Mobb Deep Tear Through Classics, Bring Out Vita at NY Show

The Infamous Mobb Deep celebrated the release of their new EP, Black Cocaine—the group’s first studio release since Prodigy was released from prison last March—on Wednesday night (November 30) to a packed club of hometown fans at New York City's S.O.B.’s venue.

Hopping onstage at around 11 p.m. to a warm welcome from Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg, Havoc and Prodigy kicked their set off with a snippet from their classic 1995 banger, “Shook Ones, Pt. 2.”

The crowd, consisting of mostly fans in their mid-twenties and up, bobbed their heads along as the Queensbridge vets recited over 20 tracks that spanned their two-decade long career. The audience went especially crazy over favorites like “Give Up the Goods” and P’s Alchemist-produced solo cut, “Keep it Thoro” and “Outta Control (Remix)” the Mobb’s collaboration with 50 Cent and Dr. Dre.

For their 2001 smash “The Learning (Burn)” the duo surprised fans by brining out former Murder Inc rapstress Vita, one of several surprises of the night.

The foremost shock came earlier from Memphis, TN newcomer Don Trip in his first visit to the Big Apple. The Cool & Dre protégé made a brief appearance onstage to deliver his heartfelt single, “Letter To My Son.” After humbly thanking Hot 97 for playing his record, Trip went through an endearing performance of the song, only to leave in tears after becoming overcome with emotion.

Trip was followed by a 45-minute long set by The Finisher, Mister Cee. The former Big Daddy Kane DJ spun nothing but traditional hip-hop that consisted of mostly seminal cuts from the 1990s. “This is no skinny jean music,” he screamed into the audience, singling out one fan wearing a “Kid Cudi tie.”

Hav and P later approved of Cee’s sentiments. “No disrespect to what other people do, but we make that hard music,” P said. True indeed.—Jesse Gissen @JesseXXL