New Mobb Deep interview

[Matty]

i doubt the beat for nightmares is gonna be something that was suitable for an r&b album

[jeromechickenbone]

no shit, its getting harder and harder for me to respect the mobb deep boys they are reminding me to much of yayo and banks its too bad

I don't suppose it occurred to you...maybe 50 and Mobb Deep actually have genuine, mutual respect for each other?

Cats been acting like it's impossible this whole thing could ever happen for any reason other than financial gain (on Mobb Deep's part). Certainly, there's some truth to that, but I think it's pretty obvious that they're pretty loyal to each other and that 50 is serious about helping them do well because he's a big fan of the group. He's said in interviews before that Mobb Deep were among his inspirations when he was coming up in the game.

50 doesn't give a fuck about Mobb Deep.  He needed some credibility & allies, as both have shrunken drastically since The Massacre dropped.  He reached out to them, and put them on the Outta Control remix which was the biggest single released from the album (Nearly all due to Dre's incredible beat).  Since Mobb Deep was on his biggest single, they got some newfound exposure and 50 figured he could parlay that into an album and get some sales. 

If Mobb Deep flops, they'll be dropped from G-Unit.  Then they'll release "Drop a Gem on 'em Part II" dissing 50, and Prodigy will have to cover up his G-Unit tattoo. 

[Eihtball]

50 doesn't give a fuck about Mobb Deep.  He needed some credibility & allies, as both have shrunken drastically since The Massacre dropped.  He reached out to them, and put them on the Outta Control remix which was the biggest single released from the album (Nearly all due to Dre's incredible beat).  Since Mobb Deep was on his biggest single, they got some newfound exposure and 50 figured he could parlay that into an album and get some sales. 

If Mobb Deep flops, they'll be dropped from G-Unit.  Then they'll release "Drop a Gem on 'em Part II" dissing 50, and Prodigy will have to cover up his G-Unit tattoo. 

That's bulllshit.  If 50 was looking only for credibility and allies, he would have signed some more hot contemporary rappers who have displayed commercial potential for his empire to recover.  Instead, he's signed a group that hasn't had a hit in 5 years and whom many in the larger hip-hop community believe are washed-up (not to mention they lost a lot of credibility themselves after Jay-Z showed that picture of P at his grandmother's dance school).  Not to mention that he's given Mobb Deep far more priority than any of the other artists signed to his label - they came after Spider Loc and Olivia and at the same time as M.O.P, yet it's their album he's putting out first.  And I think it's pretty obvious 50 must have pulled strings at Interscope to get their album released so soon - they're coming out before Busta Rhymes, Stat Quo, and Obie Trice, even though those cats have had their albums completed for a long time now.  Clearly, 50 has a lotta love for Mobb Deep to be doing so much for them - he took a commercial risk signing them, and yet he's still putting a lot on the line for them.

Also, since when was "Outta Control" the biggest hit from "The Massacre"?  It was most def successful, but it only got to #6 on the pop charts (even then, only for 1 week, which isn't that great), while "Candy Shop", "Disco Inferno", and "Just A Lil Bit" all were controlling the Top 5 for extended periods of time.

[jeromechickenbone]

That's bulllshit. If 50 was looking only for credibility and allies, he would have signed some more hot contemporary rappers who have displayed commercial potential for his empire to recover.

You mean like Lil Scrappy? Ma$e? Jayo Felony? B.G? M.O.P?  I think all of these guys personify contemporary rappers who have displayed commercial success.  Jayo and B.G. are the only two there that didn't sign, but both acknowledged having a deal on the table.  So there goes that arguement.

Not to mention that he's given Mobb Deep far more priority than any of the other artists signed to his label - they came after Spider Loc and Olivia and at the same time as M.O.P, yet it's their album he's putting out first.

Don't know if you noticed, but Olivia has released 3 SINGLES with no album.  If her first single would have blown, she'd have an album out 6 months ago.  Spider's sole purpose on G-Unit was to diss Game, and give him an allie in the West after him and Game fell out.  I SERIOUSLY doubt we'll ever see an official G-Unit album from him.

 And I think it's pretty obvious 50 must have pulled strings at Interscope to get their album released so soon - they're coming out before Busta Rhymes, Stat Quo, and Obie Trice, even though those cats have had their albums completed for a long time now. Clearly, 50 has a lotta love for Mobb Deep to be doing so much for them - he took a commercial risk signing them, and yet he's still putting a lot on the line for them.

Mobb Deep's alleged release date means nothing.  How many non G-Unit affiliates has Interscope released in the last 5 years?  You've got Em and Obie and thats it.  If Spider Loc is on the Outta Control rmx, best believe his album would have that May release date.

Also, since when was "Outta Control" the biggest hit from "The Massacre"? It was most def successful, but it only got to #6 on the pop charts (even then, only for 1 week, which isn't that great), while "Candy Shop", "Disco Inferno", and "Just A Lil Bit" all were controlling the Top 5 for extended periods of time.

You gotta realize that those singles took off from buzz alone.  When I head that "The Massacre" was droppin, i was absolutely anticipating to hear where 50 was gonna go after GRODT.  Those songs may have charted well, but they didn't push the Massacre to GRODT's sales figures.  To me, that's a direct correlation to the quality (or lack thereof) of those songs.  It sure as hell made me not purchase the album.  Outta Control rmx wasn't even on The Massacre - they had to re-release the album and use a gimmick of including videos for all the songs.  Outta Control rmx was easily the dopest song on the album.  So sure, The Massacre sold 5x Plat, but how many of those sales were from the re-release?  Plus, I think you'd get laughed at if you said that "Candy Shop" "and Just a lil bit" were better songs than Outta Control rmx.

[Eihtball]

OK, Jrome, you seem to be avoiding my main point.  Why is it that 50 signed a group that has so little commercial potential if that's what he's after?  You ain't answered the question yet, homie.

You mean like Lil Scrappy? Ma$e? Jayo Felony? B.G? M.O.P?  I think all of these guys personify contemporary rappers who have displayed commercial success.  Jayo and B.G. are the only two there that didn't sign, but both acknowledged having a deal on the table.  So there goes that arguement.

M.O.P.?  Commercial success?  They've never even gone Gold.

B.G. has already signed a deal with Atlantic, so he won't be with G-Unit anytime soon.  And Jayo Felony's only connection to G-Unit is that Spider Loc wants to sign him if and when G-Unit West ever gets started, which it probably won't...50 himself has nothing to do with that.

Don't know if you noticed, but Olivia has released 3 SINGLES with no album.  If her first single would have blown, she'd have an album out 6 months ago.  Spider's sole purpose on G-Unit was to diss Game, and give him an allie in the West after him and Game fell out.  I SERIOUSLY doubt we'll ever see an official G-Unit album from him.

OK, but what about M.O.P. then?  And Mase?  And Lil Scrappy, and Freeway?  What it comes down to is that Mobb Deep is still coming out first.

Also, your theory about Spider Loc doesn't make much sense, either.  I don't know why 50 signed him, but I don't see why he'd pick an upstart rapper (and not a very talented or respected one at that) to go against Game...he would have better off signing someone like Jayo Felony, for that matter (and as I've said before, Spider's the one who approached Jayo, not him).

Mobb Deep's alleged release date means nothing.  How many non G-Unit affiliates has Interscope released in the last 5 years?  You've got Em and Obie and thats it.  If Spider Loc is on the Outta Control rmx, best believe his album would have that May release date.

But the fact that he chose Mobb Deep and not Spider Loc or M.O.P. is still significant, isn't it?  Not to mention that he also put them on "Have A Party", which was clearly a calculated and strategically placed single from the "GRODT" soundtrack.

Also, keep in mind that Interscope is going to be far more cautious of G-Unit releases from this point on since Yayo and Olivia failed to blow up.  So no, the fact that Mobb Deep are G-Unit affiliates does not guarantee them a release date.  Besides, Busta, Obie, and Stat Quo are still Shady/Aftermath affiliates, so doesn't that mean Interscope would view them as having just as much (if not more) potential as anyone on G-Unit?  No, I think it's clear 50 probably did pull strings to get them their deal with Interscope.

You gotta realize that those singles took off from buzz alone.  When I head that "The Massacre" was droppin, i was absolutely anticipating to hear where 50 was gonna go after GRODT.  Those songs may have charted well, but they didn't push the Massacre to GRODT's sales figures.  To me, that's a direct correlation to the quality (or lack thereof) of those songs.  It sure as hell made me not purchase the album.  Outta Control rmx wasn't even on The Massacre - they had to re-release the album and use a gimmick of including videos for all the songs.  Outta Control rmx was easily the dopest song on the album.  So sure, The Massacre sold 5x Plat, but how many of those sales were from the re-release?  Plus, I think you'd get laughed at if you said that "Candy Shop" "and Just a lil bit" were better songs than Outta Control rmx.

Whoa, you've got it REALLY twisted, loc...buzz does not create successful singles, successful singles create buzz.

Have you checked the sales of those singles?  Both "Disco Inferno" and "Candy Shop" are certified 2x Platinum, whereas "In Da Club" (the most successful single from "GRODT") hit only Platinum.  So that means that even if YOU think those songs sucked, 2 million people (for each) would like to disagree with you, because they obviously liked those songs enough to buy them (probably through iTunes).  More to the point, it means that "The Massacre" did not sell based on hype alone...clearly, it sold quite well because a lot of people thought those songs were hot joints.  And besides, the difference between 5x Platinum and 6x Platinum is not all that significant..."The Massacre" was still one of 2005's highest-selling albums.  It may not have eclipsed its predecessor, but it still generated several successful singles and preserved 50's reign at the top, at least for the better part of the year.

And your theory that "Outta Control" was more successful still doesn't make sense - the special edition of "The Massacre" only sold something like 200K (Game mentioned this on the SSSL DVD), so "Outta Control" couldn't have been all that successful.  I agree, it was by far the best single from "The Massacre", but that's my opinion.  Sales don't lie...more people liked "Disco Inferno" and "Candy Shop", whether you did or not.

[Dubz]

it kind of scares me that the one dre beat on this album supposedly doesnt sound remotely like a dre beat... o boy...

[Eihtball]

it kind of scares me that the one dre beat on this album supposedly doesnt sound remotely like a dre beat... o boy...

That's a good point, but neither does "Phone Tap" from "The Firm" album, and that's arguably one of Dre's best beats ever.

[QuietTruth]

BallerStatus.net: How has 50's guidance or advice helped you so far, since signing with the G-Unit label?

Prodigy: He got good ideas and his work ethic rubs off on you. I mean, our work ethic is the same way. All we do is make songs in the studio all day, so his work ethic matches our work ethic. We just build off each other.

He got good ideas? Like what saying G unit over and over
our work ethic is the same way. Bullshit. They was putting out consisdent albums 93, 95 ,96, 99, 00, 01...Buck 04 then the flop of TIP, Banks 04 no other release, 50 and G Unit ain't up on their game...50 don't worry about his crew..He do for himself...Mobb Deep has an 06 album but just wonder when their next one will be....either a long wait or a flop...They got a whole new G unit but they doing their own things while 50 is making movies and soundtracks...50 is leaving his crew in the dirt and getting paper off them
We just build off each other. Yeah we know...50 got big plans with ya'll....Get $$$$ off ya'll for his crib to throw another wack party for his neighbors

[Eihtball]

Buck 04 then the flop of TIP, Banks 04 no other release, 50 and G Unit ain't up on their game...50 don't worry about his crew..

"T.I.P." was not a G-Unit release; it was just some old recordings Buck had made before signing with G-Unit that got released by some indie label.  So it doesn't count.  Both Buck and Banks are coming out with new albums this year supposedly.

As far as what you've said about Mobb Deep, they sure as hell ain't been consistent; since '01, they've steadily fallen off and struggled to find artistic direction.

Yeah we know...50 got big plans with ya'll....Get $$$$ off ya'll for his crib to throw another wack party for his neighbors

As I've been arguing before, 50 took a commercial risk signing them.  If he was really only concerned about the paper, he would've signed a hot up-and-coming rapper that would have guaranteed him success, which is what he needs now that Game is off the label; instead, he's signed a group that many people agree have fallen off since the late-90s'.

[QuietTruth]

"T.I.P." was not a G-Unit release; it was just some old recordings Buck had made before signing with G-Unit that got released by some indie label.  So it doesn't count.  Both Buck and Banks are coming out with new albums this year supposedly..

As far as what you've said about Mobb Deep, they sure as hell ain't been consistent; since '01, they've steadily fallen off and struggled to find artistic direction.

he's signed a group that many people agree have fallen off since the late-90s'.

Mobb Deep's Amerikaz Nightmare went number 4 on the charts in 2004.....

[Eihtball]

Both Buck and Banks are coming out with new albums this year supposedly..

It still ain't what you said about them going into oblivion, and I'm surprised you got the facts twisted on "T.I.P."

Mobb Deep's Amerikaz Nightmare went number 4 on the charts in 2004....

And it failed to even go Gold, or to produce any significant hit singles.  It was considered a commercial dissapointment, hence the reason that Jive dropped them.  Although "Infamy" went Gold, it was considered disappointing as well, since "Murda Muzik" had gone Platinum two years earlier.

[Meho]

BallerStatus.net: How has 50's guidance or advice helped you so far, since signing with the G-Unit label?

Prodigy: He got good ideas and his work ethic rubs off on you. I mean, our work ethic is the same way. All we do is make songs in the studio all day, so his work ethic matches our work ethic. We just build off each other.

He got good ideas? Like what saying G unit over and over
our work ethic is the same way. Bullshit. They was putting out consisdent albums 93, 95 ,96, 99, 00, 01...Buck 04 then the flop of TIP, Banks 04 no other release, 50 and G Unit ain't up on their game...50 don't worry about his crew..He do for himself...Mobb Deep has an 06 album but just wonder when their next one will be....either a long wait or a flop...They got a whole new G unit but they doing their own things while 50 is making movies and soundtracks...50 is leaving his crew in the dirt and getting paper off them
We just build off each other. Yeah we know...50 got big plans with ya'll....Get $$$$ off ya'll for his crib to throw another wack party for his neighbors

LMAO, are you serious?  If theres anything you cant say about 50 is, that he doesnt help his homies. Both Buck and Banks have their own album out, are rich, same was with Game, Mobb Deep, Yayo.... What has Eminem done for his D12 crew, except for those 2 LP's ? The D12 crew is dropping albums on some small, wack labels, without any promotion. What has Game done for his BWS crew? Or Snoop for his DPG crew? Nothing.

[Eihtball]

LMAO, are you serious?  If theres anything you cant say about 50 is, that he doesnt help his homies. Both Buck and Banks have their own album out, are rich, same was with Game, Mobb Deep, Yayo.... What has Eminem done for his D12 crew, except for those 2 LP's ? The D12 crew is dropping albums on some small, wack labels, without any promotion. What has Game done for his BWS crew? Or Snoop for his DPG crew? Nothing.

Exactly.  Although Snoop's still done some shit for DPG...he got Nate Dogg and Warren G the deal with TVT for the 213 album, helped Tha Eastsidaz go Platinum, and he just announced he would work with Kurupt and Daz again on the new Dogg Pound album.

[QuietTruth]

Nobody helps their crew! Having a lil rap group is BS. They are only needed to get featured on songs. Even though some get the break away....

It still ain't what you said about them going into oblivion, and I'm surprised you got the facts twisted on "T.I.P."

I don't listen to much Buck..

And it failed to even go Gold, or to produce any significant hit singles. It was considered a commercial dissapointment, hence the reason that Jive dropped them. Although "Infamy" went Gold, it was considered disappointing as well, since "Murda Muzik" had gone Platinum two years earlier.

What does that have to do with consistentity? That's record sales. Not how they kept releasing albums. Sell outs or not they still managed to put out consistent records.