Blood Money

UK edition of their 2006 album includes one bonus track over the US edition, 'So Ill'. 17 tracks in all. The Infamous Mobb Deep are the pioneers of NYC's gangsta rap scene. 12 years in the game and rap classics like 'Drop A Gem On Em', 'Quiet Storm', 'Survival Of The Fittest' and 'Shook One's Pt II' (featured in the Eminem film '8 Mile') have cemented Mobb in hip hop's hall of fame. I ndividually known as Havoc and Prodigy one of their biggest fans 50 Cent liked them so much he signed them to his G Unit label and asked them to feature on his 'Massacre' world tour. Unmistakable production on 'Blood Money' has been provided by Mobb member Havoc, Eminem¨s DJ Alchemist, 50 Cent's right hand man Sha Money XL and the legendary Dr. Dre with guest MC's Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Tony Yayo & 50 Cent completing this all-star line up. Universal. 2006.

After getting signed to G-Unit, the veteran Queensbridge duo of Prodigy and Havoc bragged that they were now "superstars." Maybe not yet lil soldiers, but Blood Money is still a marked improvement over the last few MD albums. Hav and P sound surprisingly good meshing their laconically menacing style with G-Unit's hook-heavy production. If they really want triple-platinum sales, they need more songs like the infectious "Outta Control" or the pre-fab-club hit "Have a Party," but the Mobb weren't made to cut "Candy Shop" clones. They work better with the dark, sinister stylings of "The Infamous" (a nod to their 1994 album of the same name) or the funky loops on "Put Em In Their Place." For all the murda music--"Click, Click," "Creep"--there are some unexpected departures, like the blasphemously philosophical "Pearly Gates" and the smooth, mellow "It's Alright." 50 Cent fans should be happy to hear him on six of the songs, with the rest of the G-Unit making obligatory single guest spots. --Oliver Wang