Prodigy of Mobb Deep - H.N.I.C. (CD)

All Music Guide

The vitriolic Queensbridge MC, one-half of the enduring kings of reality core Mobb Deep released his first solo album in late 2000. P's grave lyrics chronicle an insular, nightmarish urban world but the MC paints such precise, chilling pictures that he opens up this world of horror to all listeners. This is a corrosive album with a cinematic bent, a veritable Shining on wax. Some of the production is a bit slack considering that the tracks P dusts tend to be classics. Prodigy's Mobb Deep partner Havoc usually supplies these classic haunting beats, but he is mostly absent here. Regardless, the album creeps up on you, like a movie you get into despite the fact it makes your flesh crawl. The lyrics are venomous, a product of P's dark and armored intellect. On tracks like the piano-heavy "Keep It Thoro," "Trials of Love," and the dirge-like "Veterans' Memorial," the production perfectly complements P's deadpan style. The most outstanding cut may be "Never Feel My Pain," where P gives heart...felt voice to being afflicted with sickle cell anemia. Although nihilistic, overall this is a poignant and visceral album detracted only slightly by its unpolished feel musically. - M.F. DiBella , All Music Guide Read more Less