November 1996 saw the release of Hell on Earth, the third album from Queens duo Mobb Deep. The album was a follow up to the 1995 critically acclaimed The Infamous, which rose them to mainstream success, and featured more of their best work, including the title track, "Apostle's Warning" and "Still Shinin'". In between Hell on Earth and their (then) upcoming fourth effort, Havoc and Prodigy (RIP) spent their time making soundtrack and compilation appearances for Blade, Sunset Park, Red Hot Organisation and Hoodlum.
Murda Muzik was planned to be released at the beginning of 1999, with "Quiet Storm" being its first single in March, which grew to be a hit in the streets. However, because their label Loud switched distributors from RCA to Columbia, the album happened to leak during that time, leading Mobb to record a few new songs to make sure it would still be worth purchasing for their fans. This included "It's Mine" with Nas and the Lil Kim remix of Quiet Storm, which would make it become one of the most successful songs in the duo's career. Murda Muzik was finally released officially in August 1999, featuring 19 tracks, with guest appearances from Lil Cease, Cormega, Nas, Big Noyd, Raekwon and more.
The album would turn out to be the duo's most successful album, debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200, and would be certified Platinum two months after its release. The album received positive reviews, praising the great verses, appearances and production. It was your typical fire album from Mobb at their lyrical and commercial prime. This would lead Prodigy to release his solo album H.N.I.C. the following year, bridging the gap between this album and their 2001 effort Infamy.
Whew, feels like forever since I've done this, but let's get into this shit...
1. Intro
Nothing special, basically the theme song to the album, which samples the Crime Inc. theme and all. NEXT!
2. Streets Raised Me (feat. Chinky & Big Noyd)
Album starts off with a nice note, with the intro transitioning kinda awkwardly to this introspective street cut. It's whatever tho, as Havoc & Prodigy link up with their frequent collaborator Big Noyd and singer Chinky (who I always found to be a mediocre singer, to be honest) to deliver street-reflecting content over a sombre instrumental from Hav. Other than the shitty vocals from Chinky, this song is aight, and Hav, P & Noyd all did their thing on here. Now that I think about it, I really expected this album to have your usual dark and gritty banger, like The Infamous and Hell on Earth did. A soft way to open up an album called Murda Muzik, ha!
3. What's Ya Poison? (feat. Cormega)
Aight, this is what I'm talking about. The ominous piano sample complements the beat so well, and with Cormega appearing with the Mobb, all 3 of them floated over this. Prodigy came through with a fire performance as usual, and Hav was able to hang with him on this too. In fact, he might've been a little better. Mega was decent on here tho, he did his thing too. The beat stole the show tho, probably one of the best beats on the album, 3 songs in already as well.
4. Spread Love
One of my favourite tracks on the album, I remember it took me off guard at first that with a title like this, the song would bang so hard. Prodigy & Havoc start off by trading bars together and they do their thing. Throughout the song, they both do their thing, but Hav had P beat if I'm being honest. Not to say P was trash as hell, but I found myself more impressed with Hav. The beat isn't exactly that great, but Hav & P's presence over it makes it so much better in my ears.
5. Let a Ho Be a Ho
*insert Sean Price car GIF here*
The beat is dope tho...
6. I'm Going Out (feat. Lil Cease)
I always loved this song, but I happened to appreciate it more last year when UK rapper Reeko Squeeze jumped on this beat (song is called "Draw Me Out"). Anyway, Lil Cease is the next guest appearance for it. Again, P does his thing but Hav did a little better, in my opinion. Hey, Cease was able to hang with the two, and I enjoyed his flow and delivery on here a lot. Another dope cut on this album.
7. Allustrious
The hardest track on the album, and finally a moment where P freakin' blacks out like he did in the duo's last two albums. Hav was alright with his first verse, he did better with his verse after P tho.
8. Adrenaline
Meh, this was alright. I really have nothing else to say about this cut.
9. Where Ya From (feat. 8Ball)
Memphis meets New York on this song as the duo teams up with 8Ball of 8Ball & MJG, providing solid verses over a smooth Summer-like instrumental from T-Mix (an in-house Suave House producer). P & Hav both do a decent job spitting over the instrumental, but it's pretty obvious 8Ball sounds way more comfortable over the beat than the duo, considering one of his labelmates produced this shit, ha.
10. Quiet Storm
The hit single which served as the album's first single. Arguably P at his best on this album, getting the opportunity to paint his vivid pictures wile Hav is delegated to hook duties. 3 amazing verses on this track, and Hav's amazing sampling of the "White Lines" bassline is dope as hell. Classic tune, man.
11. Where Ya Heart At
A song that I happened to appreciate more when I heard the news about Prodigy passing away earlier this year. I spent my time going through Mobb albums from Juvenile Hell to even weaker efforts like Black Cocaine and Blood Money. This was one of the songs I decided to play constantly while listening to the duo. Not to mention, Freddie Gibbs dropping a song with the same sample used on this (sample is "Fear" by the legendary Sade) makes it even better. Anyway, this is one of those introspective, sombre cuts about losing a loved one. Has it been done before? Yes. Any better than this? Yes. But still a nice cut that I certainly got used to overtime, growing not only to be one of my favourites on this album, but one of my favourites from the duo, especially after P's death.
12. Noyd's Interlude
Unnecessary...
13. Can't Fuck Wit (feat. Raekwon)
Mobb Deep spitting over a double-time beat, something different from their usual shit. Raekwon jumps on the cut with them too, and it's clear both of them don't really suit the beat especially Rae. The duo try their best to keep up and they do a decent job, particularly Hav with his hook and verse. P was alright on it though, so there's that.
14. Thug Muzik (feat. Infamous Mobb & Chinky)
Fun fact: this album was the start of the infamous chemistry between Mobb Deep and producer The Alchemist, with this being one of two songs on the album Al produced for them. However, this is the weakest of the two, in all honesty. Chinky sucks as usual, and Infamous Mobb don't really deliver that well, maybe Twin. Prodigy was decent tho, it was nice to see him do a Shook Ones interpolation at the end of his verse, that was the memorable moment of this song.
15. Murda Muzik
On the leaked version (I have yet to hear), this is apparently the intro. Now this one would work way better as an opening, not cos of it's title, mainly cos of how the beat kicks in and shit. Both P & Hav come through with impressive performances, with their lyrics being on point over the minimalist beat from Hav. What else is there to say? Dope ass tune.
16. The Realest (feat. Kool G Rap)
Not only one of my favourite Mobb Deep songs, but this features one of Alchemist's best instrumentals, and the sample he didn't even do much with for the beat. Just a sample loop, that's all. Hav & P link up with the legendary Kool G Rap for the smoothest cut on the album, where all 3 of them float effortlessly. Kool G starts off with his aggressive flow, with his impressive raw bars. Even got a Hip-Hop Quotable on The Source. Hav manages to catch up well. But the star of the show is Prodigy, of course, with one of the best verses on the album. P's efforts throughout this album have been alright, not up there with his previous moments on The Infamous & Hell on Earth, but still tolerable. But THIS! This takes the cake. Classic and timeless, still gets plays to this day.
17. U.S.A. (Aiight Then)
Forgettable song on here, didn't like it when I first heard it, and it's still a mediocre cut on here.
18. It's Mine (feat. Nas)
The third time Nas is on a Mobb album, and it was only right for it to be the next single, considering both were at their commercial peak. Over a Scarface-sampled beat, P & Hav provide some dope verses, while Nas comes with an unnecessary "The Boy is Mine" interpolation. His verse was good tho.
19. Quiet Storm (Remix) [feat. Lil Kim]
The remix which helped the song reach a higher success, with Lil Kim providing a legendary verse. But let's also give some props to the duo too, they delivered some great new verses for the fans. Havoc finally has an opportunity to shine and he does his thing. Prodigy's verse was decent too, and he caught up well with the rest. Kim was obviously a highlight, and she was so comfortable over the beat. I still enjoy the original over this tho, but this is nonetheless a timeless joint.
Final Thoughts
The more I revisit this album, the more I realise how... alright it is. I've wondered why Murda Muzik is hardly mentioned when mentioning Mobb Deep, and now I kinda understand. This album was just decent. I kinda expected it to successfully continue the hard and gritty vibes of their previous two albums, but in some cases, it falls flat. This certainly has more lows in comparison to The Infamous and Hell on Earth.
The duo's performances are great, in a lot of cases. It seems that we manage to see Havoc catch up with Prodigy or even outshine him more often on the album than before. I enjoyed his verse on "I'm Going Out", he was floating so well on the beat; same with "What's Ya Poison" (P did aight tho). "Can't Fuck Wit" was another one where Hav seemed way more comfortable over the instrumental than Prodigy & Raekwon, especially providing the hook and all. Fortunately, there are still times P is a beast on the mic. His verse on "The Realest" is one of my favourite verses overall from him, and he certainly blacked out on "Allustrious". The hit single "Quiet Storm" features more of P's best verses, painting his vivid pictures while Hav does his hook.
There are certainly more low moments on this album than on their previous efforts, and this would've been better if a few songs were omitted. Then again, this album was leaked so they needed to record some new shit. I don't blame them. Anyway, Havoc's solo "Let a Ho Be a Ho" was a weak and unnecessary cut. I enjoy Hav's contributions but this wasn't it. It was alright, kinda felt like an interlude though. "U.S.A. (Aiight Then)" was a song I hardly go back to. It was forgettable for me, and the two didn't impress me on it. "Thug Muzik" is just Prodigy and his weed carriers on a track together, while Chinky's shitty vocals are present. Nothing was memorable about that song apart from P's Shook Ones reference at the end. "Adrenaline" was OK. I didn't like the hook, and the beat was average. "Streets Raised Me" could've been better without Chinky on the hook, and it certainly didn't work too well as an opener, especially for an album titled Murda Muzik (I had to say that again, I'm sorry). The title track would've worked way better as an intro.
The line up of features on here was nice, and they all do a decent job. Kool G Rap starts "The Realest" off with a hard verse, and I enjoyed it a lot. While Nas's hook on "It's Mine" wasn't that great, his verse was pretty good, and he managed to hold his own with the duo. Cormega had a decent verse on "What's Ya Poison". "Where Ya From" was something a little different from Mobb's usual style, but they tried their best to spit on the beat. It's clear 8Ball had them beat, he sounded way more comfortable. Lil Cease killed it on "I'm Going Out", his flow was so enjoyable. Other than Chinky, Big Noyd was dope on "Streets Raised Me", he did his thing on that one.
Overall, this was decent. It's not a classic, but it's still third place when ranking their discography, so that says a lot. According to other Mobb fans who have found the leak, it was way better than this retail version. Well, I don't know, and I'll try to find and listen to the leak in the future. Nonetheless, I don't mind this version, it still got a lot of good moments. Another solid project in Mobb's catalog. Not a classic, but not exactly amazing. Just good.
Recommended Tracks
The Realest
Allustrious
I'm Going Out
Quiet Storm
What's Ya Poison
Murda Muzik
It's Mine
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