If anyone has listened to any form of hip hop or rap music as long as I have you know that Mobb Deep's career jump started once "Shook Ones Part 2" was released. "The Infamous" is and will always be Mobb Deep's best CD with classic tracks like "Survival Of The Fittest", "Give Up The Goods" w/Big Noyd, "Eye For A Eye" w/Nas & Raekwon, and "Drink Away The Pain". "Hell On Earth" was decent as well with tracks like "Drop A Gem On 'Em", "Extortion" w/Method Man and the title track. Then just when you thought Mobb Deep couldn't come anywhere close to "The Infamous" again they blessed us with "Murda Muzik". My favorite tracks ended up being "What's Ya Poison" w/Cormega, "The Realest" w/Kool G Rap, "It's Mine" w/Nas, "Where You From" w/8Ball and both versions of "Quiet Storm".
However, after one verse on Jay Z's "Takeover", Mobb Deep's career took a dive. After that, my man Prodigy has never been the same. I am not sure if the diss took something out of Mobb Deep, especially Prodigy, but they have never been the same. Don't get me wrong I have "Infamy", I even purchased the double disc "Free Agents: The Murda Mixtape". "Infamy" kept my attention for awhile with "Burn" w/Big Noyd, the classic "Get Away" and "Nothing Like Home" w/Littles but never in a million years would I have expected to see Mobb Deep on a track with 112. "Hey Luv (Anything)" while it was catchy did little to try to bring Mobb Deep back to some kind of respectability. "Amerika'z Nightmare", Mobb Deep's last CD, was definitely a step in the right direction. The 1st single "Got It Twisted" was a scorcher from The Alchemist, so was another favorite of mine, "Win Or Lose", as well as, "Throw Your Hands", produced by Kanye West and "One Of Ours" w/Jadakiss. After the second single, which was produced by Lil Jon, "Real Gangstaz" didn't go anywhere, Mobb Deep was on the grind again and then Curtis Jackson called.
When I first heard that Mobb Deep had signed to G-Unit I had mixed feelings. I was glad that Mobb Deep was signed to another deal but at the same time I was worried that they wouldn't be able to come close to their 2 greatest creations which were "The Infamous" and "Murda Muzik". The first Mobb Deep/G Unit collaboration that I heard was the remix to 50 Cent's "Outta Control" from "The Massacre". Dr. Dre slowed things down on the remix and the track was pretty good. The next collaboration was a track that featured 50 Cent, Mobb Deep and Nate Dogg on "Have A Party" which was featured on the "Get Rich And Die Trying" soundtrack. The track was acceptable but trust me it wasn't better than the "Outta Control" (Remix).
The 1st single on "Blood Money" is the Sha Money XL and Havoc produced "Put 'Em In Their Place". This track was definitely a step in the right direction but I was interested to see what the actual CD was going to sound like. Die hard Mobb Deep fans may have a hard time trying to stomach this CD. After about 3 listens you may have to invest in some Pepto Bismol or some Pepcid AC. Don't get me wrong, "Blood Money" does have its moments. My favorite track ends up being "The Infamous" which for some reason is the only track that The Alchemist produces. This is definitely the best beat on this CD and the closest that Hollywood Hav and V.I.P get to any of their best songs from the past. "Stole Something" has Havoc producing one of his best beats on the CD. Lloyd Banks comes along for the ride and the results are pretty good. Havoc also does a nice job on the production on "Creep". 50 adds his 2 cents to the track as well, but atleast the track is something that you can listen to. "Speakin' So Freely" features the Havoc that I have come to expect. Once Prodigy started to falter on "Infamy", Havoc started becoming the best lyrically, in my opinion, because some Mobb Deep fans thought Havoc was the best lyrically all along. However, on this track Prodigy does give him a run for his money. "Pearly Gates" features 50 on a tight sample and the M.O.B.B and Curtis "Interscope" Jackson have their best collaboration on the CD that 50 actually raps on. However, Prodigy takes things a little too far with his lyrics. Interscope wasn't having it and you will find alot of parts of his verse edited by the powers that be in Interscope. I respect most opinions that I hear about religion, but Prodigy might want to think before he starts writing rhymes. If you want to hear the actual verse you'll have to catch the song on a mixtape somewhere. I also like "Daydreamin" because of its dark beat and the way that Prodigy reminisces about the times that they wished they could be in the rap game. The 2nd single on this CD should be the Mary J Blige and 50 Cent featured "It's Alright". This song may take a while to grow on most Mobb Deep fans but this is the next best thing to a 2nd single on "Blood Money".
My problems with this CD are 1) 50 Cent is on this CD entirely too much. If you include the bonus tracks, 50 raps on the "Outta Control" (Remix), "Have A Party", "Creep", "Pearly Gates" and "It's Alright". He is also featured on the chorus of "Backstage Pass" and "The Infamous". If I really want to hear 50 on that many songs I will pull out "Guess Who's Back" or "Get Rich Or Die Trying". Why not have M.O.P. on atleast one track. If 50 can be on 7 tracks, then I need M.O.P. to be atleast on one track, if they are still in G-Unit. 2) There are too many songs where Mobb Deep is talking about how much money they made, are making or how much money they stand to make being in G Unit. Mobb Deep if you have dropped 7 CDs you should have some money. Please don't waste your time or my time telling us how much money you have or how rich you are and 3) I need someone to sit Prodigy down and play "The Infamous" and "Murda Muzik" atleast 3 times and to ask him where did the old Prodigy go and to please go find him. There are too many times on "Blood Money" where Prodigy's rhymes don't come close to matching Havoc's. I am not sure if he is taking a lazy approach to rhyming because of his newfound money, but he needs to take a long look at himself. Some tracks you will find totally ridiculous. On "Capital P, Capital H" hear is Prodigy: Capital P, Bandana P, VIP, MVP, RSVP or R.I.P, VSOP, ASAP, PCP.... Now I have never claimed to be a rapper and I never will but Prodigy even mentioning this in any shape or form demonstrates how much he has lost his skills. You won't even want to listen to "Give It To Me" featuring Young Buck a second time. That track will definitely get the skip button EVERYTIME. That's how bad it is. This may be the worst Mobb Deep song ever made. "Backstage Pass" is in a close running for second. The beat is catchy but you won't be listening to this track too many times. Just as reviewer, Constant, stated I don't need to hear them talking about groupies.
In closing, if you are a fan of "The Infamous" and "Murda Muzik" like I am and you have supported Mobb Deep as much as I have, you may not like "Blood Money". The CD does have its moments but the rating of this CD is inbetween a 2.5 and a 3. I am being as brutally honest as I can be. I know that is a harsh rating for a Mobb Deep CD, but if you don't trust me you can buy the CD and listen for yourself. On "Click Click", Tony Yayo outshines Mobb Deep on a Havoc produced track. As much as I like the energy that Tony Yayo brings to G-Unit, real Mobb Deep fans know that's not supposed to happen.
Somehow, someway Mobb Deep has to "Get Away", from the "50isms". "50isms" in so many words means that just because you have money, that doesn't mean that you have to take the easy way out and just put out a CD. There was a reason why Eminem didn't want 50 to release a CD this year. If you don't believe me listen to "The Massacre". If Mobb Deep can get back to being hungry like they were on "The Infamous" then they stand a chance, if not, the future isn't looking too bright for the M.O.B.B.
P.S. R.I.P. Proof
James' Top 5
1) The Infamous w/50 Cent
2) Speakin' So Freely
3) Pearly Gates w/ 50 Cent
4) It's Alright w/Mary J. Blige & 50 Cent
5) Daydreamin'
Unbiased Review
Mobb Deep took 50 Cent's "Blood Money", so don't expect "The Infamous" or "Murda Muzik" anymore.
16 tracks
