NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ AAO Music) - Prodigy's long awaited solo album H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 hits the street and retail shelves today. The album release comes on the heels of AAO Music/Voxonic
Music announcing that "The Life," the first radio single from the album debuted at No 7 on Billboard's Hot 100 Single Sales Chart. The news of the single surprised the many guests at Prodigy's NY press day and listening party.
That wasn't the only surprise of the evening! With a simple press of the button, Prodigy himself was there, well not in the flesh, but his voice boomed throughout the studios with a very personal message thanking fans and his team for their hard work. Among the statements was an explanation of the album's title which has brewed as much controversy as the "Because I Said So," blogs that have been running on Vibe.com and HNIC2.com.
While the mood at the press day was emotional for most of the artists attending (Twin Gambino, Cormega, Nyce Da Future, Un Pacino) and producers (Havoc, Alchemist, Sid Roams, Apex, and Steve Sola) who contributed Prodigy's solo project, there was an upbeat air of festivity as if everyone attending was celebrating for Prodigy who has begun serving his sentence. "We feel very honored and confident to be the gatekeepers of P's career while he is absent. The release of H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 is only the beginning," shared Peter Kuys, chairman of AAO Music. Repeatedly through the night they were asked when Prodigy was coming home and optimistically the answer from all was "soon!"
His extended Mobb Deep family joined throngs of media people and video outlets for a special listening session complete with interviews for his new album H.N.I.C. Pt. 2. The singles were distributed to radio people in attendance along with video shows who are all excited about the momentum that the single is receiving. So far WWPR (New York), WUSL (Philadelphia), WZMX (Hartford), WERQ (Baltimore), WOWI (Norfolk) and XM Satellite's RAW channel and Music Choice have all started playing "The Life." The video for "The Life," premiered on BET Rap City with Mobb Deep partner, Havoc and long-time producer The Alchemist, joining host Nelly to introduce the new video. Another track from the H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 sessions "Dirty New Yorker" will be featured on the Grand Theft Auto IV game and soundtrack (to be released April 29th) with a video for the song included on the album as a bonus. Guest received as a parting gift, the complete H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 album, 'Free P' T-Shirts, and Sansa's new FUZE player. Prodigy is the first Urban artist to be featured in the Sansa advertising campaign for SanDisk's ShopSansa.com online retail store.
H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 returns "P" to the more edgy real life street tales that have been Mobb Deep's signature for nearly a decade. Produced by The Alchemist, Havoc, Sid Roams and more, the album will be released April 22, 2008 on Voxonic Music in association with AAO/Reality.
Reviews from the press have been stellar as well with quotes from the following:
Vibe Magazine - "Prodigy's topics, from government corruption to police brutality and slain comrades, are ripped from the headlines...Prodigy's physical self may be incarcerated, but his music has never sounded freer."
XXL Magazine - "A hard hittin' follow-up to his solo debut."
Source Magazine - "H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 is some of P's best work in a while."
Spin Magazine - "Completely gripping!"
Complex Magazine - "It's colder than 99% of the sh*t out there, so go pick it up!"
