by Loud Records which was known for signing well-known artists such as Three 6 Mafia, the late Big Pun, M.O.P and the legendary Wu-Tang Clan; a main reason why they wanted to be signed to Loud. They decided to name the album The Infamous mainly because of a friend that dubbed them as "The Infamous Mobb Deep".
First up, they released "Shook Ones (Part II)" a remix of a song that never made the album (while nearly finishing it). The song was (and still is) seen as one of the best songs of hip-hop history inspiring the rap community as a whole.
"Survival of the Fittest" was seen as a great follow up, inspiring a lot of people too, especially with the lyrics...
Finally, the album was finally released on April 25, 1995, with very positive reviews.
The album was seen as a classic. It also had a big legacy with people being inspired by Havoc's raw and gritty beats and Prodigy's killer rhymes; and was also an album showing more of a dark side to New York instead of using upbeat, jazzy beats (which groups like the Native Tongues Posse and Digable Planets are known for).
But this is how everybody sees it though. 19 years later, is it worth listening to? Do I really see this as a classic? Are the songs good? It's time to find out what I think...
1. The Start of Your Ending (41st Side)
Juvenile Hell was a "learning experience" according to P & Hav so it's a really great moment for them to show a very different flow from Juvie. Havoc has a very decent flow to begin while Prodigy's flow and lines was the main moment of the song, bringing us a very good introduction to the album, showing that this won't be like last time.
2. The Infamous (Prelude)
Prodigy just gives the audience a small talk on why you won't want to mess with him, allegedly dissing Keith Murray & Redman when saying not to bring up smoking and that "space s***" as these two bring up those topics. But behind it all, it's just an interlude.
3. Survival of the Fittest
The real griminess of the album kinda begins here. P starts off by talking about the mean streets of New York, and ends up interpolating a bit of the "Shook Ones (Part II)" chorus; while Hav gives a longer verse, but P makes the song one of my favourites to listen to.
4. Eye for an Eye (Your Beef Is Mines) [feat. Nas & Raekwon]
Although this song is a good song to me without the 2 guests, the debut of Nas' alter ego, Nas Escobar makes this song very enjoyable. The others do a great job, mostly Hav & P, but Nas did the most on this one.
5. Just Step (Prelude)
Big Noyd raps a quick freestyle with Prodigy to lead to the next track...
6. Give Up The Goods (Just Step) [feat. Big Noyd]
Q-Tip aka The Abstract gives a mid-atmosphere beat that I don't know if it could described as a kinda light beat or a dark one. Anyway, Big Noyd is the main source as this is where the verse is that got him signed (to Tommy Boy). One of my favourite tracks on this album
7. Temperature's Rising (feat. Crystal Johnson)
With another help from Q-Tip, Havoc & Prodigy raps a "letter" to Hav's older brother, Killa Black (who unfortunately a few months later after this song committed suicide) about him getting caught by the police. Focusing on the concept, I feel Mobb Deep was heavily inspired by Nas' One Love (actually another song produced by Tip), as Nas did sort of start the letter rapping with that song. Crystal did annoy me with the repetitive chorus and the long singing ending. Oh well, still a good song.
8. Up North Trip
This song gives me chills... for the reason of this being that it rocks. Dark atmosphere, storytelling and mean rhymes made me like this track a lot.
9. Trife Life
Here, Prodigy and Havoc talk about how they have got into certain set-ups and how they nearly lost their lives. They both learn a lesson from it, making me feel this, especially with the fake instrumental ending (later building back up).
10. QU - Hectic
Weirdly, this is the one of the only songs on the album I don't really feel. The Quincy Jones sample later used in "Shook Ones (Part II)" is used here, but that still don't make me like it any way.
11. Right Back At You (feat. Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and Big Noyd)
This track does stand out to me. The only problem is Rae and Ghost. Unfortunately, the tag team don't work (like it would in Wu-Tang albums) but Noyd comes to save the day with a final verse.
12. The Grave (Prelude)
Another prelude to a song. Here, someone gets shot which leads to...
13. Cradle to the Grave
This is another song I didn't really feel. It's a bit weak, but it's OK.
14. Drink Away The Pain (Situations) [feat. Q-Tip]
Prodigy, Havoc and Tip rap about situations they have got in (not set-ups though). With me being a huge fan of Q-Tip and his work with A Tribe Called Quest, I did like his verse; but when I found out he didn't really drink and he was just "getting with it", I was surprised and didn't really care much (although it does feel good listening to it). But oh well, it's still a good song.
15. Shook Ones (Part II)
Of course everyone's gonna know what I'm about to say about this track. This. Track. ROCKS! Freestyled by your favourite rappers: from Eminem (8 Mile) to Kendrick Lamar, we all know this track changed the whole of Hip-Hop with its lyrics and dark and gritty flow. Behind Electric Relaxation (A Tribe Called Quest), this is my second favourite song of all-time.
16. Party Over (feat. Big Noyd)
Mobb Deep and Noyd comes on the final track, which is a good way to end the album, even with a title like "Party Over". I never really cared for this track, although the beginning was scary with the bottles and an eerie sample. Anyway, the album is over.
April 25, 1995 saw Mobb Deep released "The Infamous", and everyone saw this as a classic. You know, they were right. The Infamous is the best album I've ever heard. Its dark, gritty and raw atmosphere was an influence to every (then) up-and-coming rapper in the world. Every rap junkie has this somewhere in their collection, for the reason that it holds today 19 years later.
But not every classic has goods at every track. The Infamous did have a few weak tracks like "QU - Hectic", "Cradle to the Grave" and "Party Over" (kinda). Features like Nas, Raekwon, and Big Noyd makes this album listenable with their lyrics and flow. As for Havoc, without his hardcore beats, this would've been an average 90s rap album with jazzy beats and others.
The Infamous, overall, is a classic project that no one will ever forget. Prodigy and Havoc had done one of the most hardest things of (nowadays) rap: release such an amazing album. For anyone, buy, download, stream this album (iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Internet). This album blew my mind away, and I hope it blows yours too. You won't regret it!
The Furious 5ive
Shook Ones (Part II)
Survival of the Fittest
Give Up The Goods (Just Step)
Eye for an Eye (Your Beef Is Mines)
Trife Life
These are my recommended top 5 although I'd recommend every track on my album, even the ones I didn't like.
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