INFAMOUS MOBB (IM3)

BIO



For Infamous Mobb, being affiliated with Queensbridge duo, Mobb Deep, is both a gift and a curse. On one hand there is the built in loyal fan-base who crave the grimy street tales made popular by Queensbridge emcees. But on the other hand, there is the constant confusion among fans and media alike. Is Infamous Mobb and Mobb Deep one and the same?



After introducing themselves to the music industry on Special Edition (2002), and memorable appearances on Mobb Deeps classic albums, Hell On Earth (1996) and Murda Muzik (1998), Infamous Mobb hopes the distinction is made with their latest album, Blood Thicker Than Water Vol. 1 (2004), which was released on IM3/Monopolee Records.



Friends since childhood, Infamous Mobb members G.O.D. Father, Ty Nitty and Twin Gambino all grew up on Queensbridge's 41st side. Through their late teens the three survived by hustling on the streets. In 1991, G.O.D. caught a charge and while incarcerated, he made good use of his time by writing rhymes. When Godfather came back home, it was right about the same time that Hav and P had gotten together and the Mobbs shit really started poppin explains Nitty.



Like true family, Mobb Deep took the three on the road as they promoted their second album, The Infamous (1995), dubbing them Infamous Mobb. At that point, Nitty and I werent into writing rhymes recalls Twin. G.O.D. adds, we only knew one way to survive in the hood, so seeing Mobb Deep get a deal let us know that there were other options.



When Infamous Mobb started out, G.O.D. was writing all the rhymes and Nitty and Twin would just recite them. Mobb Deep hooked their crew up even more by featuring them on the first song, Animal Instinct from their third album, Hell On Earth and when Infamous Mobb dropped quotable lines like official white meat hip-hop heads took notice.



Infamous Mobbs next opportunity came when Cypress Hill producer DJ Muggs decided to create the compilation album, Soul Assassins (1997) when he approached Infamous Mobb to rhyme on a track for the album. It was through these recording sessions that the now renowned beat maker, Alchemist, was introduced into the Mobb regime. We were in L.A. tracking the song and when it came time to do the drops, we couldnt find Muggs explains G.O.D. But there was this white dude who was down with him hanging out in the studio. So we asked him if he knew where Muggs was, so we could start the session we then found out that Alchemist had actually produced the beat and not Muggs. Recognizing his talent, Infamous Mobb introduced him to Mobb Deep and Alchemist was embraced as a producer who could further develop the Queensbridge sound.



While Infamous Mobb continued to build their hip-hop credibility with the guest appearances on the aforementioned classic albums, in between Mobb Deep recording sessions they would lay down their own material. Whenever Mobb Deep was late for a session we threw on our beats and headed into the vocal booth, explains Nitty. Before they knew it, they had enough material for a full album and a record deal with Virgin Records. It was funny, says Twin, when we were recording the Virgin album they actually thought Mobb Deep was writing most of the material.



When the label realized that Infamous Mobb was putting the record out on their own and that Mobb Deep would not be featured all over it, the project became less of a priority for them. We came with our own sound and vision and Virgin wasnt feeling it recalls Nitty.



Infamous Mobb recovered from their major label disappointment and secured a deal with the now defunct Landspeed Records, for what would become their debut album, Special Edition (2002). Backed by stellar production from collaborators Havoc, Alchemist and DJ Muggs, the album proved Infamous Mobbs prowess behind the mic. But this time, all three members penned their own lyrics. The result was one of the most critically hailed albums of 2002.



With a growing fan base of their own, the three quickly went back to the lab to cook up more heat for their new album. Blood Thicker Than Water Vol. 1 does not lean on their ties with Mobb Deep, but creates its own foundation. It is intentional that Infamous Mobb does not have Mobb Deep featured and Alchemists production all over the album. In fact, the only track featuring their musical family is the first single, Empty Out (Reload) which features Prodigy. Nitty says, were deadin the perception that we ride off Mobb Deep we have our own identity.



Blood Thicker Than Water Vol. 1 lives up to its heavy, ominous title, replete with the street tales and Queensbridge head nodders that fans would expect. Instead of using well-known producers, Infamous Mobb reached out newcomers like Masberg, who produced the first single, Empty Out (Reload). Infamous Mobb pushes their rugged aesthetics further with exciting new soundscapes while remaining comfortably in their lane on particular tracks. But it is not all murder, death, kill in the hood as Infamous Mobb reflects on good and bad times gone by, family and their childhood on the Ric Rude produced Take It Back.



The album is accompanied by a bonus DVD also named after the album, directed by Jordan Tower for Jordan Tower Films. The DVD explains how Mobb Deep first formed and the struggles they each endured coming up in Queensbridge Projects. Everybody makes DVDs nowadays with they crews hanging out, but we wanted to do something different, explains Nitty. The DVD features a detailed, documentary style tour of the infamous Queensbridge Projects. People around the world listen to our music because they want to feel like they been to the Bridge, so we thought that the best thing we could do with the DVD was actually take them there.



In order to further develop their brand and their new label IM3 Records, each member of Infamous Mobb are also recording individual solo albums for release in the near future.



Infamous Mobb have successfully stepped out of the shadow of their history making peers and are building their legacy with each record as they provide the soundtrack to Queensbridge reality rap with a realness that only a Mobb affiliate can offer delivered straight to the streets. There is nothing like straight thug music.