Mobb Deep - The Infamous ALBUM REVIEW

[@0_Cardboard_0]

I knew it was classic week but I didn’t know it was CLASSIC week

[@BigOwl51]

I guess you could say this is one of the most infamous rap albums of all time

[@shjlishk]

什么意思？What's the meaning

[@rawdondiggerman746]

I think they're trying to say this is a classic ​@@shjlishk

[@bodhopgod7120]

⁠@@BigOwl51it’s because the name of the album is literally called “the infamous”

[@auggie87]

他的意思是这个专辑的印象特别大，因此他打字了大写的CLASSIC强调一下。

[@franklingoodwin]

Melon came dressed as PaRappa the Rapper as a tribute. RIP Prodigy

[@meessmulders569]

Crazy reference 😭

[@velayne5447]

Miss you Parappa The Rapper...RIP Prodigy & Parappa

[@abrasi0n_faiiry]

lmaooo

[@RaidersDnB]

Excellent review! How about reviewing Three Six Mafia - Mystic Styles Slept on album from that era.

[@adderon]

Hat needs red and high

[@JellyJamsOG]

RIP PRODIGY GOAT ALBUM

[@balackk.d]

hell on earth is goated as well

[@cmisich]

TO ALL THE KILLAS AND THE HUNDRED DOLLA BILLAS

[@azhimnexus9840]

For real 🥷's who ain't got no feelings

[@billhicks8]

ain't got no feelings but we will censor ourselves good fellows in fact I'm sorry I didn't mean it

[@Nee-vk7zz]

@@azhimnexus9840 [sickest beat of all time fades in]

[@one0hwon514]

“Check it out now”

[@deangrimes215]

There a war going on outside no man is safe from

[@Jlunce]

The beat on Shook Ones Pt. 2 alone gives this album classic status

[@oklol7799]

Great beat but it’s also the most overrated hip hop beat of all time. It’s crazy that so many people call it the best rap beat of all time out of the millions of beats out there. Like it’s not even a top 25 90s East Coast beat or Mobb Deep’s best. Hell on Earth is their best beat and Shook Ones pt 2 is on par with Shook Ones pt 1

[@ElloGovnaHipHop]

Why tho? Am I an idiot. Like it’s pretty good, but best of all time is pretty crazy Like it’s good, super iconic and pretty influential, but the beat on its own isn’t the best of all time. The drums and bass aren’t anything new, and there is just a guitar loop over it for most the song with a siren at some parts. Honestly gets kinda old by the end of the song Like even at the time tips beats on tribe called quest are better, what’s RZA was doing, beats on illmatic, stuff off ready to die (lmao I wrote this before he mentioned literally everyone of them), also there are better beats on here eye for eye is eerie and i like trifle life and survival of the fittest more. Just me tho Great beat tho, don’t take this the wrong way. I’m not saying it’s bad, it probably one of the most influential and iconic beats and it’s just a really nice song, yeah. Sorry for waffling…

[@theboi5584]

@@oklol7799 me when I’m wrong

[@oklol7799]

@@ElloGovnaHipHopTHANK YOU

[@oklol7799]

@@theboi5584Reponse with no substance. Got it

[@Chronicallyaddictedtomusic]

A Liquid Swords review would cure cancer Melon.

[@Yesthisisayelien]

my fav album

[@Rocket_75-k3g]

@@YesthisisayelienWe could tell…

[@westracksgames6739]

I recently lost my best friend to cancer over christmas, we were inseparable even when we grew up and had families but this album was one of the most influencial soundtracks to our teen years. Thank you for helping me reminisce on happier days.

[@LaScalawatch]

So sorry to hear that, I hope you find peace and healing

[@radamtv4779]

Sorry for your loss. Stay strong man💪

[@meowertwelve]

Sorry for your loss.

[@BigOwl51]

This is my favorite rap album of the 90s. Prodigy is one of the greatest rappers to ever hold a mic and he doesn’t get nearly enough credit.

[@flaxzi2701]

W take W imaginal disk

[@orangesoda45]

@@flaxzi2701W Rodeo and W Imaginal Disk

[@rylansparkyschneider]

Cant forget a lot of HAVOC’s production.

[@junestevens5123]

Havoc is Dope too

[@SolidSnake240]

"Never Feel My Pain" By Prodigy is one of the greatest songs ever recorded

[@PenjaminFranklyn]

*Ain't no such thing as half way MELONS*

[@spongbong0]

cantaloupe?

[@2Chinx]

Scared to look

[@HelpMeHelpMePlease]

LMFAO 😂

[@creathechiboi]

oh we're talking CLASSICS classics

[@Bronn92]

This is my favourite hip hop album of all time. When I think of hip hop music I think of this album instrumentals and soundscape, especially Q.U. - Hectic.

[@lugebeatzz8747]

It has this immersion.... It's so beautiful and the rappers don't hop around with throwaway lines or mixing topics. They stay focused throughout the album.

[@Mackmueller5150]

Shit is for real we about to get HECTIC

[@goop2345]

My fave too. Unmatched atmosphere imo, the beat on Give Up the Goods is unreal

[@paulphoenix1669]

Man QU hectic makes me feel like the Garda are after me, so fucking raw, gritty and anxiety inducing

[@NOVMBER]

This is my favourite album of all time. The production alone transported me straight to a cold NY street corner. I was so inspired by the sound of this album that I started producing my own music and releasing it online. Not to mention that they were only around 19 years old during its creation. Havoc’s ear for samples and sequencing was very impressive considering the lack of technology in the mid-90’s. There was no internet access to sift through hundreds of samples a day. Q.U. Hectic is my favourite track of all time. RIP Prodigy 🙏🏾

[@yadude_log]

“I’m only 19 but my mind is older” is one of my favorite lines in all of hip-hop

[@bendow5518]

And when shit gets for real my warm heart turns colder

[@jech1216]

"Born in the wrong generation🤓" ahh😂✌️

[@aliceyuri]

​@@jech1216 more like "I'm 19 but have already caught bodies"

[@atlassolid5946]

@@jech1216 me when someone enjoys music

[@superunknown2812]

Prodigy was ahead of his time with his storytelling

[@StillTheVoid]

Mobb Deep's The Infamous is one of the darkest and most bone-chilling albums I have EVER heard. Like a merry-go-round of anguish that never ends. Havoc and Q-Tip gave us the gold standard in producing one of the coldest beats in HISTORY! Truly one of the greatest "5-mics" albums in hip-hop history. We still miss you, Prodigy!!! 🕊🕊

[@RaidersDnB]

‘Hell on earth’ is even darker And just as good !

[@burhanalg]

Dark is exactly the word I think of when I remember this album Hell on Earth is dark too but more celebrating the gangster life

[@w97.]

@@RaidersDnBcall me crazy but I’ll take Hell on Earth over The Infamous

[@lmgdhgld]

Top 10 hip hop albums of all time

[@shjlishk]

真的吗？realy?

[@BaconBoys995]

​@@shjlishkdid you really just write "really" two times???... really??

[@shjlishk]

@@BaconBoys995 ?? What's wrong?

[@BaconBoys995]

@@shjlishk nothing, just wondered why one was in chinese and the other one in english 🤯🤯🤯

[@auggie87]

肯定是的！

[@CrashOutClancy]

you only gave this album a CLASSIC/10 because it's a classic

[@D4N4RR4N4R]

Wait is classic a 10?

[@clursunny]

@@D4N4RR4N4Rit’s a classic

[@Uff-dada]

I’m pretty sure he gave it a ten because of the prominent bald melon on the cover

[@nathe12]

@D4N4RR4N4R it means it’s a classic

[@Deezysleezy]

​@@nathe12 no shit Sherlock 😡

[@loutzzzz]

Black On Both Sides review next 🙏🏼

[@jenconvertibles]

im honestly surprised he hasnt done that yet because from the way he talks about it its gotta be one of his favourite hip hop albums

[@Skrogansauce]

That and Infamous would make this best classics week imo. Just two of the GOAT albums.

[@loutzzzz]

@@Skrogansauce I’d add Liquid Swords, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, OB4CL and Moment Of Truth

[@latiasite]

Fun Fact, on AlbumOfTheYear, Shook Ones pt. II is one of the few songs on the site to have a score of 99/100 (from 25+ ratings), and is usually ranked at the second highest rated song of all time, only under Fishmans’ LONG SEASON - Live.

[@krisnachtigall]

LSL SUPREMACY

[@arch1vst]

respectfully why do people care about this stuff

[@deven9565]

​@@arch1vstdetachment from the real world, burrowing their heads into niche self-validating interests

[@Nerdz2]

@@arch1vstIts contemporary anthropology. Just say it bores you

[@nebraska_power]

@@arch1vstrespectfully why wouldn’t they?

[@CK2008able]

Oh my god, finally. Few albums share such a special place in my heart. Will never forget the first time I was in New York and listened to this record walking through Brooklyn. A moment when this Irish boy felt the city and the music in a way I hadn't beforehand.

[@bm2672]

Totally relate man, I'm also from Europe and my first trip to New York was such an intense experience as a rap fan.

[@CK2008able]

@@bm2672 I feel ya man. Hearing Trife Life walking out of the subway was something I'll never forget

[@ThaRixer]

My favourite rap album ever made, RIP Prodigy

[@Urmie2]

This album and Illmatic are THE gold standard for hip hop. The Infamous is probably the best album of the genre along Illmatic

[@lugebeatzz8747]

The infamous is debatable. It's dark and hell is hot, Ready to Die, Black on both sides, 36 chambers, 1 of a tribe called quest's album(I pick Midnight Marauders). Lots of classics in the 90s. Album felt cohesive and focused.

[@JAD3NZ_]

its the gold standard for 90s NYC rap.

[@dysonvacuumcleaner451]

I see we're reviewing some peak today

[@raer5373]

Survival of the Fitest, Eye for an Eye and Give up the goods is such a great three song run of this album, one of my favorites ever.

[@Black-rw4og]

You are NOT missing with these classics picks. I love both infamous and frizzle fry, I’m so happy you’ve shown these albums more love

[@skazzycfc]

Holy shit wasn’t expecting this

[@avr3897]

There BETTER be a boards of canada classic review this week

[@aepneuma]

GEOGADDI

[@hypnotrax]

would love a MHTRTC classic review

[@lstingray39]

He needs to do a boards of Canada review before it becomes boards of united states

[@berkkarsi]

A classic review of Selected Ambient Works Vol. II by Aphex Twin would be great. That album is so fascinating and interesting.

[@LumiNyte]

Sadly I don't think he does more than one classic review per artist

[@Prodbyjah464]

Yeah as the other guy said he only does one classic for an artist, but board of Canada music has the right to children would be a cool pic.

[@vocecaiunocontodomalakoi7541]

​@@Prodbyjah464 He was considering on stream giving Dylan another classic review since it's been years since he did the last, but I think he does indeed prefer to have more variety since these classic reviews are so scarce

[@hocuspocus1237]

The thing is when gangster rap first bloomed the artists (Ice-T, Schoolly D, N.W.A, etc) that spearheaded it painted the street life in a valiant, triumphant way, with embellished stories to prove; they were winners with spoils to roll in. This album shattered those fantasies. Havoc and Prodigy sound like traumatised, war-scarred teens trying to survive in the largest housing project in America. Even just the transition in Mobb Deeps music from 1993 to 95 was crazy. Their first single was the sex-jam “Hit it from the back” from their debut album, which no one knows of. Contrast that to tracks like Trife Life, which shows the group so paranoid they stalk around other boroughs loaded to the teeth just for a potential hook up. Everything about this album is spine tingling, even the more “upbeat” cuts. My personal favourite is Cradle to the Grave. Even the prelude before the song is just haunting. One of NYs staple albums, simple as that.

[@johnmeldon67]

10:53 10:55

[@NandoDon]

It’s crazy that Havoc was going to delete the beat to Shook Ones Pt. 2 but prodigy and the gang caught em at the studio in the projects before he scrapped it and told him to keep it and the rest is history.

[@redrocket604]

It's one of the most gritty, haunting New York hardcore rap albums ever made!

[@überatzig]

Start of your ending one of the best opening tracks of all time🗣️ and also my favorite mobb deep track.

[@aszapata10]

I’m very glad you got to this record and I think you did a great job reviewing it. Honestly, we could have spent more time discussing Prodigy’s pen, I think-the complicated tale of morality and survival that he weaves throughout the record is nothing short of sublime. At its core, this is a humanist project through and through and I wish it was seen that way by listeners at large.

[@ayeesuh]

just give it a 10 already

[@feljemuro]

he literally gave it a 10, or ur comment is js a bad joke?

[@lwsixo2726]

Timestamp?​@@feljemuro

[@limoncello3200]

@@lwsixo2726 any classic/10 is a 10, no?

[@aszapata10]

@limoncello3200 No, classics are not all 10s. He’s done a classic review of _Thriller_ which he doesn’t think is a 10. This record, though? God damn does it deserve it.

[@DRxxx-bh2wm]

@limoncello3200yes

[@rylansparkyschneider]

This album got me into rap. The gritty beats, the storytelling dynamic, the skits, the general vibe. It’s my favorite. Their chemistry is unmatched.

[@FARRQUEUE]

up north trip is one of my fav songs ever

[@paulmejer653]

glad you're taking the time to review this album. The Infamous is phenomenal and we need more people like you appreciating it

[@elory9576]

Top 15 best hip hop albums of all time

[@yankeeman291]

So sick. I just recently got into this album last month. Production was so ahead of its time imo

[@psychokitty444]

Hell On Earth, too. These guys were from the future.

[@depthbomb94]

@@psychokitty444MURDA muzik as Well

[@aliceyuri]

don't think anyone has ever matched havoc as far as creating a sonic landscape that captures that sorta late night, grimy, guys getting mugged in an alley and shot kinda vibe

[@ldm2622]

the nas verse on eye for an eye is the best verse of all time

[@lugebeatzz8747]

😅 Not sure about that but that verse is f'ing ill

[@aszapata10]

@@ldm2622 Doesn’t come close to Prodigy’s best verses on the record.

[@xyromastr]

I’m a heavy Nas fan but I prefer Rae’s verse

[@Sameerghulam]

It must be said!!! 🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@MajeOfficialDOTcom]

@xyromastr 'late night candle light, fiend with a crack pipe'

[@Mb98016]

“As long as feins smoke crack, I’ll be on the block hustlin, countin my stack “ will forever be one of the best bars in hip hop

[@nickolasecker9596]

True story, Havoc’s brother had murdered someone, unsure if it was intentional or not, over stereo speakers. This was elaborated on via Prodigy’s “My Infamous Life”.

[@funkdoc1112]

Yup, on Temperature's Rising they were writing to him specifically

[@CanalNewYork]

Temperature’s Rising was actually about Havoc’s brother Killa Black, who was on the run for a murder

[@bootleg08]

I USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THIS

[@jaymeade_]

The shook ones II beat is nuts. Havok’s herbie hancock piano sample was flipped and stretched to two different time signatures in sequence and it all still works so flawlessly. Scariest, most raw beat ever.

[@dahalofreeek]

This album reminds me that I am white, I am a bum, I do live in a trailer with my mum.

[@dabs.47]

You need some psychiatric help if this album makes you think about mid shady

[@StillTheVoid]

@@dabs.47 to be fair, B. Rabbit's last rap battle uses the Shook One's rap beat as a homage to Mobb Deep. Now I understood years after its release what the crowd meant by shouting: "...half-way crooks!"

[@GG-ou7it]

@@dabs.47you are uninitiated

[@genericnickname1]

@@dabs.47 just say you're racist instead

[@dabs.47]

@@genericnickname1 now here comes the mid shady Stans with their clown as narratives 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@macktripper556]

Holy wow. The Infamous is beyond classic.

[@CoolChris16]

R.I.P. Prodigy ❤

[@kuppakassi]

Unpopular opinion: Hell on Earth is on the same level as The Infamous

[@rangatangabanga]

No where near the same quality unfortunately

[@AS-is4dt]

Its good but slightly below

[@zer02xjxzzingxnbxtches]

Eh I kinda agree. Same quality, maybe. But Infamous had waaaay more impact.

[@sirisirih]

I find it slightly better, actually

[@OKITSGOOB]

all is opinion but i find hell on earth to be substantially better in songwriting ability. a lot less varied but more cohesive and refined. love both though. people downplay the rest of their discography too

[@nazgul9538]

Liquid Swords soon?!

[@MatthewForsytheHi]

In my top 10 for hip hop. Its magic every time I give it a spin.

[@thomasconnor255]

This and only built 4 cuban linx really shiver me timbers

[@jacobjhall1974]

Let’s get A Love Supreme classic review Anthony! Please!!

[@taknoid5218]

One of the best hip-hop albums of all time no question.

[@Madam-Addam]

Glad to see anthony keeping up with the more recent releases!

[@CoolChris16]

Prodigy’s autobiography is definitely a must-read if y’all haven’t read it already

[@jochenjockel]

The first track is always in my winter playlist

[@EddyReyes_MN]

No skips on this album. One of my favorites 🔥

[@RiffsFromTheKrypt]

Still get goosebumps with every listen of this album. It’s impossible for me to just sit and listen. I just pace back and forth through my house wanting to catch a couple charges. Bars for days on this album. “For every rhyme I write it's twenty-five to life.” “Cause as long as I'm alive, I'ma live illegal” The list could go on and on.

[@kjrp9734]

Best Album ever, all genres all times

[@andMilano]

Facts

[@GoatedGhostface]

Man I been waiting on this review for ages thank you melon.

[@MaxMax-zo9vq]

Best rap album of the 90’s

[@POTATOBRAINZ-e1j]

Very close, but imo Illmatic and 36 Chambers are just slightly above it.

[@kuppakassi]

​@@POTATOBRAINZ-e1j True true

[@lugebeatzz8747]

​@@POTATOBRAINZ-e1j Ready to die? Black on both sides? It's dark and hell is hot?

[@mtg829]

Petition for Tony to start putting favorite tracks on classic reviews:

[@danwillreview]

The story behind the creation and subsequent mystery of Shook Ones Pt. II is still one of my favourite pieces of 90's hip hop trivia. Not to mention every other track on this thing slapping insanely hard. Awesome pick

[@ryantalksmusic]

He finally reviewed my favorite album of all time! Thanks Melon, and thanks for mentioning the greatness of Q.U. - Hectic: that song doesn’t get nearly enough love. Great review.

[@sambailey5372]

Shook Ones Pt 2 is one of the best songs of all time period

[@alexandregaudreau1061]

Cool review Anthony. Wasn't expecting this

[@Death_Classic]

Certified hood classic week

[@Maleek732]

Listened to this yesterday again while working, perfect timing. Side thing I’ve noticed, Q-tip understood the assignment and his verse needs more praise. He left the ATCQ vibes behind and went on about snipers on the roofs. All the guests deserved all the praise on here.

[@joaocarlostomedealmeida8817]

1:09 voice crack

[@deepseadoughnut44]

Hearing mobb deep shook ones for the first time is what took my out of the rock bubble I was in and opened the door to the east coast and then general hip hop culture. It's truly a masterpiece because noatter how much more I discovered and liked in hip hop, this album and that track always stood out even to this day

[@nuggetz9380]

Top 3 hiphop album ever

[@lugebeatzz8747]

I would hate to be limited to only 3 albums....

[@lynnytanny8838]

@@lugebeatzz8747 are you saying thats a bad take?

[@HoT_ToucH]

Woahthany is my next kids name. A classic name for CLASSIC week, great review as per usual

[@max.harrison17]

Hey anthony, idk if you remember me, but on the last stream, i recommended you review dots older stuff, and you said it sounded interesting to do overly dedicated. wondering if you were still considering it? it would be awesome

[@max.harrison17]

also this leaves the door open for his other mixtapes perhaps? (h.n.i.c, training day, no sleep till nyc, c4, (plz do c4) and his self titled projects? Maybe a long video recapping all of them in a short time frame to show his evolution?

[@max.harrison17]

*self titled project

[@noah-ux2cz]

On the topic of classic hip hop albums from rap duos, we may just need a Mecca and the Soul Brother review.

[@CarlitosWay420]

RIP Prodigy

[@creepspilla]

Thank you for this. One of my all time favorite albums.

[@scalderm]

Best album of 2025 for SURE

[@number1ballknower]

i’m really hoping to see a Disintegration, Siamese Dream, Dirt, Turn on the Bright Lights or any pink floyd or black sabbath album review

[@tygeberger5100]

I’ve never really been an album person, I’d only ever download a couple of songs from a project, but I remember when I first decided to listen to this album I ended up buying the entire thing. Each song was just an absolute banger and the flows and beats were so good. Truly one of the greatest hip hop albums ever

[@waltergutierrez1395]

No offense at all; but not being an "album person" makes me wanna throw up

[@tygeberger5100]

@@waltergutierrez1395 Bro i'm tryna listen to songs not a bunch of 1 minute interludes. Also, I'm not a fucking music nerd like you

[@hildeone]

Not being an “album person” is shameful. This is the first time I’ve come across that term. The best part of albums are interludes and skits. They’re audio art projects.

[@tygeberger5100]

@@hildeone Well congratulations man, you've discovered the casual listener

[@hildeone]

@@tygeberger5100 Thanks. You’re exactly what I expected. A casual.

[@dennisp6962]

I used to listen almost exclusively to east coast hip hop. since then, ten years later, my musical taste have expanded to the stratosphere and i barely even listen to hip hop/rap at all. However this album is such a diamond, it will always be one of my fav albums of all time i think

[@Franticity7]

People forget they were a part of G Unit when G Unit included Game, Olivia, and Buck

[@krugscheisser]

good for the people who forgot -.-

[@lugebeatzz8747]

Yep.

[@siftwram]

That Back to Business tape was so hard

[@93RubixCube]

​@@krugscheisserwould be a great world to live in.

[@mattmichaels5195]

remember it like it was yesterday

[@mr.e2297]

Yo, great review. I peep that Donna summers live and more album on the shelf. I would love to see more soul Funk and disco records appear on classic weeks from time to time

[@Brordin1457]

1:26 Hailey Welch??

[@Dom776]

Glad to see this get a positive response. i hope these guys careers go far

[@IPlayVideogamesCauseItsFun]

Giving Infamous 0 is weird but i respect it

[@KendrickOcean]

I love your classic reviews ❤❤😂

[@PikminMaster4]

If this was called... Yeah you thought I was gonna make one of those jokes...you're right, if this was called The Infamous Butterfly, you would give this album at least a two.

[@joshii32]

You can't tell the odds of me discovering this channel 15 minutes ago and today he uploaded a vid about my favorite album ever

[@nkululekoomegasibiya7748]

One of my favourite albums of all time...shout out from KwaMashu..South Africa 🎉🎉🎉🇿🇦🎧

[@shigeon2668]

bruh antknee keeps making videos about my favorite albums, this classics week is goated

[@jiw1330164]

Love seeing Mobb Deep getting their flowers over the past couple years because when I was in high school back in like 2001 they were so slept on and only “real hip hop heads” rocked with them

[@el_dank_sinatra]

This is an absolute 11/10. It perfectly paints the picture of the gritty dark nature of NY neighborhoods in the 90’s, and amazing rapping from the legendary Prodigy and Havoc. The production is also just absolutely stunning. It also has the best rap track ever made, too.

[@77DragonSlayer95]

My favorite album of all-time. No skips. 10/10 from the first listen. I did even need to let some songs to grow on me, the just went from great to even greater 💯 True Classic

[@blastedmcgraw152]

Nas’ “Illmatic” made me feel like I was getting a tour of Queensbridge from the rawest tour guide there was. “The Infamous” made me feel like the tour guide dropped me off and said “good luck”. It was the scariest hip hop album I’d ever heard. Masterpiece.

[@paulphoenix1669]

OOOOOOh I look forward to watching this later Easily my favourite hiphop album ever. Seeing them (I know Prodigy is dead RIP) at the end of month, looking forward to it!

[@TheTriangleOffense47]

Trife Life is my fav! I love that beat

[@fori6377]

99% of my life I was lied to I just found out anthony love rap more than i do Told my mom id grow up to be a famous rapper She slapped me and said its never gonna happen

[@Redditfanboy-v2s]

Great review bro

[@11.9lsupercharged4]

Temperature rising goes crazy

[@plamen-vt]

"Temperature's Rising" (the remix, not the album version) is such a banger.