MOBB DEEP Congratulations on signing with G-Unit. How’s life after the deal? Prodigy: Everything is good, man. We’ve been working on our album. The atmosphere is real good. We’re real happy, real inspired, ready to go. What’s your G-Unit deal look like? Prodigy: It’s for albums, books, movies, a whole bunch of things. It’s not just records. How does it differ from your situation at Jive? Prodigy: Basically at Jive it was a 50/50 joint venture deal, just for two Mobb Deep records. Here it’s for more business like movies, books, everything. What happened at Jive? Prodigy: Well, at Jive, they didn’t know how to market or promote street music. They had the money and the machinery but they couldn’t market it. They focus on their crossover acts like N Sync and Britney Spears. It just didn’t work out, and it wasn’t good for Mobb Deep to be over there. It was a good deal we had, but basically they just dropped us. The record did good, we moved some units, so we probably should have a gold plaque by now. They decided that Mobb Deep didn’t fit in their calendar for the next year. Then they dropped us. When we got the phone call, we were happy about it. That was the easiest we’ve ever gotten out of a contract in our lives. Usually we gotta fight to get out of contracts.
ways be. There’s definitely a lot of talent out there that you will see in the future. It don’t stop. Once you reach success with Blood Money, will you go back and get Infamous Mobb? Prodigy: They always did their own thing. We’re always here for them. What are your immediate goals? Prodigy: To have a successful album with Blood Money and just have success with the other business after that. Just seeing sales do good, seeing our numbers come back good. How was your mindset during the recording of Blood Money different from during your other albums? Prodigy: We was more happier doing our music and we felt better doing our music. It wasn’t like we felt like slaves anymore. You know how the labels treat you, and you really don’t eat off that. Once you sign with a label they don’t care about you. Here, we know our music won’t be wasted. Our music will be promoted and marketed worldwide. It’ll be maximized. It feels good to be in the studio. We’re making music nonstop. Now, more than ever, I still find myself hungry. Not so much money-wise..... - Rohit Loomba (Photo: Rob Durand) For the rest of this interview, check out the March issue of OZONE Magazine at www.OZONEMAG.com.
There were some rumors earlier this year about Mobb Deep breaking up. Where did those come from? Prodigy: The reason rumors like that came up is because we were affiliated with certain people that we had to let go. When we let them go, they were out there trying to spread rumors that Mobb Deep broke up. It was a bunch of lies and rumors that they spread. Is Littles one of those people that was spreading rumors? Prodigy: We ain’t mentioning no names. That’s the situation that went down. What’s the state of QB hip-hop right now? Prodigy: It is what it is. QB hip-hop will alOZONE
15