Search

    Select Website Language
    Few sounds in hip-hop are as poignant, or as influential, as the gritty production that came out of Queensbridge in the ‘90s. This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Havoc, producer, rapper, and one half of Mobb Deep, to break down the sonic blueprint that helped define East Coast hip-hop. From crafting signature beats behind classics like The Infamous to shaping the identity of Queensbridge rap alongside Prodigy, Havoc reflects on his production style, creative process, and the raw realities that informed their music. The conversation dives into sampling, drum programming, and how limitation often led to innovation in early hip-hop production. Havoc breaks down: - Legacy, longevity, and how the Mobb Deep sound continues to influence generations of producers and artists today from underground purists to mainstream trap. - The making of Mobb Deep’s signature dark sound. - Havoc’s production techniques and sampling approach. - Producers rappers that he would solicit beats vs rhymes from today. 0:00 - Intro 2:01 - Kick the ballistics/ Rapper Producers 5:49 - Check out Okayshop 5:59 - Welcome Havoc 6:40 - Making the Infinite Album 11:20 - Shook Ones & The Infamous Album 13:43 - Juvenile Hell album 16:11 - Murda Muzik album 18:57 - Being featured on Black Moon’s Enta da Stage 20:49 - Havoc and Raekwon’s Friendship 22:36 - Paris fans 25:18 - The decline of rap groups 27:30 - Beats or Rhymes 31:58 - Mobb Deep early days 34:45 - Favorite Prodigy verse 37:38 - The Big Playback 38:51 - Outro/Credits 40:05 - Bonus Content Follow Donwill: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donwill Website: https://www.Donwill.me | https://www.donwill.substack.com Follow Havoc: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mobbdeephavoc Check out OkayPlayer: https://www.okayplayer.com/ Follow us on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okayplayer Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/okayplayer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okayplayer TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@okayplayer_ Credits: The Almanac of Rap is Executive produced by Donwill, Isha Sesay & Travis Harris for Okayplayer Media. Created, written and hosted by Donwill; Directed by Travis Harris; Producer/Editor: Kobina Baffour; Art Direction: Kaushik Kalidindi; Production coordination: Bianca B. Ortiz; Technical Director & Audio Engineer: Compton Timberwolf; Audience Development: Hassan Spruill & Ashon McCollin; Audio Marketing Strategy: Faybeo’n Mickens; Camera Operators: Travis Harris, Kobina Baffour, Trigger Bowden & Compton Timberwolf; Graphic Design: Jefferson Harris; Associate Producers: Brianna Harris, Tyara Jackson & Javon Stephenson; Writing Assistant: Peter Berry; Social Media Producers: Taylor McGee & Michael Mais Jr.; Theme Music by: Von Pea. #almanacofrap OkayFuture Labs: https://okayfuturelabs.com OkayAfrica: https://okayafrica.com
    Previous Article
    💿 Havoc on why it was the right time to drop "The Infinite" 🔥 #trending #mobbdeep #thealmanacofrap
    Next Article
    🎶 We ALL want more music from Rihanna 😅 😅 #trending #diggin #rihanna #brodiefresh #newmusic

    Related Music Updates:

    Are you sure? You want to delete this comment..! Remove Cancel

    Comments (0)

      Leave a comment