Review: Mobb Deep - The Infamous Mobb Deep
[Infamous Records, 2014]
Rating: 8/10
By Travis Boswell, Contributor
Key Tracks: "Dirt," "Check The Credits," "Taking You Off Here"
Mobb Deep's most recent moments in the spotlight were unfortunately not related to the music. Havoc and Prodigy had a public falling-out, putting the group on indefinite hiatus with plans for a reunion far out of their minds.
Thankfully, the Queensbridge MCs put all of that nastiness behind them to deliver their first major collaboration since 2006's Blood Money. The Infamous Mobb Deep isn't just a stronger album than their last, it contains a full disc of rare demos from their 1995 classic The Infamous. This album is both a return to form for the duo and a reminder of why The Infamous changed the landscape of hip-hop 19 years ago.
Blood Money wasn't a terrible album, but it's one of the weakest in Mobb Deep's collection. The group sounded tired and unfulfilled before, but they're back in form on The Infamous Mobb Deep. The opening tracks “Taking You Off Here” and “Say Something” put Havoc and Prodigy right back where they work best with sparse, menacing instrumentals and tales of violence in the streets.
Any fears that this album would be a quick cash-in on the name of The Infamous are quickly dispelled, as they pay tribute to that album without relying heavily on its name. Unlike The Infamous, the majority of production is left to outsiders instead of Havoc and Prodigy themselves. !llmind's productions are clearly influenced by Havoc, and he makes songs like “Dirt” and “Check the Credits” some of the best on the album.
There are a few less impressive tracks, but they don't drag down the whole album. “All A Dream” has an awkward, stuttering beat that no one but Havoc seems to fit on, making his short verse the best part of a five-minute song. “Lifetime” is produced by longtime contributor The Alchemist, but it is an uncharacteristically boring production for him. The most disappointing parts are the last four tracks, recycled from previous Mobb Deep releases like the Black Cocaine EP. They're still good songs, but it's difficult to get excited for them again.
While the first disc alone is some of Mobb Deep's best material, the second disc makes this album necessary for fans. The 1994 Infamous Sessions contains a handful of rare demos, unreleased songs, and even old interviews with the group. Some of these songs have leaked out before, but they've been remastered in high quality for the first time here. "Eye for an Eye" contains a new verse from Ghostface Killah, "Gimme the Goods" is an alternate version of "Give up the Goods", and both "Survival of the Fittest" and "Temperature's Rising" have different production and alternate lyrics from the original versions. It's not a full album of completely new material, but hearing what Mobb Deep scrapped or lost in preparing their most famous album is fascinating.
Mobb Deep hasn't been cruising by on their success since 1995. The two have been actively putting out solid releases since then. Any doubts that they couldn't craft another great album should be dispelled here, as The Infamous Mobb Deep brings back the sinister production and graphic street tales that put them in the spotlight in the first place. If that's not enough, The 1994 Infamous Sessions is both a necessary item for fans and anyone craving a classic hip-hop album. It was a risk naming this album after The Infamous, but it lives up to the name.
