Album: Prodigy – H.N.I.C. Part 2

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The iconic Mobb Deep duo of Havoc and Prodigy have been quiet as a group since their G-Unit debut Blood Money was met with a resounding thud back in 2006. However, this backburner status within Fiddy’s label structure hasn’t seemed to have stopped either of the Queensbridge repping veterans from working on the solo front. Following up from the mixtape-styled Return of the Mac, Prodigy once again goes the independent route, crafting one of the darkest and most brooding albums released in quite some time, following up from his solid 2001 solo debut, with H.N.I.C. Part 2.

From the offset of H.N.I.C. Part 2 the recently incarcerated rapper is angered and feels betrayed by the American government, reminiscent of his earlier angst-fuelled work. Real Power Is People has him expressing his wish for a society where people are given the rights and power to make important decisions. It’s like the 1960s peace movement, except with more menace and venom.

With the lines “Illuminati rule my mind, soul and my body/secret society, trying to keep their eye on me” forever etched in Hip Hop’s conscience, Capital P explores a familiar subject matter on the Alchemist-crafted Illuminati. Prodigy sounds like he is seeing life with an all new clarity and purpose, an interesting change of pace for a man who on past tracks has denounced God and expressed an enjoyment for inflicting pain on foes.

Continuing in reminiscent mode, Prodigy delivers the sequel to his brilliantly moving track Veterans Memorial. This time around he pays fitting tribute to fallen soldiers Killa Black (Havoc’s younger brother), street hustler E. Money Bags and Bud Johnson (Prodigy’s father), utilising a sample of Betty Everett’s tremendous cut Just a Matter of Time. It’s also both disturbing and strangely funny to hear Prodigy reminisce about his father teaching him to hurt people with his bare hands and fire a gun.

Apart from politically-fuelled statements and personal accounts of life, H.N.I.C. Part 2 also serves as almost a Hip Hop horror flick, containing some of the gloomiest and most haunting production any musical genre has produced in recent years. The well-proven partnership of Prodigy and the Alchemist comes off like the east coast version of Three 6 Mafia on tracks like The Life. One of the most memorable moments comes in the form of the entertaining yet creepy ABC, produced by up and coming beat-maker Sid Roams, which has a Children of the Corn quality thanks to the ominous kiddie-driven hook.

Havoc, Mobb Deep‘s other half, lends his sizable production talents on a few tracks, most notably on the vivid and cinematic I Want Out, which finds Prodigy, Un Pacino and Havoc pondering the harsh realities of life and the drawbacks that come with their chosen field.

For those that cried foul when Mobb Deep signed with the Unit, H.N.I.C. Part 2 is not only the sound of redemption but the sound of a true force of Hip Hop music back in fighting form, adding a new depth to his personality and artistry. A little ray of light may have been suitable to balance between all of the darkness heard throughout the album. Otherwise, Prodigy’s second solo project is a triumph. Let’s hope he can serve his jail sentence without incident and stay out of trouble once released. QB does it again!

Available through Infamous Records/Voxonic Music