In their second collaboration since Return of the Mac, Prodigy brings back the Dun Language, and Alchemist comes through with a sick beat for every track. Alchemist has been working with Mobb Deep since 1999’s Murda Muzik (Thug Muzik, The Realest). With the exception of master producer Havoc, there is no better compliment to Prodigy’s rhymes than the ALC. That being said my favorite song from these two are “Keep it Thoro” off of Prodigy’s HNIC. I am going out on a ledge here saying Einstein is the best effort since HNIC for Prodigy. No holds barred rawness harks back to the mid/late 90s Mobb, where those one-liners would give you those “oh sh*t” moments.
[ALSO READ: Prodigy and Alchemist Stream Their New Album “Albert Einstein”]
Since we are talking legendary Mobb Deep here, the bar is set to the stratosphere for any new album by Havoc or Prodigy. Granted, since the mid 2000s Prodigy’s lyrical has not been as vicious as what it was out the gate in ’95. However, from what I felt was a severe drop off with HNIC2 and HNIC3 both lyrically and production-wise, this latest effort brings back not only the vintage dark beats (thank you ALC! A top 10 producer to me), but straight raw lyrical with Prodigy’s quiet “storm” flow. Ever so calm, but the message is quite menacing. I knew old P was back with the first track “Imdkv ( Infamous Mobb Deep King Vulture) “hand me the nail hammer and the baseball bat….”. Over ALCs piano, muffled drums, and cymbal hits, it fits perfectly with the flow. This only continues throughout the album. R.I.P. for instance with Hav and the legendary Raekwon. “You play yourself out of pocket, I get vicious”. How can you not knock your head to this up tempo drum beat and synth (definitely out of the pocket a bit for ALC, but to me a welcome sound).
This album is for the fans of the original Mobb sound of the late 90s. To me, Alchemist is the unofficial third member. His sound fits perfectly to the Mobb lyrical directive. Solid P of old. For the most part sick signature Alchemist beats, with the addition of some new sounds that are just right.
AHH’s Ratings:
Lyricism –8/10
Production –9/10
Album Cohesiveness –6/10
Replay value –6/10
Overall –8/10
Personal Favorite Tracks: Lmdkv, Stay Dope, R.I.P.