by Jamil Weeks

When you think of 90’s hip hop, the first artists that probably come to mind are 2Pac and Biggie. You may also think of rap legends like Ice Cube, Wu-Tang Clan, Outkast, Snoop Doggy Dogg, etc. However, one name that should definitely ring bells as not only one of the greatest of the 90’s, but also of all time, is Albert Johnson b.k.a. Prodigy from Mobb Deep. With the recent celebration of his birthday, I thought about the impact that Prodigy had on my life. I remember being a teenager and watching the “Shook Ones Pt. 2” and “Survival of the Fittest” videos on Rap City after school. I will never forget the feeling of hearing The Infamous for the first time. I was literally floored as I listened to that album on my Walkman. I recall being immersed by the grimy instrumentals and street slang that permeated through the headphones into my ear drums. My jaw dropped. My eyes widened. The hairs on the back of my neck stood tall like a current of static electricity passed through them. Through the tough bravado you could hear the pain in Prodigy’s voice. Pee spoke from the perspective of a young kid who had PTSD from being exposed to too much at an early age. There was a certain level of authenticity that Prodigy brought to the table as he questioned the hearts of wannabe thugs and gangsters. I never looked at Prodigy as glorifying the streets but more so providing cautionary tales with a genuine rawness. I grew up a big fan of Prodigy while he was alive, and now I am here to give him his flowers posthumously.

No style of hip hop was more prevalent in the 90’s than what the media labeled as “gangsta rap”. The West Coast dominated the charts and were the primary cultivators of this sub-genre of hip hop. With Mobb Deep’s brand of “dun language”, they became pioneers of reality rap in the East. They were the East Coast’s answer to NWA and Death Row. When you heard rappers talk about their exploits in the streets, you always took it with a grain of salt. However, when I heard Prodigy’s bars on The Infamous, I believed him. Prodigy’s style was not nearly as complex as some of the 90’s greatest lyricists, like Nas, Biggie, Big L, etc. Prodigy had a much more straightforward approach to his subject matter. No glitz. No glamour. No clever punchlines. Prodigy’s crime-riddled verses read more like a Scared Straight documentary. Depicting the mentality of the streets in a candid, unflinching manner, Prodigy painted a picture of New York streets in a way no rapper has done before. Prodigy became America’s worst nightmare when he got in the booth. A nightmare birthed from the lawlessness of the “Old New York” of the 70’s and the crack cocaine epidemic of the 80’s that had transformed New York City into a war zone by the time Prodigy picked up the pad and pen.

Prodigy, as a solo artist and part of the iconic duo, Mobb Deep, carved out his own legacy amongst the heaviest of competition. With the releases of Mobb Deep’s The Infamous, Hell On Earth, and Murda Muzik, Prodigy and Havoc had arguably the greatest three album run ever in hip-hop. Prodigy’s raw vocals took center stage on most of the Mobb Deep records. On The Infamous, Prodigy immediately stood out as the group’s front man with his commanding presence on each record. Prodigy took off on Hell On Earth. There was a significant elevation in Prodigy’s lyricism, especially on the title track to Hell On Earth. Prodigy left Earth on that album so much that he was a legit top five emcee at the time. Keep in mind in ’96 you had Nas Escobar, Jay-Z’s debut, Death Row Pac, a polished Biggie, Andre 3000 starting to find himself as an artist, and the emergence of Lauryn Hill. These were some of the illest wordsmiths at the time who were all hungry and in their prime. Prodigy was going toe to toe with all of them. Holding his own on records with rap giants like Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Nas, Kool G. Rap, LL Cool J, and Lil Kim, Prodigy proved he deserved to be in the discussion with rap's cream of the crop. In addition to his exceptional work as part of Mobb Deep, Prodigy also has an impressive solo catalogue. HNIC and Prodigy’s collaborative album with The Alchemist, Return of the Mac, are both certified classics. Bandana Pee’s solo catalogue post-jail bid was also impressive as he brought a more conscious tone to his music before his tragic passing. Prodigy has a body of work that stands the test of time and can be put up against anyone else’s discography in hip hop.

Iron sharpens iron is a common mantra that dates to biblical times. Prodigy is definitely battle tested in the competitive sport of emceeing. Over his 24-year career in rap, Prodigy racked up beefs with 2pac, Keith Murray, Lakey the Kid, Nas, Saigon, Tru Life, and even fellow Mobb Deep member, Havoc. His most publicized feud was with 2pac. Pac famously taunted Mobb Deep on the legendary “Hit Em Up”, mocking Prodigy’s sickle cell anemia. Mobb Deep responded with the vicious, “Drop a Gem On Em”, which many people consider one of the most underrated diss records of all time. Though Pac is not mentioned by name, when you hear Prodigy reference “robberies in Manhattan” and ending the verse with “what, you think you can’t get bucked again, once again”, everybody knew exactly who he was talking about. Prodigy may not have won all his battles, but rappers knew that if you called Prodigy out that he would respond. Prodigy was determined to protect that Infamous flag at any cost. To be the best, you must go at the best. Prodigy’s squabbles with some of rap’s elite provided us with some of the most memorable moments in hip hop, rather it be his indirect involvement in the East Coast/West Coast war, or Jay-Z throwing him on that Summer Jam screen.

Prodigy also had one of the most distinct voices in hip hop. When you thought of New York rap, especially in the 90’s, you could hear Prodigy’s voice in your head threatening to punch you in the face so hard he stabbed your brain with your nose bone. Pee epitomized that raspy, talking-out-the-side-of-the-mouth, no nonsense New Yorker when he spewed his vocals. He had a voice that instantly grabbed your attention and held your mind hostage as he delivered his street gospels. Prodigy’s voice would be endlessly sampled by his peers looking to validate their street credentials. His distinctive vocals were an extension of his pen and became an essential part of the Mobb Deep DNA that seized control of hardcore 90’s rap. Prodigy could be hardcore without having to raise his voice or bring a high level of energy, like Onyx. The bleak imagery from his words paired with the conviction in his voice were all he needed to leave an indelible impression on the listener. Prodigy was the talk of New York, which is a reason why he is a trailblazer in hardcore east coast rap music.

Nobody represented the most famous projects in the world of Queensbridge more than Prodigy. Despite being from Hempstead in Long Island, Prodigy was accepted by many in Queensbridge as one of their own. Queensbridge contributed a lot to hip hop culture. Marley Marl, who invented sampling, was the first super producer in hip hop. In addition to crafting classics, like In Control Vol. 1, Mama Said Knock You Out, and Paid In Full, Marley joined forces with the acclaimed radio DJ, Mr. Magic, to create rap’s first radio show. Roxanne Shante was the first Queen of Rap and helped to popularize diss records with the Roxanne wars. Tragedy Khadafi, part of the legendary Juice Crew and the Godfather to the 90s QB sound, was highly influential in the careers of Nas, Mobb Deep, and Capone N Noreaga. MC Shan was part of the Bridge Wars in the 80’s squaring off with the South Bronx’s KRS-One and his Boogie Down Productions crew. After that famous battle, it was up to the 90’s rappers to restore the Queensbridge name back to prominence. That is exactly what Prodigy helped to do, alongside Cormega, Nas, Havoc, and Capone, as well as others like Killer Sha, Baby Sham, and Screwball. Prodigy soon became one of the leading voices of QB, by dropping world renowned albums and shooting videos and films right there in the neighborhood.

June 20, 2017 remains as one of the saddest days in hip hop with Prodigy's sudden death. Pee had so much more left in him to contribute to the culture. Shortly before his passing he showed how ahead of his time he was by being one of the first rappers to collaborate with future underground kings from the Griselda Records camp. Despite his passing, Pee’s legacy lives on through his timeless music and his influence on today’s rappers. His partner in crime, Havoc, continues to make music, as do members of the spin-off Mobb Deep group, The Infamous Mobb (especially in the case of Big Twins). Contributing to the QB legacy that spawned some of the greatest talents in the history of the genre, Prodigy etched his name as one of the greats. Whether its one-time rivals like Jay-Z and Nas both giving Prodigy the proper acknowledgement as one of the best to touch the mic, newcomer Flee Lord doing a tribute album, his QB peers, like Cormega, DJ L.E.S., and Havoc, doing tribute shows, Prodigy truly left his mark on this planet. Personally, I placed Prodigy in my top 10 favorite emcees of all time because that is how much I was captivated by his music. R.I.P. to the late great, Albert Johnson.