Gig review: Mobb Deep at Project House, Leeds
The music of Queensbridge’s iconic hip-hop duo lives on through original rapper Havoc.
A new look Mobb Deep continued their European tour with original member Havoc being joined by long-term collaborators Big Noyd and DJ L.E.S.
Everything changed in 2017 when Prodigy, aged just 42, tragically passed away. While the duo has of course never been the same after losing an irreplaceable rap hero, Havoc has kept the music alive, touring the newest Infinite record that features some of Prodigy’s posthumous vocals.
The love for the late member was tangible on the night, with space left for his verses, emotional moments and the crowd making their love for the rapper clear.
The new record features a host of collaborations, from Nas, Clipse, Raekwon and The Alchemist on production. It seems like a victory lap and one last dance for the duos legacy to live on, being brought to life with the help of some huge names in the industry. Despite some more modern instrumentals on show here, Mobb Deep retain their grittiness and infectious arrogance – staples of any 90s New York hip hop outfit.
Unsurprisingly, it was Havoc conducting, guiding us through the night. He hasn’t lost a yard in terms of his rapping ability and has kept his presence as one of the most iconic in the genre. Making sure to give Prodigy the respect he deserves, it was Havoc asking for 2’s in the air for all of his verses, paying homage to his late rap partner all night long.
The two additions brought energy to the night, with Big Noyd hyping up the crowd and filling in for big verses throughout. Having worked with the group countless times over the years, he knows how love the music is and it was clear to see the passion and respect that he had for the work. DJ L.E.S, famous for working with Nas and other Queensbridge rappers at the time, also kept the pace at full throttle, opening and closing the set.
It was, of course, never going to be the same without Prodigy. Losing one half of one of the most iconic rap duos in history is clearly irreplaceable, but Havoc, along with musicians who have been around the duo for years, kept the spirit and energy alive. The music is as good as ever and the performances, energy and love were still present all night.