Blood Money

Mobb Deep’s strongest batch of work since they laced us with Quiet Storm

Even though Mobb Deep gained enormous street fame in the 90's with their classic The Infamous, the Queens Bridge duo have never quite lived up to that earlier greatness on subsequent releases. They showed hints of again reaching their potential here and there on Hell On Earth and Murda Muzik, but didn’t serve up the thorough follow-ups needed to keep their cult status granite solid. With their last album, Amerikaz Nightmare, Progidy and Havoc were met with another lukewarm response. In customary scorned rapper fashion, they blamed the label and bounced. With a new free agent status in place, 50 Cent scooped the boys up in 2005 and made them G-Unit's first official signing outside the Interscope family tree. When Mobb Deep signed the dotted line to join G-Unit Records, there was much speculation about what would become of their trademark sound. Will Mobb Deep’s dark aura be dulled by G-Unit’s commercial appeal? Will their subject matter be comprised? Will they be overshadowed by 50 Cent's presence? All questions, doubts and concerns are answered with one listen to Blood Money, their strongest batch of work since they laced us with Quiet Storm.

Progidy and Havoc don’t stray too far from their distinctive formula

Not just a G-Unit album in label name only, Blood Money features crew members Lloyd Banks (Stole Something), Young Buck (Give It To Me), Tony Yayo (Click Click), and 50 Cent himself (Pearly Gates, Creep) flowing over Mobb Deep’s darkly aggressive and deeply mesmerizing signature sound. Blood Money also represents the first instance of the duo's use of outsider producers. Not to worry, though: the list includes heavy hitters like Sha Money XL, The Alchemist, and the heaviest hitter of all, Dr. Dre, all whom approach the Deep sound with respect and a deft touch. These new associations ensure that Mobb Deep will reach a broader audience without sullying the duo's teflon reputation. Overall Progidy and Havoc don’t stray too far from their distinctive formula. The hood drama meets gritty production on the album's first single Put Em In Their Place. Sha Money XL cooks up blazing horns to match the group’s stern demeanor. On Capital P, Capital H they justify their unbecoming ways over a laid back distorted bass track laced with synth. On Pearly Gates Mobb Deep show deeper range as they take an atheist view at life with a show stealing verse from 50 Cent. All three Queens natives converse skeptically over a playful soul sample driven track.

Blood Money is sure to push Mobb Deep back to the forefront

Sonically, the album keeps an overall dark overtone. On Speakin So Freely Havoc lays some eerie guitar strings over some soft drum kicks, setting a proper backdrop for Mobb Deep's thinly veiled diss to some of their former homeys. Havoc continues showcasing his production prowess when utilizing speedy high hats and kicks with an awkward noise about every two bars on Stole Something. The distorted bass heavy Backstage Pass is sure to get maximum love on the block as well. When draped in G-Unit apparel, Mobb Deep don’t always offer the morose melodies and stark lyrics they have become known for; however, the fusion of the Queens-based cliques shows the Mobb Deep’s street symphonies in a new, refreshing light. Instead of the poppy makeover many anticipated, Mobb Deep's seventh album is a curious blend of gunz-money anthems, G-Unit-ized sex romps, and visions of the great beyond. Throughout, Prodigy and Havoc float through their classic murder rhetoric, while also cursing out God for being ignored and threatening to rough up Jesus. While this technically doesn't feel like a true Mobb Deep effort (the G-Unit influence is obvious throughout the disc), Blood Money still bangs. This album is sure to push Mobb Deep back to the forefront.