|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LP
|
|
GET 55003LP
|
"Issued on vinyl for the fi¬rst time ever in an opaque red pressing housed in a gatefold jacket! In the mid-2000s, as Prodigy began to map out the follow up to his solo release H.N.I.C., he worked up some new material with long-time collaborator The Alchemist. Material that was meant to be a mixtape. Just a little something to keep the fans interested until H.N.I.C. Part 2. The resulting recordings were so high caliber, so tapped into the very essence of Prodigy's Mobb Deep pedigree, just so damn good - that a commercial release of the material was inevitable -- as Return Of The Mac. Backed by classic Blaxploitation style samples from The Alchemist, Prodigy paints a picture with his words. A picture of the rough and tumble New York of his up-bringing. When issued in 2007, many considered it his best effort in at least a decade. In their review of the then new release, even Pitchfork had to admit 'Prodigy's made the comeback no one saw coming.' Fans agreed with that assessment, their whole-hearted embrace of Return Of The Mac placed the title at #32 on the Billboard Top 200."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
GET 51504LP
|
"When it comes to authentic, ride-or-die hip-hop, few crews have as much resonance as Mobb Deep. Featuring two double-threat MCs who also produced -- Havoc and the sadly-departed Prodigy -- the crew changed the hardcore rap game in 1995 with their sophomore classic The Infamous, and went on to rule the dark corners of hip-hop for the second half of the 90s and well into the 2000s. After multiple Mobb Deep platters in the '90s, Prodigy entered the 2000s as a solo artist with force, rolling over a stomping, piano-freaked backdrop laced by producer The Alchemist, with 'Keep It Thoro.' It has held up over time, proving itself as an anthemic classic that the streets and clubs still respect. Flaunting a smooth-but-menacing flow, Prodigy's no-nonsense lyricism on 'Keep It Thoro' is prototypical modern age brag rap. Countless MCs have followed his flow, from Fabolous to Joey Bada$$. The song is short and sweet, clocking in at just over three minutes. There are no wasted verses, just hardcore rhymes that stay with you. But 'Thoro' was the tip of the iceberg on what proved to be one of the more coveted rap full-lengths of the era. The album boasted other charting singles, including 'Rock Dat Shit' and 'Y.B.E.' (featuring B.G.), but it can be argued that the album's real gems are buried deeper. 'Genesis,' 'What U Rep' (featuring Noreaga) and 'Three' are all sinister yet pensive. 'Wanna Be Thugs' and 'Delt With The Bullshit' are strong and evocative Mobb Deep cuts, featuring production and vocals by Havoc. And alongside other standouts, perhaps the deepest cut of all -- especially in light of Prodigy's recent and way-too-soon passing due to complications from Sickle Cell Anemia -- is 'You Can Never Feel My Pain,' which details the health issues and challenges this talented MC and producer had been facing his whole life. H.N.I.C. was Prodigy's first solo album, but it is perhaps his best. Among fans he will never be forgotten, for his skills, his storytelling and his no-B.S. approach to the art of MCing."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
GET 51327LP
|
"When it comes to authentic, ride-or-die hip-hop, few crews have as much resonance as Mobb Deep. Featuring two double-threat MCs who also produced -- Havoc and the sadly-departed Prodigy -- the crew changed the hardcore rap game in 1995 with their sophomore classic The Infamous, and went on to rule the dark corners of hip-hop for the second half of the 90s and well into the 2000s. After multiple Mobb Deep platters in the '90s, Prodigy entered the 2000s as a solo artist with force, rolling over a stomping, piano-freaked backdrop laced by producer The Alchemist, with 'Keep It Thoro.' It has held up over time, proving itself as an anthemic classic that the streets and clubs still respect. Flaunting a smooth-but-menacing flow, Prodigy's no-nonsense lyricism on 'Keep It Thoro' is prototypical modern age brag rap. Countless MCs have followed his flow, from Fabolous to Joey Bada$$. The song is short and sweet, clocking in at just over three minutes. There are no wasted verses, just hardcore rhymes that stay with you. But 'Thoro' was the tip of the iceberg on what proved to be one of the more coveted rap full-lengths of the era. The album boasted other charting singles, including 'Rock Dat Shit' and 'Y.B.E.' (featuring B.G.), but it can be argued that the album's real gems are buried deeper. 'Genesis,' 'What U Rep' (featuring Noreaga) and 'Three' are all sinister yet pensive. 'Wanna Be Thugs' and 'Delt With The Bullshit' are strong and evocative Mobb Deep cuts, featuring production and vocals by Havoc. And alongside other standouts, perhaps the deepest cut of all -- especially in light of Prodigy's way-too-soon passing due to complications from Sickle Cell Anemia -- is 'You Can Never Feel My Pain,' which details the health issues and challenges this talented MC and producer had been facing his whole life. H.N.I.C. was Prodigy's first solo album, but it is perhaps his best. Among fans he will never be forgotten, for his skills, his storytelling and his no-B.S. approach to the art of MCing."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
7"
|
|
GET 732EP
|
"Those first four lines, backed by that ridiculously ill beat, slugged you in the sternum when you heard them, fifteen years ago. And they still cause involuntary, heavy head-nodding episodes to this day. When it comes to authentic, ride-or-die hip-hop from the latter days of rap's Golden Age, few crews have as much modern resonance as Mobb Deep. Featuring two double-threat MCs who also produced -- Havoc and Prodigy -- the crew changed the hardcore rap game in 1995 with their sophomore classic The Infamous, and went on to rule the dark corners of hip-hop's over- and underground for the second half of the 90s and well into the 2000s. With a stomping, piano-freaked backdrop laced by producer The Alchemist, Prodigy entered the 2000s with force as he debuted solo on 'Keep It Thoro.' It was the first single off his H.N.I.C. album, and it proved to be an anthemic classic that the streets and clubs respect to this day. Flaunting a smooth-but-menacing flow, Prodigy's no nonsense lyricism on 'Keep It Thoro' is prototypical modern age brag rap. Countless MCs have followed his flow, from Fabolous to Joey Bada$$. And beyond the influence he knew would follow in the song's wake, he even astutely brags about his flaunting of conventional song structure."
|
|
|
|