Album of The Week
Album of the Week (Oct 12)
by Rapjoint Lagos
Album of the Week- (Rap Joint Lagos and DJ Daggash)
The Rap Joint Lagos Album of the Week is “The Infamous” by Mobb Deep. It was released on 25th April, 1995 and is the second studio album by the American hip hop duo. The album debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/HipHop Album charts. Defined by evocative melodies and lyrics the album deals with inner crime in the city neighborhoods and has been occasionally referred to as dark & haunting.
Mobb Deep is arguably my favorite Rap Group. I was introduced to them by my home boy, Goat Head, in 1996. And, I got hooked by one of their interludes, the 2nd track on the Album(the Infamous Prelude. Whilst, Prodigy was running his mouth with a lot of violent threats, I was captivated by his self awareness when he said:
“I know very well I could get shot, stabbed or fucked up too, whatever
I ain't "Super Nigga", I'm a little skinny motherfucka
It's all about who gets who first, though
You know what I'm sayin?”
Both Prodigy and Havoc are quite small in stature but their brand of gangsta is very graphic and relatable.
“Shook Ones Part II” is the lead single of the album and also a promotional single of the group’s single “Shook Ones” in 1994. The narrative is taken from the perspective of inner city youths struggling for financial freedom and territorial warfare. Who loves Mobb Deep and forgets the line: “I got you stuck on the realness” ? Rolling Stone magazine placed the song on its list of The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time. The beat of the track is off the hinges and has been sampled times over in many songs both rap and R & B (https://thesource.com/2017/11/02/10-songs-sampled-mobb-deep-shook-ones/). The best song where it was sampled was “The Roof” by Mariah Carey. I can die for the Song and it’s remix.
“Give up the Goods” featuring Big Noyd, was significant in its own right. It was the first time the world heard the popular phrase that every Queens native fears, even today.
“Temperature Rising” featured R&B singer Crystal Johnson, was written in the form of a letter to an associate that is hiding from the police. The song was crafted in the same storytelling mold as “One Love” and “Warning”.
‘Up North Trip’ rip has a sample of the “Spinners - I'm tired of giving and details their state sponsored vacation in one of New York penitentiaries. This is basically a reminder that all of their actions will produce consequences.
In ‘Trife Life’ Mobb Deep brought tales about their “trife life” chronicling the trials and tribulations of life in the hood. Lots of vivid storytelling and imaginative hood scenarios.
‘Q.U.-Hectic’ contains a sample of “Kitty With the Bent Frame” by Quincy Jones. It has its dramatic keyboards which are typical for the album while the emotive horn stabs are more at home on this album.
‘Drink Away The Pain’ was produced by and features Q-Tip. The song personifies dangerous addictions. Prodigy and Havoc compare their love for alcohol to infatuation with a woman.
This album has been credited with helping to redefine the sound of hardcore hip-hop and is widely regarded as a cornerstone album of New York hardcore rap. There is simply no single album of the golden age of 1990s New York rap that sums up the location and era like this Album.
Without a doubt, a classic Rap Album.
The Rap Joint Lagos Album of the Week is “The Infamous” by Mobb Deep. It was released on 25th April, 1995 and is the second studio album by the American hip hop duo. The album debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/HipHop Album charts. Defined by evocative melodies and lyrics the album deals with inner crime in the city neighborhoods and has been occasionally referred to as dark & haunting.
Mobb Deep is arguably my favorite Rap Group. I was introduced to them by my home boy, Goat Head, in 1996. And, I got hooked by one of their interludes, the 2nd track on the Album(the Infamous Prelude. Whilst, Prodigy was running his mouth with a lot of violent threats, I was captivated by his self awareness when he said:
“I know very well I could get shot, stabbed or fucked up too, whatever
I ain't "Super Nigga", I'm a little skinny motherfucka
It's all about who gets who first, though
You know what I'm sayin?”
Both Prodigy and Havoc are quite small in stature but their brand of gangsta is very graphic and relatable.
“Shook Ones Part II” is the lead single of the album and also a promotional single of the group’s single “Shook Ones” in 1994. The narrative is taken from the perspective of inner city youths struggling for financial freedom and territorial warfare. Who loves Mobb Deep and forgets the line: “I got you stuck on the realness” ? Rolling Stone magazine placed the song on its list of The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time. The beat of the track is off the hinges and has been sampled times over in many songs both rap and R & B (https://thesource.com/2017/11/02/10-songs-sampled-mobb-deep-shook-ones/). The best song where it was sampled was “The Roof” by Mariah Carey. I can die for the Song and it’s remix.
“Give up the Goods” featuring Big Noyd, was significant in its own right. It was the first time the world heard the popular phrase that every Queens native fears, even today.
“Temperature Rising” featured R&B singer Crystal Johnson, was written in the form of a letter to an associate that is hiding from the police. The song was crafted in the same storytelling mold as “One Love” and “Warning”.
‘Up North Trip’ rip has a sample of the “Spinners - I'm tired of giving and details their state sponsored vacation in one of New York penitentiaries. This is basically a reminder that all of their actions will produce consequences.
In ‘Trife Life’ Mobb Deep brought tales about their “trife life” chronicling the trials and tribulations of life in the hood. Lots of vivid storytelling and imaginative hood scenarios.
‘Q.U.-Hectic’ contains a sample of “Kitty With the Bent Frame” by Quincy Jones. It has its dramatic keyboards which are typical for the album while the emotive horn stabs are more at home on this album.
‘Drink Away The Pain’ was produced by and features Q-Tip. The song personifies dangerous addictions. Prodigy and Havoc compare their love for alcohol to infatuation with a woman.
This album has been credited with helping to redefine the sound of hardcore hip-hop and is widely regarded as a cornerstone album of New York hardcore rap. There is simply no single album of the golden age of 1990s New York rap that sums up the location and era like this Album.
Without a doubt, a classic Rap Album.
