Customer Reviews

Return of the Mac

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This is the rapper Prodigy who is one half of the gangster rap group Mobb Deep from Queensbridge, New York City (the other half of the group being Havoc). This is not the British electronic music group Prodigy.

Let's be real here...this is a mixtape. Prodigy is just honing his craft and preparing the world for H.N.I.C 2. A professional demo would be more fitting. P's flow is perfect for Alchemist's sonic landscape. The album is gangsta and elegant, with 70's soul serving as the soundtrack. The best Alchemist production to date...better than 1st Infantry, which is an underrated gem. Return of the Mac is a hip-hop jewel!

A little over 6 years since Prodigy dropped his solo debut album he is back with another good one (not as good as "H.N.I.C" - borderline 5 stars). As many thought the Mobb sounded different and sold out signing with G-Unit (me not being one of those haters), Prodigy remains true to his grimy dark street rap on here as he always does. Not as many guests as his last one (only on 2 songs) but also somewhat shorter, with 13 songs (if you got a copy from Best Buy it has 3 bonus songs or else you'd only get 10 songs), you get 1 almost classic, 1 ok song, and the other 11 are good ones, a few being real good. ALChemist did all the production (one was co-produced by DJ Muro), so I was slightly disappointed no Havoc beats, but ALChemist beats are definitely some of the best. One of the better albums out thus far in 2007 and one I'd reccommend for fans of the M-O-B-B.

#2 - 8
#3 - 9 (nice beat)
#4 - 8
#6 - 8
#8 - 7.5
#10 - 9 (f/ Un Pacino -- nice beat)
#11 - 8.5
#12 - 9.5 (tight beat)
#13 - 9
#14 - 9
#15 - 8.5 (also on "Welcome to 6 Blocks & 96 Buildings" compilation)
#16 - 8.5 (f/ alchemsit & Havoc)
#17 - 8 (f/ Kokane)

Albert Johnson -- b. 11/2/74 -- b. Hempstead, Long Island, NY
check all my reviews

Prodigy's (A.K.A. Albert Johnson) latest release is "Return of the Mac" (2007). At fourteen track's (including intro, three skits) long this is a Alchemist produced (Samples Blaxploitation Era) prequel to Prodigy's upcoming solo album "H.N.I.C. 2". Prodigy gets things started with the "The Mac Is Back" (Intro), then drops some raw rhymes on "Return of the Mac" while using a 2Pac sample on the chorus. Prodigy keeps the thugged out rhymes going on the single "Stuck On You" - started vibing to this cut with more listens. Prodigy rhymes about chilling alone with his piece while plotting on how to deal with enemies on "Mac 10 Handles". P rhymes about a grimy New York lifestyle while sampling James Brown on "The Rotten Apple", then provides another solid track with "Take It To The Top". Prodigy and Un Pacino rhyme over some trademark alchemist production on "7th Heaven". The next two tracks are more of the same then Prodigy delivers an excellent track with "Legends". This is my favourite joint on this release, Prodigy shines remembering his past, and delivering an outstanding chorus. Production wise the closer "Stop Fronting" is one of the most diverse tracks with Alchemist sampling Barry White, the O'Jay's and the Dramatics all on the same cut, Prodigy closes the mixtape off on a good note. Prodigy makes it clear on the last track that this is a mixtape and just a preview of things to come. I will be looking forward to Prodigy's solo album, and hope Havoc drop's his long awaited debut this year. "Return of The Mac" is a release worth checking out, fan's of Mobb Deep may enjoy it. 3.5.

Return of the Mac is the first solo release we've had from Prodigy, of Mobb Deep fame, since 2000's H.N.I.C.; this is the most noticable fact. 7 years, and many mediocre Mobb Deep albums, later, we're treated to this so-called mixtape of Prodigy material. I'm not sure how this qualifies as a mixtape more than an album; the material within is of a considerabley higher quality than 99% of mixtapes, there're no annoying DJ shoutouts or adlibs, and Return of the Mac flows consistently together. From Return of the Mac up till Stop Fronting, with the exception of two skits, P's latest is pure, unadulterated dope.

Is Prodigy the rapper he once was? Certaintly not. His rhymes have suffered since Murda Muzik, and even on H.N.I.C., it was clear that Prodigy had made a permanent change in his style. If you look at P's lyrics on paper, hardly any of them rhyme, and they have little to no flow; when P spits them, they take on a life of their own, unbelievably becoming some of the illest lyrics any emcee has spit. Prodigy may not have the wit of a Ghostface Killah or a Redman, or the flow of a Q-Tip or a Jay-Z, but what he does is, like the aforementioned artists', a style entirely his own.

The production is just as tight as P's prowess behind the mic. Alchemist produced the entirety of this project, and it's evident from the first listen. He once again proves behind the boards on Return of the Mac why he's one of underground hip-hop's most heralded beatsmiths, as he provides P with some of the dopest beats we've heard in more than a minute. Return Of the Mac, Stuck On You, Mac 10 Handle, and Legends are only examples of his brilliance; it comes out full force on the album's mantlepiece, Bang On 'Em. Such an amazing track, and reason enough to purchase Prodigy's Return of the Mac.

This maybe a 'mixtape,' at least to P, but odds are, this will go down as one of the very best of '07 when we compile lists. Prodigy isn't the beast he once was, but he is a warn-torn veteran who boasts more than enough experience, and knowledge to make an album such as this one of the better projects we've heard in awhile. Fans of Mobb Deep, this is highly recommended.

This album doesn't fail when it comes to beats thanks to Alchemist. Prodigy may pushes the Return of the Mac (10) theme a little too much for some people, but it doesn't distract form the great production and rhyme content for too long. Mobb Deep fans can pop their speakers to at least eight or nine of these tracks, and with 14 tracks on the album, that's a pretty good slug percentage if you ask me.

Good rapper, this to me is the best rap cd to come out this week.

i so please with this album i kinda gave up on the mobb was very let down by blood money but this album and p solo wrk shows me to have faith when he gets out the bing he and hav should drop classic nothing but classics

Prodigy is back,and this time,his well-spit raps about crime in the big city are on point,in my book.he enlists a rap vet or "prodigy" for his production with the alchemist on this joint that make it the perfect backdrop for a truly grimy album.HE'S spitting like the "Hell on earth" cd.If you enjoy what Prodigy does on the mic, you'll love this release,and the alchemist sounds like he is truly perfecting his craft with this one. A GREAT BUY!Believe me, i consider myself a strong student in the culture of hip-hop,and have been listening since i was 9 yrs. old,and been listening to "Mobb Deep" since "The Infamous" days",and this is prodigy at his finest.I hope that when he is done with his 3 yr. bid, he'll have some heat for the streets,again.If you buy this album,you"ll get exactly what you hope to hear,true grimy,no holds barred,New York street rap ,with no apologies.

Prodigy....the most under rated M.C..--Take it 2 the Top,--" I stay strapped,I dance when i'm real bent,i'm schemein' you cant catch me sleepin". Little s*#t like this keeps Prodigy on point.A must have album if ur a tru MOBB DEEP fan.Every trak is classic Prodigy, so put ur hoodys up. DROP A GEM ON'EM...,aLSO LOOK OUT 4 that "Product of the 80's" ft.Prodigy,Big Twin, and Un Pachino.It's Seriously Grimey.
peace out ya boy MILROCK