H.N.I.C. | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 14, 2000 | |||
Recorded | 1998–2000 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 66:20 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Prodigy, Bink!, Hangmen 3, The Alchemist, Robert Kirkland, Mobb Deep, EZ Elpee, Nashiem Myrick, Rockwilder, Just Blaze, Ric Rude | |||
Prodigy chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Los Angeles Times | [2] |
HipHopDX | [3] |
RapReviews | 8.0/10 [4] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
The Source | [6] |
Vibe | [7] |
H.N.I.C. is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Prodigy. Originally scheduled for a summer 2000 release, the album was ultimately released on November 14, 2000 through Sony Music, Loud Records, SRC Records, and Prodigy's Infamous Records.
After four Mobb Deep albums, Prodigy took a temporary break from the group and released his first solo effort. "H.N.I.C." is an initialism for "Head Nigga in Charge." Prodigy enlisted a number of producers for the album, including The Alchemist, EZ Elpee, Rockwilder, Just Blaze and his Mobb Deep partner Havoc. Music videos were done for "Keep It Thoro" and "Y.B.E" (Young Black Entrepreneurs). The album received widespread critical acclaim. [8] The song "Keep It Thoro" was released on vinyl.[ citation needed ]
A sequel, H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 was released on April 22, 2008. It features production by Havoc, a fellow member of Mobb Deep and The Alchemist among others. In 2011, after being released from prison, Prodigy began work on the third album in the series, H.N.I.C. 3 .
Several rappers took inspiration from H.N.I.C., including Wiz Khalifa for his album O.N.I.F.C. (2012), [9] and then-16-year-old Kendrick Lamar for his debut mixtape Y.H.N.I.C. (2003). [10]
H.N.I.C. was certified Gold by the RIAA on December 18, 2000.
While Prodigy was working on H.N.I.C. and the Murda Muzik album with Mobb Deep, he started living a healthy lifestyle.[ citation needed ]
"Quiet Storm", a track that appeared on Murda Muzik, was originally intended for H.N.I.C. Prodigy utilized the song as a platform to share his personal struggles with Sickle-cell disease, which has affected him throughout his life. In the track "You Can Never Feel My Pain," Prodigy delves into the emotional toll of the disease, revealing that it has led to depression and a desire for controlled substances and alcohol.[ citation needed ]
The 6th track "Keep It Thoro" does not have a hook or chorus; this was the central idea of the song, with Prodigy making this clear with the penultimate line "heavy airplay all day with no chorus." However, Prodigy's manager at the time, Chris Lighty, thought the song would receive more radio airplay with a chorus. After the album release, Havoc released a version with a chorus, editing the penultimate line out. The Alchemist, the producer of this track, later commented that "the hook was dope too but the song was already powerful enough." This version of the song was included on the Japanese edition of the album as a bonus track. [11]
Prodigy's wife KiKi appears on the track "Trials of Love" as B.K. (aka) Mz. Bars, the only time she appears on a song. She made her video appearance in the Hey Luv video from Mobb Deep's Infamy (2001).[ citation needed ]
The album appeared on "The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s" list by Complex magazine. [12]
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Bars & Hooks (Intro)" | 1:19 | |
2. | "Genesis" | Prodigy | 2:49 |
3. | "Drive Thru (skit)" | 0:16 | |
4. | "Rock Dat Shit" | Bink Dogg | 4:21 |
5. | "What U Rep" (featuring N.O.R.E.) | Hang Men 3 | 4:32 |
6. | "Keep It Thoro" | The Alchemist | 3:05 |
7. | "Can't Complain" (featuring Twin Gambino & Chinky) | Prodigy | 4:19 |
8. | "Infamous Minded" (featuring Big Noyd) | Robert Kirkland | 3:27 |
9. | "Wanna Be Thugs" (featuring Havoc) | Havoc | 2:50 |
10. | "Three" (featuring Cormega) | The Alchemist | 2:20 |
11. | "Delt with the Bullshit" (featuring Havoc) | Havoc | 3:22 |
12. | "Trials of Love" (featuring B.K. (aka) Mz. Bars) | The Alchemist | 3:50 |
13. | "H.N.I.C." | EZ Elpee | 3:03 |
14. | "Be Cool (skit)" | 0:16 | |
15. | "Veteran's Memorial" | The Alchemist | 4:56 |
16. | "Do It" (featuring Mike Delorean) | Rockwilder | 3:20 |
17. | "Littles (skit)" | 1:19 | |
18. | "Y.B.E." (featuring B.G. of the Cash Money Millionaires) | Stephen "Lost Spirit" Dorsain, Nashiem Myrick, Prodigy | 4:21 |
19. | "Diamond" (featuring Bars & Hooks) | Just Blaze | 4:05 |
20. | "Gun Play" (featuring Big Noyd) | Rockwilder | 4:44 |
21. | "You Can Never Feel My Pain" | Ric Rude | 3:27 |
22. | "H.N.I.C. (Outro)" | 0:18 |
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200 [13] | 18 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [14] | 2 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [15] | 6 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [16] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
The Infamous Mobb Deep is the eighth and final studio album by American hip hop duo Mobb Deep, which is composed of Havoc and Prodigy. The album was released on April 1, 2014, by Prodigy's Infamous Records and Sony's RED Distribution. The Infamous Mobb Deep is a double album that consists of one disc of new original music and another of unreleased tracks from the recording sessions from their second studio album The Infamous (1995). The album had been in development since 2011, but was delayed by a feud that occurred between Havoc and Prodigy during 2012. However, they shortly reconciled.
Loud Records, LLC. is a record label founded by Steve Rifkind and Rich Isaacson in 1991. Rifkind served as the chief executive officer while Isaacson served as the president of the label.
Alan Daniel Maman, known professionally as The Alchemist, is an American record producer and DJ. Critically acclaimed for his sample-heavy production style, he is regarded as one of the most influential producers in modern hip hop and underground rap. His frequent collaborators include Eminem, Action Bronson, Freddie Gibbs, Conway the Machine, Westside Gunn, Boldy James, and Earl Sweatshirt.
Albert Johnson, better known by his stage name Prodigy, was an American rapper and record producer.
Kejuan Waliek Muchita, better known by his stage name Havoc, is an American rapper and record producer. He was one half of the hip hop duo Mobb Deep with Prodigy.
The Infamous is the second studio album by the American hip hop duo Mobb Deep. It was released on April 25, 1995, by BMG, RCA Records and Loud Records. The album features guest appearances by Nas, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Q-Tip. It was largely produced by group member Havoc, with Q-Tip also contributing production while serving as the mixing engineer. Most of the leftover songs from the album became bonus tracks for Mobb Deep's The Infamous Mobb Deep album (2014).
Amerikaz Nightmare is the sixth studio album by American hip hop duo Mobb Deep. It was released on August 10, 2004, via Infamous/Jive Records. The recording sessions took place at Battery Studios, Chung King Studios, Dunn Deal Studios and The Lab, in New York City, and at Ocean Way Studios in California, The Hit Factory Criteria in Miami, Powerhouse Studios in Yonkers, Record Plant in Hollywood, and DSL Studios in Louisville. The album was produced by member Havoc, as well as the Alchemist, Kanye West, Lil' Jon, and Red Spyda. It features guest appearances from Big Noyd, Jadakiss, Lil' Jon, Littles, Nate Dogg and Twista.
Hell on Earth is the third studio album by the American hip hop duo Mobb Deep, released on November 19, 1996, through Loud and RCA Records. The follow-up to the critically acclaimed The Infamous (1995), Hell on Earth is entirely produced by group member Havoc and features guest appearances from rappers Nas, Raekwon, Method Man, and frequent collaborator Big Noyd, among others. The album includes the acclaimed singles "G.O.D. Pt. III" and "Front Lines ," as well as "Drop a Gem on 'Em," a response to 2Pac's diss track "Hit 'Em Up." A promotional single, "Still Shinin'", was released earlier that year and later added to the album.
"Shook Ones, Part II" is the lead single from Mobb Deep's 1995 album The Infamous. The song is a sequel to the group's 1994 promotional single "Shook Ones", with similar lyrics, but less profanity. The original song is featured on the b-side of some releases of "Shook Ones, Part II" and was also included on the international version of the group's album Hell on Earth. The narrative is told from the perspective of inner-city youths engaged in territorial warfare and struggling for financial gains. The phrase "shook one" refers to someone who may portray themselves as tough, but loses their nerve when faced with conflict or intimidation.
Mobb Deep was an American hip hop duo from Queens, New York formed in 1991. Consisting of rappers/songwriters/record producers Prodigy and Havoc, they are considered to be among the principal progenitors of hardcore East Coast hip hop. Mobb Deep became one of the most successful rap duos of all time, having sold over three million records. Their best-known albums are The Infamous (1995), Hell on Earth (1996) and Murda Muzik (1999), and their most successful singles were "Shook Ones " and "Survival of the Fittest." They were known for their dark and hardcore delivery.
Murda Muzik is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Mobb Deep, which was released on August 17, 1999, through Columbia Records and Loud Records. It features one of the group's best-known tracks, "Quiet Storm." It is also the duo's most commercially successful album to date, for shipping over 1 million copies in the United States and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on October 26, 1999, debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200 charts. Murda Muzik also garnered positive reviews from The Source and Allmusic, among others. A censored version of the album, titled Mobb Muzik, was released simultaneously.
Infamous Mobb, also known as IM3, is a hip hop group from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, composed of members Ty Nitty, Twin Gambino aka Big Twin and G.O.D. Part III aka Godfather Part III. They are an integral part of the Queensbridge Hip Hop scene, which includes rappers like Nas, Tragedy Khadafi, Mobb Deep, Cormega, Capone-N-Noreaga, whose legacy originated mid 80's in Marley Marl's studio and with him and his protegés on Cold Chillin' Records, known as the Juice Crew.
Life of the Infamous: The Best of Mobb Deep is the greatest hits album from Queensbridge rap duo Mobb Deep, made up of rappers Prodigy and Havoc. It contains songs dating back to their 1993 debut album, Juvenile Hell, through their 2004 album, Amerikaz Nightmare. No Blood Money songs are on the album since those tracks are owned by Universal Music Group, not Sony Music Entertainment, the label that released this album. The disc includes "Blood Money" and "Go Head," two previously unreleased tracks. "Keep It Thoro" is the only song featured on a non-Mobb Deep album.
Return of the Mac is the second solo studio album by American rapper Prodigy. It was released on March 27, 2007, through Koch Records. Production was handled entirely by The Alchemist, who produced the project utilizing song samples from the Blaxploitation era, with DJ Muro, who produced two tracks. It features guest appearances from Majesty and Un Pacino.
"Quiet Storm" is the first single from Mobb Deep's fourth album Murda Muzik. The song was originally released on the soundtrack for the film In Too Deep. The song features a sample of the bass line from the classic hip-hop song "White Lines " by Melle Mel. In 2001, the R&B group 112 used an updated version of the "Quiet Storm" beat for their single, "It's Over Now".
H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 is the third solo studio album by American rapper Prodigy of Mobb Deep. The album was released on April 22, 2008. It is a sequel to H.N.I.C., released in 2000. The album features production by The Alchemist, Sid Roams, Havoc and Apex. The album features guest appearances from artists that frequently work with Prodigy, including Havoc, Un Pacino, Nyce, Big Noyd, Twin Gambino and Cormega.
O.N.I.F.C. is the fourth studio album by American rapper Wiz Khalifa. The album was released on December 4, 2012, by Atlantic Records and Rostrum Records. The album's title was inspired by the album H.N.I.C. by Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and is an initialism for "Only Nigga In First Class". Upon release, O.N.I.F.C. received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 selling 148,000 copies in its first week.
H.N.I.C. 3 is the fourth solo studio album by American hip hop recording artist Prodigy. It was released on July 3, 2012, via Infamous Records, serving as the third and final instalment of the rapper's H.N.I.C. series. Recording sessions took place at Plain Truth Ent Studio. Production was handled by The Alchemist, Beat Butcha, S.C., Ty Fyffe, Young L, Sid Roams, The Colombians, T.I., Valentino, and Zam, with Oh No and Mobetta producing the deluxe edition bonus tracks. It features guest appearances from Esther, Boogz Boogetz, T.I., Vaughn Anthony, Willie Taylor, Wiz Khalifa, and his Mobb Deep cohort Havoc.
Albert Einstein is the second and last collaborative studio album by American hip hop recording artist Prodigy of Mobb Deep and American record producer The Alchemist. The album was released on June 11, 2013, by Infamous Records. The album features guest appearances from Roc Marciano, Domo Genesis, The Alchemist, Havoc, Raekwon and Action Bronson.
Free Agents: The Murda Mixtape is a double mixtape album by American hardcore/East Coast hip hop duo Mobb Deep. It was released on April 22, 2003 through Landspeed Records with distribution via Koch Entertainment.