30 Years Later: Mobb Deep’s Debut ‘The Infamous’ Remains One Of Hip-Hop’s Strongest First Statements

There is always a lot of talk about who had the best Hip-hop debut album. There are plenty of examples, and there have been thousands of think pieces and list articles on the genre’s best debut record. While the debate is enticing, it is never the whole story of these artists, and only provides a snapshot of raw talent and youthful energy. For some artists, that debut record isn’t the one that captures widespread attention. Not to say these debut records weren’t terrific examples of an artist’s potential, most of the debuts from the ’90s have aged beautifully, yet they’re not the releases that placed these artists on the map and cemented them in the Hip-hop pantheon. It might not be their first attempt at an album, and it may defy the cliche of “third time’s the charm,” but there is something to say about a sophomore effort that skyrockets an artist to new heights. In the case of Mobb Deep, their sophomore record did more than place them in the halls of Hip-hop royalty; it elevated the genre. 

On April 25, 1995, the duo of Havoc and Prodigy released The Infamous, their second and most acclaimed LP. This followed the disappointing commercial reception of the duo’s 1993 debut, Juvenile Hell, which failed to chart and ultimately led to Mobb Deep being dropped by their label. That summer, Loud Records was looking for another group to sign after the runaway success of Wu-Tang, and Mobb Deep became Loud artists by the fall of the same year. Little did Loud Records know that they were preparing to release an East Coast hardcore classic. 

Recording for The Infamous began in 1994, with the group handling most of the production themselves. There are two other producers credited on the album: Loud A&R man Matt Life and a young producer by the name of The Abstract, more commonly known by his other name, Q-Tip. The A Tribe Called Quest member became a frequent flyer during The Infamous sessions, lending to the production and the mixing of the classic 16-song tracklist. Although compared to Tip’s love for easy-going, jazz-driven production, The Infamous is a loose, hungry wild animal. Mobb Deep witnessed the rise of hardcore hip-hop in their hometown of New York City, and rather than simply joining in on the trend, they aimed to leave a lasting impact on it. 

The Infamous is credited for helping revive East Coast Hip-hop, and even thirty years after its release, the raw grit of Havoc and Prodigy is just as palpable and urgent. When you start an album with songs like the iconic, venomous “Survival of the Fittest,” and a warning shot like “The Start of Your Ending,” it is hard to feel anything but stoic and aggravated. The Infamous employed off-kilter samples, wonky bass lines, and gut-punching drum patterns to keep pace with the pure, adrenaline-fueled poetry of the duo, a sonic combination that made the album legendary to begin with. 

When it comes to essential Hip-hop songs, The Infamous is bountiful. “Shook Ones, Pt. II” has become one of the most iconic songs of Mobb Deep’s era, the Q-Tip-assisted “Drink Away the Pain” features innovative and vulnerable storytelling, and the hollow yet impactful drums of “Up North Trip” saw the duo easily navigating off-kilter time signatures. These dark and potent displays of Mobb Deep’s ability to craft commercially viable yet haunting portraits of their NYC lifestyle did more than introduce the duo’s undeniable style; they indicated to the world that a shift was coming to the East Coast, and Havoc and Prodigy were leading the way. 

Thankfully, The Infamous was an instant commercial and critical success. The LP peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 after spending 18 weeks on it, and hit number three on Hip-hop charts after a whopping 34 week run on the charts. Criminally so, it took until 2020 for the album to be certified platinum. The album received acclaim from all over the U.S, including a glowing review from the Los Angeles Times, a perfect score from Pitchfork, and four-and-a-half mics from The Source. 

Three decades later, Prodigy and Havoc remain the most notorious and innovative duo that Hip-hop has seen, and it all started with The Infamous. The duo’s sophomore effort lands them amongst some of the most revered and beloved ’90s acts of any genre, and it continues to stand as one of the East Coast’s greatest offerings. With the passing of Prodigy in 2017, Mobb Deep’s vulnerability on this album becomes all the more potent, powerful, and heartbreaking. Now is as good of a time as any to relive The Infamous, not only to relish in 30 years of hardcore magic, but new Mobb Deep seems to be just around the corner. Recently, Nas’s Mass Appeal announced they are working with legendary producer/Mobb Deep collaborator The Alchemist and Havoc to create a new Mobb Deep album with unreleased Prodigy verses. The new album is set to be released this year.