An album I've been quite curious to hear, as a fan of Mobb Deep. Sure I'd've taken an album of both Havoc & Prodigy together over this anyday, but for that gritty dark sounding hip hop that only comes with the Mobb Deep brand, it feels like just as much as a privilege to hear this new solo material. I mean to me, any new material, by either Havoc or Prodigy is worth a listen. So basically that's why I'm reviewing this, an album which is of course the 3rd part of Prodigy's H.N.I.C trilogy. The follow up to 2008's H.N.I.C Pt.2, and (2000's) H.N.I.C.
An album that kicks off with the track 'Without Rhyme Or Reason'. A kind of concept track where P uses his bars to demonstrate that rapping isn't all about rhyming, and that he doesn't need a reason to do what he does best. An okayish Intro track produced by the Alchemist, as is track 2 'Slept On', a track about why P thinks that he shouldn't be ignored, and i mean why would anyone dream of it - the album 'Hell On Earth' springs to mind.
An album along with other Mobb Deep releases reminiscent on the next track also. A track called 'Pretty Thug' which actually sounds a little like the Slaughterhouse song 'Microphone', but no Alchemist this time this one's produced by Ty Fyffe. A track which in my opinion is the best track on the album so far, but being so early on - I think it would be a bit stupid to rate an album off only 3 tracks..
Next up we move on to the Willie Taylor (Of Day 26) featured 'Your Angel'. A smoothish kind of RNB thing on this one, and I don't mind it actually it's alright, but that's just me. There's something which gets me about the emotion behind Rap with RnB features. I like it, but moving on, and we get the Wiz Khalifa assisted 'Co Pilot'. An East/ West coast collabo about a woman, I assume. I would describe it as on both rappers behalf quite a metaphorical piece. The sort of track that perhaps you could say needs a few listens to get into, but when you do it holds the album together quite well, as does the next track 'Live'. Another one produced by the Alchemist, and one that is quite funny to begin with actually as it has P showboating as a Radio DJ. You've got to love the first line also:
"Over here we tie your ass up to a chair, and throw bricks at you, top speed at your head..."
A classic track from the Alchemist/ Mobb Depp (even if it is only one of them), but what do you expect, from that typical Mobb Deep sound? A sound which on the next track is a little absent. A wierd kind of Alien sounding beat that begins with P trying his hand at a Dirty South kind of sound. A flow which doesn't continue throughout thank goodness, but on the other hand - the track is produced by upcoming producer Young L, and I suppose you got to respect P really for giving people like this a chance. People - I say because on the next track, which is again another Young L production, also features someone else in the same kind of situation. An emcee this time, and a guy who goes by the name of Boogz Bogetz on a track called 'Get Money'. Which again sounds very Dirty South, but saying that it is quite a catchy beat, and to put it plainly, as a rival to any of the other beats on the album - I would say it's right up there.
Right up there with the best, but as they say "what's goes up must come down", and the next track 'Life Is What You Make It' isn't really that great, and neither is track 10 'Award Show Life', but things do pick up with 'Who You Bullshittin?' a track featuring P's partner in rhyme, and other half (in Mobb Deep) Havoc. Produced by Sid Roams it's a bit of a breathe fresh air after some of the tracks that have played already, and a quite welcome reunion to tie us other to the next Mobb Deep album. An album coming out apparently next year, but back to HNIC pt. 3, and we move on to the track 'Skull & Bones' produced by UK producer Beat Butcha, and a welcome addition actually like a lot of Beat Butcha's past work, definitely up to scratch. So not complaining there, but anyway moving on. Track 13 now, and we have a song title used ironically by another Prodigy. A group big in my home country of the UK in the 1990's with their album 'Fat of the Land'. An album which boasted the controversial hit 'Smack Your B**ch up'. A title oddly similar to this one 'Smack That B**ch', featuring Esther. A track a little less controversial content wise considering it's singer Esther who's singing about Smacking the B**ch up, and not Prodigy. A good track overall, and 3 tracks after the rather weak tracks 9 & 10 the album feels like it's again beginning to take shape.
A shape that sounds oddly romantic after listening to track 14 'Let Me Show You'. Which surprisingly, considering it's probably not something you'd expect from P after first picking this album up, is yet another love song. A song featuring singer, 'Vaughn Anthony' which is basically about proving yourself to your woman, but if you thought this was surprising - you'll just love the next track. It's called 'Gangsta Love', and it's the 2nd track to feature singer Esther. A woman who I begin to wonder about actually; 'Is she more to P than his hook singer? Maybe not, but with all these songs about love - it must be someone right? I mean even on the next track, the T.I featured 'What's Happenin?' He's on about a woman again:
'When I was doing my sets up in the yard, all that was on my mind was my broad/ My star you the baddest b**ch/ Just the thought of us together got me extra big'.
So I mean it begs the question, is the Mobb Deep rapper in love? because he certainly hasn't avoided the subject much. I mean considering I started writing this review to actually write about this album, I can't help but think that I've slightly drifted off the subject a bit. A subject i didn't expect to be about being a good boyfriend, and looking after your woman, but more about being a gangsta, pimping hoes, and hustling. Topics that are far, and few between so in the hope that i might still here something exciting I shall move on to the next song. The 17th track on the album, and it's called 'Hate To Love', and it's got quite a nice beat actually, but unfortunately the topic doesn't seem to have changed very much. I shan't go on about it too much, but heck I can't get this line out of my head:
'I love to love you/ I love to love you/ We argue then we have make up sex/ We argue, and then we have anal sex/ You get on my f***in nerves b***ch. You make me sick.'
My assessment - Well, he must have been having anal sex with someone, and I hate to say it, but he was in jail for a couple of years, wasn't he lol (Just kidding, if for some reason you're reading this by the way P lol I don't think you're gay), but seriously - not the usual method of getting intimate with a woman after having a row. Certainally not what i'd do, but anyway back to the review.
Three tracks left now that continue with the song 'Ms. Bad Ass', a track about... need I say anymore, Prodigy's girlfriend/ wife/ mistress/ bit on the side, or whatever. So hardly exciting, but you can't hate on the fact that this album is still half descent. In fact i'd say it's only got 4/5 out of 20 tracks that i don't like. Unfortunately though i'd have to say that 3 of these are the last 3, and sadly, maybe, what might be the last thing I'll remember about this release.
So for my analysis - out of 10 marks i'm going to give a 6.5/10 for the percentage of the album i do like. A bit off putting yes perhaps, but I would recommend that the individual would build their own opinion before taken this review into account. A review that i'd say isn't all doom, and gloom, and for select tracks. I would suggest definately taking a listen.
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