Sunday, September 7, 2008

Rappers of the Sabbath

The ROTS is proud to present:
The Infamous...MOBB DEEP, circa 95.

Havoc and Prodigy hustle rhymes hard (h.r.h.) to keep the 41st side of Queens on the rap-map with this GOLDEN GEM pushing lyrics, beats, money and beef like drug dealers pushing ounces on the block. "My crew is all bout loot."
This album strikes nerves in most listeners conjuring up dark alleyways, range rovers, drugs, lexus cars, murder, fatigues, timberlands, fat chains and brick highrises from track 1 to track 16.
1995 definately brought other gems as well such as: Ol Dirty, Smif-N-Wessun, Raekwon, Company Flow, KRS 1, Big L, GZA, Jr Mafia, Crooklyn Dodgers, etc ... which translates to: 95 being a CHALK-FULL-YEAR for NYC hiphop, and Mobb Deep's Infamous release only seemed to add more chips to the pot of gold, raise the stakes and convey Queens as a grimey hood that's enforced by full-time-crooks.
Produced mainly by Havoc (some by Q-Tip:Drink the Pain Away bump this HARD), the beats certainly reflect the mid-90s methodology: SP1200 bass lines, gritty snares, and the occasional horns and keys to fuel the rhythm. No breakdowns, no complex rhythms, no 808s ... just simple head-knodding beats!
The duo's style and persona is vivid throughout Infamous capturing a raw take on life that relies on street-strength. It's too bad their later releases (not Hell on Earth) couldn't maintain and reflect Mobb Deep's early conceptions and strict survival tactics.
I strongly recommend downloading this if you're into hiphop, and if you already own it, then put it into daily rotation ahead of Lil Wayne for a change. "Don't make me have to call your name out"

Track listing:
1. Start of Your Ending, The (41st Side)
2. Infamous Prelude, The
3. Survival of the Fittest
4. Eye For a Eye (Your Beef Is Mines) feat. Nas and Raekwon
5. Just Step Prelude
6. Give up the Goods (Just Step) feat. Big Noyd
7. Temperature's Rising feat. Crystal Johnson
8. Up North Trip
9. Trife Life
10. Q.U.-Hectic
11. Right Back at You feat. Ghostface, Raekwon, and Big Noyd
12. The Grave Prelude
13. Cradle to the Grave
14. Drink Away the Pain (Situations) feat. Q-Tip
15. Shook Ones Pt. II
16. Party Over feat. Big Noyd

-- Download HERE --

*Learn it, live it, love it.

1 comment:

Jeffrey Dixon said...

"Your crew is feather weight...my gunshots'll make you levitate"
aaaah 95 was a golden year indeed.