Mobb Deep Album: “The Infamous [PA]”

This is a classic album. The beats are true East Coast, mid-90s style at its best and the rhymes are timeless. From beginning to end, this album hits all points and does not disappoint. It remains solid throughout.

The singles off this album were "Survival of the Fittest" and "Shook Ones Part II". These were both great tracks, but each track on this album is equally impressive - each telling a different story.

Havoc does some notable sample-work and arrangement on this album. The beats are as good as it gets and Prodigy and Havoc play off each other very well when it comes to rhyming.

I still feel this is Mobb's best album to date. CLASSIC!

Similar to Smif - N- Wessun's "Dah Shinin'" and Black Moon's "Enta Da Stage", Mobb Deep's (second album) "The Infamous" reigns supreme as NY's darkest and most eerily "street" album, period. With this release, Prodigy & Havoc really set themselves apart from the rest, and not only furthered QB's position in HipHop, but laid their foundation for what would be a very respected career. It's unfortunate that it would be their second release that got them noticed, as in my opinion, their debut; "Juvenlie Hell" displayed raw talent, but quite clearly, still has nothin' on this. Dropping one year after arguably the greatest hiphop album of all time (Nas': Illmatic), "the infamous" became undoubtedly one of few releases to immediately receive praise, from whoever gave it a try.

Now, try & ask any self-proclaimed Hiphop fans whether they have ever heard "Shook Ones part 2", and what you should encounter is a response that should lead you to think you have, unknowingly, just thrown a direct insult! It's a straight fact; it is one of the most influential and groundbreaking tracks of all time!. It is impossible to count just how many times P & Hav have been sampled on that, timeless classics have sampled that track. It's a STRICT, untainted, masterpiece. Similarly, "Survival of the fittest" and "Give Up The Goods" are regarded as two of the greatest tracks ever to emerge from the Gutters of the East, with bass-heavy & perfectly flipped samples courtesy of Havoc & The abstract. BUT YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOWWW THAT!

Despite these being the significant highlights of the album, it has to be said that the album is VERY consistent and their are alot of other tracks which are almost on par with such classics. Most notably "The Start of Your Ending" produced by Hav, which is for me, one of Mobb's best tracks peroid, and a great intro to the album "I'm in this to win this, you're gonna take a fall...". "Up North Trip" gives a captivating narration over one - hell of a beat, check the vibe. Not to mention the eery classic "QU Hectic", if that doesn't get you ready to lace up your timz n hoods then I don't know what will! "When you're outta town represent your ground..." and the cut "Right Back At You" featuring Ghostface & Raekwon at their peak. And that's just to name a few, take it from me, there is not one bad track on the whole thing...you can stick it on and take a journey through QB's dark side, without wanting to help it along by grippin' the remote. Along with Ghost & Raekwon, Legends; Q-Tip, Nas, an unknown Big Noyd & crystal johnson fortunately come along for the ride! Aaaah There is just too much to say about this album.

Now, if you've read this review, took a peep at the other 5 star reviews and still hesitating to buy it, you should just straight close this window, turn your computer off, throw it off a cliff, and -well- follow it. Have no doubts, cop this right now (and it's always cheap) there's no exscuses, DO NOT DOWNLOAD IT, just buy it. You're only cheating yourself, enough said. ONE OF THE GREATEST HIPHOP ALBUMS OF ALL TIME!

Lyrics - 10/10

Beats - 10/10

Originality - 10/10

Replay Value - 10/10

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It's simple really: put this disk in your player and see how many times you listen to it continuously, it's going to be more than twice. This is the kind of disk that you play over and over again. There is nothing particularly innovative about this disk (that is - outside of charting the self-contained development of Mobb Deep's own sound) but Havoc and Prodigy blend seamlessly with the minimal but stellar production. Almost every song is well crafted, lyrically and musically. The inspired beats crackle with energy and all the songs are laced with choruses that make you want shout and gangsta stomp. I freestyle over this record all the time- the groveling baselines just propel the voice. This album has it's own flow that pulls you like an undertow you just can't escape. Drown to this.

My walls are thick. Friends come over to listen to my tunes, although these days things are getting slower. I can please the room with Mary J, D'Angelo, Fugees, Lauryn Hill, BlackStreet, Bilal, even Method Man or Mos Def. My girlfriend is happy, everyone is smiling. But the evening wears on, a few drinks later, and I want to hear what I want to hear. Mobb Deep, the Infamous.

People are turning round, my girlfriend lets it pass, but others are asking me for the stuff I was playing before. But I'm happy now. Too many artists think that profanity and drug dealing talk will give them an immediate edge, a gansta kudos. It often sounds pathetic. Mobb Deep understand that the beats and the delivery and most important of all - the SPACE, come together to contribute to how a music translates. The piano loops are simple and perfect, the beats hypnotic but with a definite hook. As a comparison, think of Nas on NY State of Mind or GZA on Liquid Swords. Not a direct music comparison, but an idea of how genuine this feels.

But there are a few boys in corner of the room, grinning, nodding their heads, and maybe gurning a little. They asking me - "jeez, man...what is this ? You gonna make me a copy yesterday boy." One of them invariably walks home with the cd. I've bought the thing more than twice.

Unfortunately, like many others, Nas included, Mobb Deep were not able to follow this up. But they did capture something special and unique in this album. I can't believe they were nineteen years old at the time. If I'm ever feeling stressed, aggressive or just done with the city, this is the music that calms me down. Check 'Survival of the Fittest', 'Hectic', or 'Shook Ones'.

It's unbelieveable what these boyz have accomplished in their career, but this album is by far their greatest achievement. It takes me back to the early 90's when hip hop had that classic underground feel. These days rap has become more commercial and more about money, than acctually producing an album with solid beats and lyrics. Mobb has always tried to stay away from that part of the industry though, giving their music a real authentic feel. Their more recent albums have changed slightly, but that's only to be expected as the group ages and becomes more popular. However, this album shows what Mobb is really about, and there is no doubt it will remain a classic.