(AllHipHop Features) It has been seven years since Prodigy and Havoc of the legendary Hip Hop duo Mobb Deep released an official studio album. Since that time Prodigy served time in prison for a gun possession charge, the reconvened group teased fans with the 7-track Black Cocaine EP, had a very public falling out, and reconciled for a 20th anniversary tour.
The next logical step would be for the Queensbridge rhymers to produce another full length project to add to their catalogue, and according to P the long-awaited album (possibly titled Mobb Deep) is on the way.
Mr. Mecc caught up with Prodigy for AllHipHop.com to discuss what listeners can expect to hear from the infamous partners on their forthcoming LP. According to P it will be rooted in the recognizable Mobb Deep formula and not an attempt to ride the wave of the new era Hip Hop.
“So far what we’ve been doing all Havoc production. Just staying grounded, don’t try and chase whatever trend in music,” says Prodigy. “We can experiment here and there with a couple of songs, but for the most part we gotta stick to our guns.”
Besides Havoc providing tracks for the album, long time collaborator Alchemist is the only other producer contributing to the project. Alchemist produced tracks on the previous Mobb Deep albums Murda Muzik, Infamy, and Amerikaz Nightmare. The 36-year-old California native also joined with Prodigy for the collaborative album Albert Einstein released in June. Besides P, Hav, and Al don’t expect many other artists’ names to be listed in the album’s credits. They plan to keep the guest collaborations to a minimum.
“I think it’s better like that. This is your album. People ain’t buying a compilation album. They wanna hear you,” says Prodigy. “It’s nice to have features. Just don’t over do it.”
When asked who he would like to possibly work with on a song, one rising East Coast rhyme spitter and another from the West Coast got P’s co-sign. His first choice is fellow Queens emcee Action Bronson who he collaborated with for track on the Fool’s Gold artist’s forthcoming debut album. Prodigy then names Odd Future’s Earl Sweatshirt as another preferred up-and-coming rapper he’d like to get in the studio with.
“I like Earl. Earl got an ill style. He makes beats crazy to me,” reveals P. “When I listen to his music it reminds me of Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang but in a different type of way – young, crazy type of way. They even more crazy than we were.”
[ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Prodigy Talks Mobb Deep And Money]
Watch part 2 of the Prodigy interview below.