Hot off the press and just released today, we have the one and only infamous rap duo Mobb Deep returning to center stage with their EP release, Black Cocaine. This release comes after a 6-year hiatus from the rap duo following some legal trouble and setbacks, and though this is a small offering of 5 tracks, this album struck a nerve with me. All too often, many true rap fans (including myself) might find themselves getting a bit nostalgic and wishing for the era of 90's rap to return; an era of potent lyrics and classic boom-bap rhythms to match. Why is this era so important in hip-hop and rap culture? It wasn't just the lyrics or the the beats that were important, but the artist themselves that inspired generations of artists to become emcees. And from the moment Mobb Deep dropped their 1995 classic album, The Infamous, they solidified themselves among the elite rankings of rap royalty. This was only 1 year after rapper Nas dropped his hit album Illmatic and 6 months after rapper Notorious B.I.G. gave us his hit album Ready to Die. Knowing all of this, it is easy to say that Mobb Deep pioneered a sound or formula that many hardcore rap artists follow today.
With all that said, being this caliber of emcee does carry the high expectation of creating more classics to satisfy rap fans alike. Black Cocaine as an album is a decent offering, with production from veteran producer the Alchemist. Some stand out tracks definitely can be found in the base-thumping and somewhat eerie 'Dead Man's Shoes' and the triumphant and commanding anthem 'Conquer.' It is clear on a first listen, a formulaic approach to these tracks might have taken away a little wind from the sail of this EP. However, this album does have some hits on it and may be enough to signal the return of a great duo to the rap game. Mobb Deep has confirmed a full self-titled album release slated for 2012, which will include collaborations from artists Rick Ross, Lil Kim, OFWGKTA, Wiz Khalifa, and Nas.
Mobb Deep "Conquer" (prod. by Havoc) by clockworkmusic
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