Mobb Deep - Mixtape (feat. Nas, Rakim, Big Noyd, Cormega, Das EFX, Redman, Kool G Rap, Papoose...)

1. Mobb Deep - Rare Species (Remix) 0:00
2. Mobb Deep & Nas - Self Conscience (Phat Tape Remix) 3:49
3. Mobb Deep (feat. Rakim & Big Noyd) - Hoodlum (Tru Comers Blend) 6:50
4. Mobb Deep - Rare Species (59th Street Bridge Remix) 10:20
5. Big Noyd & Mobb Deep - Recognize & Realize (Part 2) 15:00
6. Big Noyd & Mobb Deep - Infamous Mobb 19:59
7. Cormega (feat. Mobb Deep) - Killaz Theme (Remix) 23:01
8. Das EFX (feat. Mobb Deep) - Microphone Master (Sewa/41 St. Side Remix) 26:29
9. Mobb Deep - GOD Part 3 (Remix) 31:33
10. Mobb Deep - Hell On Earth (feat. 2Pac) (Remix) 35:08
11. Mobb Deep & Big Noyd - Man Down (Phat Tape Remix) 40:52
12. Mobb Deep - Survival of the fittest (Ours Samplus Remix) 44:43
13. Mobb Deep, Redman and Kool G Rap - Speak Ya Clout (Remix) 48:57
14. Nas (feat. Mobb Deep & MF Doom) - Family (Remix) 52:49
15. Papoose & Mobb Deep - Aim Shoot 56:34
16. Cormega (feat. Mobb Deep) - Killaz Theme (J Demeo Remix) 1:00:05
17. Frankie Cutlass (feat. M.O.P., Mobb Deep & Kool G Rap) - Know Da Game 1:03:49

Havoc and Prodigy met while both were students at the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan—a school that produced creatives like Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Amy Heckerling, Lee Quiñones, and Fab Five Freddy. In 1991, they became a duo that went by the name Poetical Prophets. The name Poetical Prophets was a testament to Prodigy, then Lord-T (The Golden Child), and Havoc's gravitation toward New York conscious hip-hop. The duo began making a demo tape and employed a guerilla marketing approach to promote themselves.

They would find the addresses of record label headquarters on the back of albums, bring a cassette player, and ask passing artists to listen to their music. The only artist who stopped to hear their music was Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest; Prodigy recalled, "[Q-Tip] introduced us to Chris Lighty that day and a bunch of people in the Rush Associated Labels in the Def Jam office—that's how we met everybody." Shortly thereafter, Prodigy signed a solo demo deal with Jive Records and had an uncredited feature on the song "Too Young" by Hi-Five, which appeared on the Boyz n the Hood soundtrack. Jive decided not to sign Poetical Prophets as a duo.

However, they were featured in Matty C's July 1991 "Unsigned Hype" column in The Source, which helped promote their demo Flavor for the Nonbelievers. The Source dubbed Poetical Prophets a "dynamic duo ... that are fast making a big name for themselves in talent shows and radio stations in the New York area." The following year, the duo changed their name from Poetical Prophets to "Mobb Deep," in part based on the suggestion of Puff Daddy who was courting them to be the first artists on his newly created imprint, Bad Boy Records. In choosing the moniker, Prodigy noted that "we need[ed] something that described how we were living. When [we] got together to hang out, there would be thirty to forty of us, like a mob. The slang we used when we saw a whole bunch of guys together was . . . 'deep.' Both words together sounded good. Mobb Deep."

In 1992, Mobb Deep signed with 4th & B'way Records. They released the single "Peer Pressure" in promotion of their debut album Juvenile Hell. The album was released in 1993 and featured production from DJ Premier, Large Professor, and Public Enemy-affiliate Kerwin Young. Later that year, Havoc made a guest appearance on the Black Moon album Enta da Stage, on a song titled "U da Man."

The group saw its first major success with their second album, The Infamous, released in 1995. Mobb Deep catapulted to the top of the hardcore hip-hop scene through Havoc and Prodigy's straightforward narration of street life. In this album, Mobb Deep portrayed the struggles of living in New York City's Queensbridge Houses where Havoc grew up. Following the release of The Infamous, Mobb Deep became some of the most prolific artists of the East Coast. The album title was inspired by a friend Yamit, a Golden Gloves boxer, who resided on Havoc's block in Queensbridge.

Prodigy noted "[Yamit] had 'The Most Infamous' tattooed on his biceps in black ink. We were already Mobb Deep, but he dubbed us the Infamous Mobb Deep." The production of this album was very dark and sample-based thanks to Havoc, who produced the beats from this point forward, although Q-Tip also contributed to the production and mixing. Furthermore, the hit single "Shook Ones Part II," a remix to the hit "Shook Ones," received critical acclaim. In 2020, The Infamous was hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

#mobbdeep #prodigy #havoc