The tragic passing of Mobb Deep rapper Prodigy left the hip-hop community at large grieving for one of their fallen brothers. Shortly after that happened, DJ Absolut gifted us with a previously unreleased piece of fire titled "What You Think." That song featured some smooth retro Biggie Smalls samples but still retained the fire in its belly that was the Mobb Deep signature. Thankfully, Absolut had more in the vault for us, as he's returned with a new dose of never-before-heard Mobb Deep, this time titled "Greatness."
An apt title for both the group and the sound that comes off of this record, the intimidation factor in these lyrics is high. Rapping about how no one is going to have the longevity they've enjoyed with their music, the rhymes talk down to the haters and doubters, cementing Mobb Deep's reputation as a hip-hop name that you definitely shouldn't be calling out. Verse after verse is incredibly well put together, following the airtight lyrical pattern that was Prodigy's hallmark when he was alive and an influential quality that continues to live on in his music.
DJ Absolute proclaimed that this could be the record of the year and, in some instances, he might not be wrong. For all the shade that's sometimes unjustly thrown on the young crop of up-and-comers that the hip-hop community is currently seeing rise to prominence, it's refreshing and even enthralling to hear that what a lot of people might consider an "older" sound today still comes across just as vital as it was meant to back then. And to think - this didn't make the cut for any albums or other projects that Mobb put out back in the day. All the more reason to respect the genius of Prodigy and to take a moment, let his music wash over you and transport you to the inner circle of rap's great lyrical technicians.
Quotable Lyrics
It's outrageous
Your soul is outdated
Your whole style, boring
Monotone, basic