Remembering Prodigy - ArtOfRhyme.com

Today Mobb Deep’s Prodigy would have turned 50. His impact was truly remarkable and will live forever.In honor of the HNIC’s born day, we opened the vault to reminisce on the last interview we had with him.Rest in Power Albert (Prodigy) Johnson Nov 2 1974 – June 20th 2017

Extracted from the AOR Vault: 2008

What’s up Prodigy? How was your Christmas?

Prodigy: Everything is good man. Everything’s good.

On January 9th you’re set to begin a 3 and 1/2 year prison sentence. Where is your head at right now and is it tough to go through the holidays knowing what’s coming?

Prodigy: No, not really. I don’t really celebrate holidays like that. I’m just working on my album, know what I mean? Just repping my album up, putting the final touches on that. That’s where my focus is at right now.

Your solo album H.N.I.C. Part 2 is dropping in March. What label will it be released on and who did you work with?

Prodigy: The label it’s going to be released on is called Voxonic. It’s a new company and they have this new technology that they are bringing to the table where they can have my album in any language in the world. Basically it’s a translation technology, it’s a really big idea and it’s going to change the game.

Yeah that sounds crazy. Who approached you with the idea and is it strange to hear your own voice in a different language?

Prodigy: Yeah man. I had a meeting with the guy who owns the company. Basically we came together and made a big deal. We made a nice little deal over there and it’s a nice situation to put my album out. I got a position at the company, I partnered up with them. So we’re partners in the company.

Were you already finishing up this project before the sentence, or did you decide to speed up the process once you got the news?

Prodigy: The project was already in its process. I had been working on this since 2004, somewhere around that time. Maybe 2005. So yeah, that’s when I basically started working on it. I was doing songs here and there but we were busy doing Mobb Deep. You know we were always on tour, making new deals for Mobb Deep and making sure that’s right because Mobb Deep makes everything happen. Basically that’s what I was doing during that time. When we got back from the Blood Money tour and the Massacre tour I just basically started wrapping the album up and then I caught the case.

How do you think you’ve grown and changed as an artist since you dropped your first album?

Prodigy: I’ve just been through a lot, know what I mean? I have been through a lot more in my life. Fans get to build with us because we’ve been blessed with longevity. We were kids when we came in this game. You got to grow with us and see where we are at now. Basically that’s what it is on the album.

You said you’re going to use your time to be very productive such as writing a screenplay and your autobiography, what are some of your goals?

Prodigy: You know just making sure hnic2.com gets real big, making sure my album is straight, making sure all the promotion and marketing ideas are good for how we are going to promote the album. That’s basically it, because it’s a tight album and I kept the home team there. I got Havoc on there, I got UN Pachino from Far Rockaway, I got Twin Gambino. As far as Producers I have Havoc, Alchemist and some others.

Yeah the new stuff definitely sounds good. “My World Is Empty Without You” is a dope song that leaked recently. Will that be on your album?

Prodigy: Nah, that’s not on the album. That’s just a song I had leaked. That just was some stuff I was working on. It was one of the ones I wanted to leak out.

You mentioned hnic2.com earlier. What can fans see if they check that out?

Prodigy: Basically it’s a world I’ve created where people can network with each other, see my ideas and what I’m going through and find news on what’s going on with me and Mobb Deep. That’s basically what it is. It’s a community where people can come see what’s going on, post videos, post pictures and see everything I’m interested in as well as build your own little world on there.

Sounds like there is definitely something for everyone.

Prodigy: Yeah, definitely. We’re also selling T-shirts, Hoodies and bandanas. We got a store in there so you can see what we got. We got a lot of different stuff and I designed most of it.

Oh nice! It definitely sounds like the spot for fans. Is connecting with fans an important aspect of the music to you?

Prodigy: Yeah, definitely. Connecting with the fans, you have to do that. The fans are always there for you. They’re the ones that go out there and spread the word. Telling other people, “Yo, get into this Mobb Deep shit right here. This is where it’s at”. You know what I mean? Everyone is going out there and buying the albums.

You have a video for “ABC” out right now and it has a very cinematic feel. Can you explain it a little bit and did you come up with the concept yourself?

Prodigy: Basically Dan the Man and I came up with it together. I try to make the videos almost look like horror movies. It’s a mixture of shit you wouldn’t expect to see. Like “Oh shit! Did you see what he just did“? Some nice visuals for the people.

You must have a large following overseas, so they’ll finally be able to understand your lyrics the way they were intended.

Prodigy: Yeah it’s crazy. Because we’ll be over seas and they can say the songs word for word but when we try to talk we can’t even have a conversation. I was like that’s crazy how they can repeat the lyrics and not understand what they are saying.

So what’s going on with Mobb Deep now?

Prodigy: Oh Mobb Deep? We are always working. We got songs in the stash that’s crazy but they aren’t going to drop till I get back home. We’ll put out H.N.I.C. 2 out right now and push that. Then when I get back home it is what it is. You’re going to get that next Mobb Deep album. I’m still over at G-Unit, so I have one more album over there on G-Unit.

So what’s going on with Mobb Deep now?

Can we assume that the Saigon Beef is over now?

Prodigy: Yeah I mean, it’s whatever with him. Like I don’t even pay him no mind.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Prodigy: Basically H.N.I.C. 2 is on and popping. Get ready its going down. The kid is back in effect on his grizzly, know what I mean? So while I’m inside you’re going to see how I do it. I got a video for every song on the album. It’s going to be real crazy man when the album drops, that’s all I got to say man.

Rest In Peace Albert (Prodigy) Johnson Nov 2 1974 – June 20th 2017