Prodigy - Return of the Mac: Album Review

Akuma writes:

Prodigy, Return of the Mac (Infamous/Koch 2007)
No one is really expecting anything great from Prodigy these days, especially after the bastard child of Mobb Deep & G-Unit that was ‘Blood Money’. Here he attempts to atone, revisiting the style of early Mobb Deep with the aid of The Alchemist, who produces the lot. Will P be able to win back the fans he’s lost?

THE MACK IS BACK (INTRO)

Various rappers (and 90’s UK R&B artists Mark Morrison) say mac. That’s about the sum of it.

RETURN OF THE MAC

The record that ‘Infamous’ fans waited 12 long years for.

STUCK ON YOU

Clever but slightly grating sped-up soul production.

MAC 10 HANDLE

Like Blood Money never happened.

DOWN & OUT IN NEW YORK CITY

Despite being another skit, this album (mixtape?) is surprisingly lean compared to most current releases. (nh)

THE ROTTEN APPLE

The 70’s style production from Alchemist fits Prodigy’s style like a glove.

MADGE SPEAKS

Pointless skit.

TAKE IT TO THE TOP

Listening to this you can almost forget about mediocrity of the last two Mobb Deep albums. Almost.

P. SPEAKS

Skit.

7TH HEAVEN

A departure from the prevailing 70’s heroin vibe production-wise. Un Pacino guests. 

BANG ON EM

Probably the strongest sh*t on this LP. Prodigy kills it lyrically over a straight classic soul cut-up. 

“The hood broke my heart into pieces/the streets took my dreams and shattered them/turned me to a preacher”

NICKEL AND A NAIL

On some Al Green’s grits type shit.

LEGENDS

Not entirely inspiring.

STOP FRONTING

Black Moon’s I Gotcha Open redux.

COMMENTS

Alchemist & Prodigy have made a mixtape that will hardly win them awards for originality, but it’s still far superior to most people’s albums, including their own. The best Mobb Deep LP since Infamous. 

BEST TRACKS: RETURN OF THE MAC, MAC 10 HANDLE, BANG ON EM

BONUS VIDEO: Mark Morrison "Return of the Mack"