Prodigy's newest effort, H.N.I.C 2 stays grimy as raw sewage with content on conspiracy theories, secret societies, assassination, and no shortage of gun talk.
Fully Recharged
After a successful career spanning over a decade as half of the illustrious Queens duo, Mobb Deep, the prolific emcee refuses to exchange his permanent underground status for mainstream shine. Despite a few radio-friendly hits with G-Unit, Prodigy still remains adept at conveying the darkness of dank scented alleyways and urine soaked project stairwells. Though his current release keeps him more street than ever, Prodigy has gone global as the first rapper to translate his album into approximately 1,400 languages using Voxonic technology. It's worldwide underground in the truest sense. The big question is, will he still be the underrated H.N.I.C. after his stint in the big house for gun possession?
Dark, But Not Too Different
Much of Prodigy's work, including H.N.I.C. 2 borders into horrorcore territory, as he tends to spew as much anger and hate as death metal. The main difference is the production; it's less guitar-driven and more bass-oriented with subverted synth rhythms. The listening experience is akin to watching a ghetto suspense flick, where the plot is not completely predictable, but you know with absolute certainty that blood will be spilled.
The album gets progressively darker with each track. "Real Power Is People" is a strong opening, but P really shines on "Young Veterans," where he reminds us that in rap, like many professional sports, players peak at a young age then fall off. Fortunately, he steers clear of "I'm still young" clichés for rappers in their 30s who know that retirement is not too far away. And staying on top ain't easy. For the wannabes, he spits, "Just because you black, don't mean you got soul." He mocks aspiring rappers straight out of jail who think doing time equals rhymes with, "'50 cent did it/I could do the sh*t, too'/but you not 50, he's an individual." In short, he says what you're already thinking about the seemingly never ending crop of corporate gangstas who clog the airwaves of urban radio.
From A to P
H.N.I.C 2 cruises along without a tremendous amount of variation in the production of Prodigy's flow. He keeps the steady pace needed to communicate the harshness of his reality with minimal vocal inflection. The sixth track, "ABC," is an indictment of rappers who don't live the lives they rhyme about. Producer Sid Roams mixes muffled vocals to create Gregorian chant-like sounds with a broken synthesized organ in direct contrast to a child singing the alphabet on the hook. I dare you to get it out your head after a few listens. The lyrics are brutal. "I'll razor-blade you up and cut you bad/you gon' need plastic where your face was at," he raps.Prodigy, however, doesn't completely glamorize guns and violence. He also touches on the loss of loved ones through death and incarceration, but without too much sentimentality on "Veterans Memorial pt.2." This is an engaging narrative of the unusual bonds he shared with Havoc's brother (nicknamed Killa) and his father while accompanying them on separate crime sprees. Prodigy vividly recounts a moment of reckless gun popping, "How I shot him in the head, sh*t Killa ran home/took some Advil and pulled the bullet out on his own." The story is enhanced through adroit production as The Alchemist blends sweeping violins and sped-up soul vocals to complement sorrowful lyrics and evoke emotion with cinematic effect. This is the the most unforgettable song on the album.
The Bottom Line on H.N.I.C. 2
H.N.I.C 2 is for true fans of Prodigy and hardcore hip-hop. The production doesn't stray too far from the original formula of early Mobb Deep. The Alchemist stirs up a boiling cauldron of beats, samples and heavy basslines alongside solid contributions from Sid Roams, Apex and his onetime partner in rhyme, Havoc. P minimizes guest spots by only having Big Twinz, Un Pacino, and of course, Havoc. H.N.I.C. 2 is urgent, angry and provocative. It will satisfy purists who reminisce about Queensbridge's glory days and newer listeners craving a harder sound.
Top Tracks Street Date: April 29, 2008
