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My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep's Prodigy Hardcover – April 19, 2011

by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson (Author), Laura Checkoway (Contributor)

101 customer reviews

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From one of the greatest rappers of all time, a memoir about a life almost lost and a revealing look at the dark side of hip hop’s Golden Era . . .

In this often violent but always introspective memoir, Mobb Deep’s Prodigy tells his much anticipated story of struggle, survival, and hope down the mean streets of New York City. For the first time, he gives an intimate look at his family background, his battles with drugs, his life of crime, his relentless suffering with sickle-cell anemia, and much more. Recently released after serving three and a half years in state prison due to what many consider an unlawful arrest by a rumored secret NYPD hip hop task force, Prodigy is ready to talk about his life as one of rap’s greatest legends.

My Infamous Life is an unblinking account of Prodigy’s wild times with Mobb Deep who, alongside rappers like Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z, and Wu-Tang Clan, changed the musical landscape with their vivid portrayals of early ’90s street life. It is a firsthand chronicle of legendary rap feuds like the East Coast–West Coast rivalry; Prodigy’s beefs with Jay-Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Ja Rule, and Capone-N-Noreaga; and run-ins with prodigal hit makers and managers like Puff Daddy, Russell Simmons, Chris Lighty, Irv Gotti, and Lyor Cohen.

Taking the reader behind the smoke-and-mirrors glamour of the hip hop world, so often seen as the only way out for those with few options, Prodigy lays down the truth about the intoxicating power of money, the meaning of true friendship and loyalty, and the ultimately redemptive power of self. This is the heartbreaking journey of a child born in privilege, his youth spent among music royalty like Diana Ross and Dizzy Gillespie, educated in private schools, until a family tragedy changed everything. Raised in the mayhem of the Queensbridge projects, Prodigy rose to the dizzying heights of fame and eventually fell into the darkness of a prison cell.

A truly candid memoir, part fearless confessional and part ode to the concrete jungles of New York City, My Infamous Life is written by a man who was on the front line of the last great moment in hip hop history and who is still fighting to achieve his very own American Dream.

My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep's Prodigy

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Editorial Reviews

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"A surprising triumph, both as an archive of 1990s New York hip-hop folk tales and for its stirring sketches of a man who, on many occasions, could have made his life a lot easier on himself ... This is the kind of vulnerability that is fearless, especially within hip-hop." -Slate.com

About the Author

Albert “Prodigy” Johnson is one half of the platinum selling hip-hop duo, Mobb Deep. Prodigy is widely considered one of the most skilled lyricists in the history of hard-core East Coast rap. Visit him at MyInfamousLife.com. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product details

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Touchstone; First Edition edition (April 19, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439103186
ISBN-13: 978-1439103180
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.2 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #820,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #170 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Biographies > Rap & Hip-Hop
- #338 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Musical Genres > Rap
- #5541 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National

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Insightful

ByQueenNylaon July 19, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

My Infamous Life written by Prodigy, is insightful and real. Prodigy takes you into his world and you feel as if you are going down memory lane right with him. The book has Many Many Lows, however as Prodigy explained he was child for 16-17 years and he has now seen the negative impacts of his decisions as a grown man. I hope that this book gets into the hands to many young people who have chosen a wayward life as he explains that his decisions did not lead him in the place he deserved. This book is coming from a person whose life was destined to be great, had opportunites not afforded to many. Yet and still got into the rap game and still chose the wrong paths. This from a person who could've had the world at its feet, still ended up doing foolish things. If you have a child who has chosen the wrong paths in life, this is a book for them. However, this book is real grimey, very street, and hood. Prodigy is the REAL DEAL in regards to the streets. The way he describes things will insight a child who is eager to do the wrong things or want to make a name for him/herself. Prodigy does not hold back on the details of the dirt, hurt, harm, and danger he caused. So please be mindful of the contents if sharing this book with a young impressionable person. In regards to his place in hip hop, there is no doubt that he could've been up there with NAS, Jay-Z, Tupac, or Biggie. He brings us a close insight of his aspect of the media made war of the east coast vs west coast drama that had taken the lives of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. If you want to know from his aspect of the rap game and business, this is a book to pick up and read. I hope that this book touches others but that Prodighy continues to live a life of peace and proseperity and gets back to rhyming just to show these newbies in the game what a real MC with real life situations is all about. Defintely this is a must read!

0Comment 3 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Brutally Honest Account

ByImaPrettyGoodGuyon August 18, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

First of all, I am only halfway through this book. It is an honest account of Prodigy's life from the beginning all the way through his fame after the infamous album hit. You see that Prodigy was raised in many ways priveledged, but also got caught up in the wrong crowd and robbed and beat up harmless people. At one point he describes at around 13 years old, he beat up an innocent kid after school, and broke his hand after hitting him. He even includes a pic of himself in a cast with Havoc laughing about it. His comrade, Killah Black, at one point kills someone for no other reason than taking their headphones.

Although i am a huge fan of Mobb Deep's music, Prodigy in many ways brags about his thug behavior to the point that is is almost disturbing. Yes, he shows some remorse, but he also finds humor in shootouts and stabbings where none should exist. i would have prefered that Prodigy simply state the facts of what he went through in his brutal upbringing and life rather than brag and laugh about the violence that he inflicted and was witness too.

I do, however, think that the book is well-written and very honest, you learn about the story behind many of the tracks in his albums and all his wild antics. Despite some criticisms I do recommend this book, I just hope it does not steer some people in the wrong direction.

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Good Read

ByGerard H.on November 22, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

When I saw that Prodigy had written an autobiography, I was skeptical at first about its contents. But after deciding to buy it for the kindle and give it a go, I have to say, it turned out to be a really good read. I knew going into this one that there'd be stories about tragedy, success, love and happiness. I can honestly say, I found all of those and much more in the book. It may not be for everyone, but if you're a fan of hip-hop and grew up in the same parts as he did, this book will hit close to home. It truly was, his infamous life.

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Good for the most part

ByCliffyCliffon September 24, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is very enlightening for those who have followed Mobb Deep over the years that want to see how it all started and how he became to be who he is today. However, the whole "I would have used my gun but..." gets redundant and you soon realize that if it weren't for the real gangstas in his crew that he would probably be a on a R.I.P. t-shirt today.

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Good Read

ByLibraReaderon March 17, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

An inside look at one of hip hop's legends in Rap. I love his honest portrayal of how Prodigy felt about his peers in the rap music industry.

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Worth a read but could have been a lot better

ByOwen Ambroseon December 27, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Speaking as a fan of Mobb Deep, a fan of hip hop, a fan of biographies, and someone who has come from a similar background as Prodigy here's my opinion:

As far as something for a hip hop fan to read it is pretty good. As far as an autobiography it is pretty poor. It is worth a read for anyone who is into their hip hop because you will hear a lot about the hip hop game and about characters and areas you will have already heard of, and the book reveals some hidden gems you might not be aware of, however P misses out a lot of key stories and even mistells a lot of stories, missing out key information or twisting the truth. This is part of what brings the book down, the manipulation of information. As a biography, this book should be heartfelt, honest, emotional, factual, but Prodigy won't let his ego go and twists every story to boost his gangster image. He tries to make himself out to be harder than he really is, and this will come across in the book to anyone with a bit of sense. This is what lets the book down.

11 commentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Insight behind the Murda Muzic

ByS. Daveon May 18, 2011

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

If you've followed Mobb Deep over the years, you'll find this an incredible insight behind the music. It brings so much context to the creative process and the trials and tribulations around these songs. You'll learn why some albums were darker than others - as family members passed away, friends got locked up, charges were brought up. Also who the lyrics were aimed at at though public and private beefs.

It's a solid read, perhaps not the most eloquent but definitely a page turner. My only issue is, so many crew members come and go (all with crazy nicknames) it's sometimes hard to keep track of who's who. Maybe that's the point?

Since releasing the book Prodigy has come under fire from his peers for dry snitching (telling tales which incriminate others indirectly) and also for embellishment. Overall I got the impression it's how he remembers it and this isn't a made up lifestyle. He's lived through it and admits a lot of wrong doing.