Prodigy (rapper)
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| Prodigy | |
|---|---|
 Prodigy of the rap group Mobb Deep.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Albert Johnson |
| Born | November 2, 1974 Hempstead Village, New York |
| Origin | Long Island, Queens, New York |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop |
| Years active | since 1990 |
| Label(s) | G-Unit, Koch, Voxonic |
| Associated acts | Mobb Deep Havoc The Alchemist Big Noyd G-Unit Infamous Mobb Un Pacino 40 Glocc Sid Roams |
| Website | HNIC2.com |
Alberto Johnson, (born November 2, 1974)[1] better known as Prodigy, is an American rapper and a member of the hip-hop duo Mobb Deep, in addition to Havoc.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Debut album
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This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2009) |
Born in Hempstead, New York, in Long Island, Prodigy is considered the lyrically skilled member of the duo Mobb Deep.[2] Prodigy was born with sickle cell anemia and has suffered from the disease throughout his life.[3] Propelled to awareness partially by fellow rapper Nas, who took a similar approach lyrically on his championed Illmatic album from 1994, as well as with the aid of a successful single, "Shook Ones Pt. 2," Mobb Deep suddenly found themselves developing a quickly growing cult. A year later, in 1996, Prodigy and Havoc released Hell on Earth; debuting at number six on SoundScan, the album found them fully realizing their approach, dropping both evocative beats and cinematic rhymes that communicated the dark side of New York's urban landscape. Thanks to a grim video for "Hell on Earth (Front Lines)" and theatrical Scarface-like photos inside the CD booklet picturing the duo with guns and a mound of cocaine, Mobb Deep had created an elaborate image for themselves that took hardcore gangsta rap to a new level for East Coast hip hop. Its next release, Murda Muzik, was heavily bootlegged while still in its demo stage, leaking rough versions of the nearly 30 songs the duo had recorded onto the streets and over the internet.
[edit] Recent events
He completed work on his third solo album H.N.I.C. Part 2, which was previewed on his official mixtape The Return of the Mac on the independent label Koch Records. The mixtape single and mixtape video are called "Mac 10 Handle," and it shows Prodigy once again reverting to his trademark braids that he had prior to the release of Mobb Deep's 2004 Amerika'z Nightmare album; different from the short fade he had from 2004 to 2006. H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 was released through Voxonic Inc., of which Prodigy is an equity holder.[4]
[edit] 2008 Presidential Election
In early June 2008, Prodigy revealed he wasn't too fond of the Barack Obama while he was a presidential candidate. He told BallerStatus.com that Obama was a "phony" and a "plastic president", but also wished him the best of luck. "I wish nothing but love and happiness for him," the rapper said. "But he's either gonna be assassinated to create chaos and bring about Martial Law or he'll live and then years down the line, at the end of his term everybody will see that he's just like the rest of these plastic Presidents, who does absolutely nothing good. Just another puppet for the Royal family." [5]
[edit] Prison
Johnson was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in October 2007 after pleading guilty to firearms offences.[6] The sentence was delayed after two medical reprieves.[6]
[edit] Feuds
[edit] 2Pac
In 1995 to 1996, the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry was occurring. This beef started when Tha Dogg Pound released "New York, New York". Mobb Deep took offense to that and with Capone-N-Noreaga and Tragedy Khadafi they released "LA, LA" in response. 2Pac dissed Mobb Deep in "Hit 'Em Up" and "When We Ride on Our Enemies" and made fun of Prodigy's sickle cell disease. Mobb Deep responded in a diss track called "Drop A Gem On 'Em" on their 1996 album Hell on Earth[7] which was released after 2Pac was murdered. 2Pac also dissed Mobb Deep on the song "Against All Odds"[7] which was released after his death.
[edit] Keith Murray
On The Infamous, Prodigy made remarks about rappers who rap about "smoking weed" and talk about "space shit".[8] Def Squad took offense but the feud was settled when Prodigy and Keith Murray met at a video shoot.[8] The feud was rekindled when Prodigy again referenced "space shit" in his appearance on LL Cool J's "I Shot Ya" which also featured Murray. Murray saw Prodigy at a club one night and punched him.[8] Prodigy recalled the altercation and threatened Murray in the song "In the Long Run" on Hell on Earth. Murray released a song "Call My Name" on his Enigma album dissing Mobb Deep. The feud seemed to die down until Prodigy dissed Murray again in his 2004 song "Bad Blood." Murray has responded with numerous songs since.[8]
[edit] Saigon
During an interview Prodigy stated that he didn't like Saigon, Tru-Life or many other rappers for that matter. Saigon took offense and dissed Prodigy back in an interview.
On the night of September 19, 2007, after an impromptu performance by Saigon during a Mobb Deep show, words were exchanged between Saigon and Prodigy.[9] This escalated into an argument, which resulted with Saigon punching Prodigy twice in the face.[10] Two video versions of the events have since emerged. One version with slow motion footage shows a clear look of Saigon punching Prodigy, while another video being endorsed by Mobb Deep shows Saigon being chased and running out of the club.[11]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo albums
| Album information |
|---|
H.N.I.C.
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| Return of the Mac |
| H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 |
Product of the 80's (with Big Twins & Un Pacino)
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| Ultimate P[16] |
[edit] Singles
- "Keep It Thoro" (2000)
- "Rock Dat Shit" (2000)
- "Y.B.E." (2000)
- "Trials Of Love" (2001)
- "Mac 10 Handle" (2006)
- "New York Shit" (2006)
- "Stuck On You" (2007)
- "A,B,C" (2007)
- "The Life" (2008)
- "New Yitty" (2008)
- "Young Veterans" (2008)
- "I Want Out" (2008)
- "Stop Stressin" (2008)
- "Shed Thy Blood" (2008)
- "Damn Daddy" (2009)
- "Veteran Mentality 2
[edit] Filmography
- Blackout (2007)
- Murda Muzik (2004)
[edit] References
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason "Mobb Deep Biography", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason "Prodigy Biography", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
- ^ "Prodigy Interview: Pre-Prison Exclusive", DJBooth.net
- ^ What Would You Do by Laura Checkoway. XXL Magazine. January 2008.
- ^ Prodigy Calls Obama 'A Phony' And 'A Puppet' BallerStatus.com. June, 2008
- ^ a b Rodriguez, Jayson (2009) "Mobb Deep's Prodigy Claims He Wasn't Hospitalized, Contrary To Lawyer's Statement", MTV, 214 February 2008
- ^ a b Heinzelman, Bill. "Top 11 Diss Songs in Hip-Hop". UGO.com. http://www.ugo.com/music/diss-songs/?cur=mobb-deep-vs-2pac. Retrieved on 2009-03-17.
- ^ a b c d Reid, Shaheem; Joseph Patel, Rahman Dukes, Curtis Waller and Kimberly Rufen-Blanchette (2005-01-28). "Mixtape Monday: Game and 50 On Fame-Haters; The Mobb Deep/Keith Murray Beef Goes On". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/013105/. Retrieved on 2009-03-17.
- ^ Saigon, Mobb Deep Get Into Physical Altercation During Music Showcase In New York BallerStatus.com (September 20, 2007). Accessed December 19, 2007.
- ^ Saigon Punches Prodigy of Mobb Deep HipHopDX.com (September 20, 2007). Accessed November 21, 2007.
- ^ Saigon Talks Fight With Prodigy Sohh.com (September 20, 2007). Accessed November 21, 2007.
- ^ "Searchable Database of Certified Gold and Platinum Albums". Recording Industry Association of America. 2000-12-18. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ^ Dickerson, Virgil (2007-04-25). "Independent Sales Chart 4-25-07". IndieHQ 2.0. http://indiehq.com/2007/04/25/independent-sales-chart-4-25-07/#more-467. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ^ Paine, Jake (2007-12-25). "Prodigy Prepares For H.N.I.C. 2 And Prison In January". Hip Hop DX - Hip Hop News. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.6140/title.prodigy-prepares-for-h-n-i-c-2-and-prison-in-january. Retrieved on 2007-12-29.
- ^ ganggeneral (Contributor).. Prodigy - "ABC's". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-29NPT_6KoA. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ^ Ultimate P by Prodigy - Amazon.com
[edit] External links
- Prodigy at MySpace
- Prodigy at MySpace (2nd page)
- Mobb at YouTube
- "Prodigy: Mac Attack" - interview with SoundSlam
- H.N.I.C. Movie info at NationofMillions.com
- Prodigy at Ning
- "Prodigy: Live from the Belly" - interview with Hip Hop Lives - HHLO.net
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