Mobb Deep

Prodigy (b. Albert Johnson) and Havoc (b. Kejuan Muchita) began making music together, after meeting as teenagers, while attending the Graphic Arts High School in Manhattan. In the early 1990s, they adopted the stage name Mobb Deep and released their debut album, "Juvenile Hell". The 1995 follow-up, "The Infamous", was an enormous success and featured hit singles "Shook Ones, Part II" and "Survival of the Fittest". It shares venerated classic hip hop status with Nas' "Illmatic" and the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to Die". All of their subsequent albums have sold well, but 1999's "Murda Muzik" was particularly successful, earning the duo, their first Platinum album. As natives of Queensbridge, NY, Havoc and Prodigy spoke about their experiences growing up in the projects. Their beats, produced mostly by Havoc, are characterized by heavy brushes on snare drum and haunting instrumental riffs. The result is a distinctly atmospheric, gritty sound that has become known to hip-hop heads as "Mobb Phonics". Far from glorifying gang violence, Mobb Deep can be considered the pioneers of "reality rap", a style of hip-hop that presents an accurate, observational picture of the inner-city. Their credibility, straightforward lyrics, and grimy sound earned them respect among peers and fans alike. They released several more albums, on various labels, including their own imprint. Decades later Mobb Deep remains synonymous with New York hip hop and the name continues to maintain a loyal fan base.