On this day, Dec. 11, in hip-hop history...

2001: Legendary Hip-hop duo Mobb Deep released their fifth studio album Infamy on Dec. 11, 2001 through Loud Records.

In typical Mobb Deep fashion, Infamy was mostly produced by Havoc, but also featured tracks produced by The Alchemist, Scott Storch, and Ez Elpee. The album received both critical and commercial success, ultimately reaching gold status with around 800,000 copies sold. Out of the 17 songs on the project, Havoc and Prodigy issued four tracks as their singles, including the popular hits "Pray For Me," featuring Lil' Mo, "The Learning (Burn)," featuring Big Noyd and Vita, and "Get Away."

At the time, controversy crowded this particular album, as it was viewed as a form of retaliation after Jay-Z took shots at Mobb Deep and Nas in his 2001 song, "Takeover," with the lyrics, "I don't care if you Mobb Deep, I hold triggers to crews. You little f--k, I've got money stacks bigger than you." In turn, the infamous M-O-B-B took aim directly at Jay in the album's "Crawlin" record, which featured battle-engaging lines like, "And what I feel about a n---a thats trying to pose threats, never write it out if you can't cash that check. Dog, I know about death you ain't sayin' nuttin' slick. Empty out on that fool - click click, click click." The late, great Prodigy later revealed in an MTV interview that the beef they had with Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records at the time inspired them and helped the group to go even harder that usual on the Infamy album.

Since making their way onto the hip-hop scene in 1992, Mobb Deep has made a permanent and unforgettable mark on the rap game. Known for being prototypical East Coast rappers who supplied gritty hardcore rhymes on every track they stepped on, their influence and iconic rap style continues to receive praise to this day after more than two decades in the game.

Loud/Columbia Records
Loud/Columbia Records
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