©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Life & Arts

Don't waste your cash on Mobb Deep's 'Money'

by ELI JABBE
THE DAILY COUGAR

Mobb Deep are hip-hop veterans from Queens, New York. The pair, composed of Prodigy and Havoc, are most remembered for their 1995 release The Infamous, a classic East Coast album that featured great songs such as "Shook Ones" and "Eye for an Eye," a collaboration with Raekon of the Wu Tang Clan and Queens' legend Nas. 

The album's strength was its gritty beats, which were produced by Havoc who also rhymed, but was not as good a rapper as Prodigy. 

Havoc's minimalist production could also be heard on songs such as the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Last Day." 

Mobb Deep would go platinum later in their career, but they started to decline in the 21st century. Namely, Takeover, the 2001 Jay-Z diss record, would shatter Prodigy's street credibility, and basically erase Mobb Deep's relevance in hip-hop. 

Recently, Mobb Deep signed with 50 Cent and G-Unit, attempting to return to relevance.

Just like in the past, Havoc does a bulk of the production on this album. He's a solid producer who has produced songs like Jadakiss' 2004 hit, "Why." 

The album starts off strong with the Havoc-produced "Smoke It." It sounds like vintage Mobb Deep. 

But the album quickly goes downhill afterwards. For example, "Stole Something" features a very mediocre beat, and a lackluster guest verse from G-Unit member Lloyd Banks, who brings his usual monotonous tone, but doesn't even bring his usually solid punchlines. "Creep" sounds like a typical 50 Cent record, and he is featured on this mediocre song. "Speakin So Freely" shows off Havoc's producing skills and features a nice chorus and a nice verse from Prodigy.

Slowly but surely, Havoc has surpassed Prodigy in the rhyming department, and has become the best MC in this group (it also helps that Prodigy's skills have declined.) 

"Click Click" features G-Unit's worst rapper, Tony Yayo who is more like a hypeman than a musician. But believe it or not, he outshines Mobb Deep on this track. "Pearly Gates" is a controversial song featuring 50 Cent. "The Infamous" features a nice beat from past Mobb Deep collaborator Alchemist, but is ruined by 50's appearance on the hook. The album ends with three straight songs featuring 50 Cent.

Blood Money is not worth your money. Even the Havoc-produced tracks lack the usual Mobb Deep sound. 

This is really just a G-Unit style album, but what's funny is that the duo promised they wouldn't change their sound on this album, something many fans feared would happen. 

And that's exactly what happened: eight of the album's 16 songs feature 50 Cent, and some of the other songs feature choruses that sound like they were written by 50. 

All in all, Blood Money is a shame to the Queens' hip-hop scene, which has had classic albums like Nas' It Was Written and Kool G Rap's 4,5,6.

Mobb Deep

Blood Money
Interscope Records

Verdict: Blood Money disappoints.
 

Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu