Beware of the "Sophomore" Jinx - Dun Language

Disclaimer: While Juvenile Hell is technically Mobb Deep’s first album, most hip hops fans refer to the Infamous as the Mobb’s debut album.  So, for this article, that means Hell on Earth is Mobb’s second album.

“Yo,yo, you know how we did it on the Infamous Album, right?  Aight, we gonna do it again son.” - Prodigy

For many hip-hop artists, the debut album is a compilation of a lifetime of verses, hooks (and even beats).  Artists—especially during the 1990s—had to have a laser focus on their debut album because competition was fierce.  Emcees and hip-hop purists were into lyrics and creativity.  So, you could not be wack or copy someone else’s style.  And during this period, the end-all-be-all for an artist was the often-elusive record deal.  Record deals were hard to come by, and often times, record labels had rejected these artists many times before finally signing them to a record deal.  Artists also knew that they might only have one chance to become a “star.”  Thus, when an artist finally released a debut album, it likely represented the best that artist had to offer.  There were many incredible debut albums in the 1990s.  The list is long, but I’ll name a few: Illmatic, Ready to Die, Reasonable Doubt, It’s Dark and Hell is Hot, Black on Both Sides, Doggy Style, Enter the Wu Tang, and many others.  But how do you follow-up a classic debut album?

“Industry Rule number four thousand and eighty, record Company people are shady.” – Q- Tip

Music is a multi-billion dollar business.  It is unsurprising that record companies want to ensure a favorable return on their investments into an artist’s career.  Three common pitfalls lead to a bad second album.  First, assuming the debut album was good (otherwise there probably would not be a second album), record labels pressure artists to work on a second album quickly, so they can capitalize on the success of the first album.  The record company often won’t care about an artist’s creative process.  This can lead to subpar music.  Second, some artists (often pushed by the record label) decide that after a successful debut, they want to display their range as an emcee.   For some artists, this can be a good decision.  For other artists, however, this can be a career-killer.  Whether fair or not, some core fans do not want their favorite artists to change, or show incredible growth.  What they really want is a repeat of the debut album with new beats, hooks, and lyrics.  Lastly, artists place more pressure on themselves following a successful debut album.  In doing so, they can miss that “it” factor they had when creating the debut album.  This can lead to a letdown.   Anyway, let’s talk about one of my favorite groups, Mobb Deep, and their “sophomore album.”

Mobb Deep is a legendary group.  There was a time in hip hop that Havoc and Prodigy (R.I.P.) were arguably the best group in the game.  A few quick thoughts about the Mobb.  During their career they: (1) were at the forefront of the infamous East Coast/West Coast Beef; (2) were consistent; and (3) stayed in their lane.

The East Coast/West Coast Beef was an ugly time in hip hop.  For casual hip hop listeners, the beef starts and ends with Biggie and Tupac.  The Beef, however, was much deeper and involved other hip-hop artists, gangs, goons, and record labels.  Mobb Deep was one of the first groups to go on wax with a song in opposition to Tupac.  I remember watching the video for Capone N Noreaga’s song, LA LA (featuring Mobb Deep).  CNN and Mobb made this song in response to Tha Dogg Pound’s (featuring Snoop Dogg) record New York New York.  In that video, Tha Dogg Pound stomped through New York and kicked over New York skyscrapers (very disrespectful!).  In Tupac’s famous battle track, Hit Em Up, he fired shots at Mobb Deep.  Mobb Deep did not back down and had some things to say on Hell on Earth.

You cannot discuss Hell on Earth without at least mentioning the Infamous.  The Infamous is one of the best hip-hop albums of any era.  It was a classic when the Mobb released it in 1995.  It remains a classic.  As good as that album is, I love Hell on Earth just as much. 

Context is key, so I want to provide a little information to help you understand my perspective on Hell on Earth.  I was fascinated by hip hop in the early 1990s, but because I was young, I had not fully developed my appetite for hip hop music until I was 14 years old, which happened in 1996—the same year Mobb Deep dropped Hell on Earth (November 19, 1996). What a time to be a young hip hop fan!  In my opinion, 1996 was the best year in hip hop.  That summer, I bought (well, really my mom bought, but you get the point) Reasonable Doubt, It was Written and Atliens.  Now that I think about it, summer 1996 is the time when I fell in love with hip hop.  As a young man from the East Coast, I was fascinated by the East Coast/West Coast Beef, which coincidentally occurred during this time.  Tupac was murdered in September 1996, so the stakes were high for Mobb’s release in November.  I remember wondering if the Mobb would diss Tupac?   

Now, imagine being in the car with me (and my mom) on the way to the record store in 1996. Ironically, I remember the weather being cloudy and cool on this day.   We finally get to the store to purchase the album.  I bought the CD, and then went home.  I sat down in my room (with all the lights off) so I could listen to the music on my Discman without distractions.  I was curious as to how Mobb Deep would start the album.  Would they declare war on the West Coast?  An album's first song/introduction usually sets the tone for the album.    

When I pressed play, I heard a sinister beat and Prodigy talking shit, just before P and Hav began rapping.  I knew the album would be special.  Then, track two, Drop a Gem on Em, began playing on my Discman.  After a few bars, it was clear Mobb Deep had not backed off of their stance against Pac.  In listening to just two tracks, you knew Hell on Earth would not be a letdown album. 

My favorite tracks on this album are Nighttime Vultures, G.O.D. Pt. III, Hell on Earth (Front Lines) and Give it Up Fast. 

Hell on Earth is a classic album.  Mobb Deep did not fall into any of the pitfalls outlined above.  The  album flowed like a movie.  Beginning with the title and flowing into the tracks (scenes).  It was clear that Mobb Deep put some time into this album, which makes sense.  Remember: the Infamous was released in April 1995, more a year before Hell on Earth was released.  Mobb Deep stuck to the script on this album, which was smart.  Hardcore Mobb Deep fans were not looking to see the Mobb show their hand at expanding their range.  They (we) wanted sinister beats, dope lyrics and more “dun language.”  Simple.  We wanted a continuation of the Infamous, which is exactly what Mobb Deep delivered.  Lastly, if the Mobb felt any pressure in making Hell on Earth, it did not show through in their finished product.  Hell on Earth is a gem.  If you have not listened to the album, or even if you have not listened to it lately, pull it up on Youtube.

Peace