Nevertheless, Prodigy’s first solo LP still dropped. Nevertheless? Why’s that, some might ask. Well, in case you don’t know P and Havoc have been in a big fight with their record label, Loud Records, for over a year now. The whole thing started in summer 1999 when Mobb’s third LP Murda Muzik got pushed back for months and major bootlegged in the meantime. Prodigy blamed Loud for bootleggin’ and took the opportunity of being the title story in The Source’s October issue to drop big time gems on the label. Among other stuff P called the Loud staff sneaky bastards that don’t give a fuck about nothing but the dollar and wasn’t sure weather to give them the solo album or not. But allegedly Loud Records CEO Steve Rifkind made a financial pledge of allegiance to Prodigy close to a million dollars to straighten things out.

And it was a good idea not to withhold H.N.I.C.(Head Nigga In Charge) from the crowd, 'cause Prodigy’s first solo effort definitely convinces. If you’ve ever listened to a Mobb Deep joint you know what to expect: P’s live as fuck street tales over some grimy, apocalyptic Havoc melodies. And you get just that on the first song “Genesis.” But this time it’s not just Havoc lacing his partner in crime up. For H.N.I.C. Prodigy hired a whole army of other producers. The most successful cooperation on the album is P teaming up with The Alchemist . Albert “Prodigy” Johnson showed the world already what happens if he’s spitting fire over some Alchemist track on “Keep I t Thoro” off DJ Clue’s Backstage Mixtape. On “Veteran’s Memorial” he’s doing it once again. Another ill combination is P with N.O.R.E. representin Queen’s Lafraq area to the fullest with his signature dirty rap style. Hang Men 3 produced a track that’s 50 percent Nore shit, 50 percent Mobb, giving both MCs the possibility to blend in just perfectly. Of course, Prodigy has also his own peeps shine on Head Nigga In Charge. Mobb Depp’s unofficial third member Rapper Noyd spits on “Infamous Minded” and on “Gun Play” produced by Rockwilder. Infamous Records’ Bars & Hooks rhyme on “Diamond” produced by Just Blaze. And another Queensbridge representative, Cormega raps on “Three.” Two more tracks worth mentioning are the title track “H.N.I.C.” on some eighties movie theme song shit produced by EZ-Elpee and “You Can Never Feel My Pain” produced by Ric Rude using the only sample (off “Gotta Make It Up”) on the whole album.

See, P’s rhymes are out of question. They were the shit, are the shit, and always will be. Plus H.N.I.C. is solidly produced, the big number of different producers guaranteeing diversity when it comes to the melodies. So this is an ill album. Get it! Definite satisfaction – like some Jenna Jameson porn flic!