Mobb Deep - Blood Money

No matter what you think of G-Unit snatching up the duo, no-one can really be all that surprised. Whether you carried on listening after Infamy or possibly saw some hope after Mobb left Loud Records and then released Amerikaz Nightmare in 2004, there was really just nothing going on for these guys after Jive dropped them.
As far as Havoc and Prodigy go, 50 Cent is the best thing to happen to them. They’re definitely rich now, but the Queensbridge duo celebrating their riches just doesn’t work on record.

I couldn’t believe my fucking ears. Full lenth LP, Interscope Records - so a Univeral Music record - there’s even the “STRONG impact course language” label on the cover; and I’m hearing censor reverse?! Censored verse on a Mobb Deep album? To be honest, everything on this release is a little out of place.

No matter what you think of G-Unit snatching up the duo, no-one can really be all that surprised. Whether you carried on listening after Infamy or possibly saw some hope after Mobb left Loud Records and then released Amerikaz Nightmare in 2004, there was really just nothing going on for these guys after Jive dropped them.

As far as Havoc and Prodigy go, 50 Cent is the best thing to happen to them. They’re definitely rich now, but the Queensbridge duo celebrating their riches just doesn’t work on record.

We begin with Smoke It, a completely forgetable introduction. Havoc hardly sounds like himself. The single, Put Em In Their Place, brings the standard up some. Personally I like the synthisized horns, the beat is strong and it sounds like good things are coming. Shame it’s not Havoc production. Stole Something has all him back in good beat-making form. Also the pair sound a more at home on this one. However, at this stage, Lloyd Banks’ verse is a welcome change.

Then comes the point in the album when you realise Mobb Deep aren’t pulling this off. Creep’s beat is actually embarrassing to listen to. Definitely more G-Unit than Infamous. And that’s the tune for the rest of the album.

Backstage Pass leaves a lot of questions. Prodigy is all over the place, 50 Cent appears even without credit, and the beat sounds like what you’d get for $20 at the Neptunes store. I don’t even want to talk about the other tracks before Click Click. Havoc shows us he can still make a beat here, but it should’ve been a Havoc solo track.

Now we come to Pearly Gates. Immediately a stand out track. 50 comes on this one with some lighthearted sorrow and Havoc compliments, showing he can still tell a story. Trouble hits when Prodigy starts. This may be his best 16 on the entire album, and what happens? His first rhyme is flipped reverse to censor a diss.

To whom?

The Lord Almighty, “For leaving us out to dry in straight poverty/ For not showing me no signs they watching over me“. I couldn’t believe this shit, I’m suddenly listening to a promo CD? Interscope obviously don’t agree with P’s views and I can’t support releases that allow censorship. The album ends here.

No big deal though, the rest of the album is garbage.
OK, Mary J Blige closes the album off very nicely; not only singing the hook on It’s Alright but also a lovely verse. Plus we got two bonus tracks, inlcuding the remix of Outta Control with Mobb Deep, further cementing the fact this is more of a G-Unit release than anything.

On Blood Money Mobb Deep aren’t showing the originality that made them legends, they’re trying to fit in with the new popular kids.