It’s been almost two decades since standout Hip Hop producer The Alchemist has been lending his sonic backdrops to Queens, NY rap legends Havoc and Prodigy, better known as Mobb Deep. It was always a match up that made perfect sense — Alchemist’s signature sinister sound was the ideal complement to the duo’s thugged-out lyrics telling of a Queensbridge houses lifestyle. It only makes sense that a complete collaborative effort with Alchemist and Havoc would come to fruition now, and what makes the duo’s The Silent Partner album additionally intriguing is the fact that Havoc, also a production force to be reckoned with, has the potential to contribute far more than rhymes. The question is, how has time aged the product that the two have been creating since their heyday of years past?
Luckily for their longtime fans, Havoc’s rhymes are still very much about that trife life, and Alchemist’s production still provides the appropriate accompaniment for what Havoc has to say. Features are sparse, and expected, limited to appearances from fellow New York City-based mainstays Prodigy, Cormega, and Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man. The standout feature of the three belongs to Method Man on “Buck 50’s & Bullet Wounds” who comes correct with delivery and word play as he spits “it’s nada, I brought you change, no Obama, like four quarters, some rappers change for a dollar.” It’s all a success over a quintessential piano-driven Alchemist beat, accented by crisp snares. It’s also worth noting how seamlessly it flows into the following song, “Just Being Me,” another banger where Alchemist shines with a beat switch up mid-track that transitions into a synth-heavy instrumental interlude.
Also noteworthy is how Alchemist took time to make sure the entire album flows seamlessly, perhaps so much so that the oft-rapping beatmaker never chimes in with a single bar. Many times it hardly feels like a song is ending and another is beginning, which entices the listener to give it a serious listen, in order, from start to finish (although, oddly enough, the album closes with Mega’s verse; an interesting choice for the LP’s anchor). And Havoc, though lyrically, ever-so-slightly not what he was at his 90’s pinnacle, is feeding into his fanbase’s nostalgia of the 41st Side’s criminal underworld, with raps about stick ups, killing people, and “fucking your bitch like an ornament, she’s hangin’ from my balls” (on “Throw in the Towel”). The album’s other standouts include “Out the Frame,” where Alchemist takes a melodic riff suitable for a newborn’s lullaby and laces it with hard hitting booms and baps while Havoc waxes poetic about stacking paper, carrying firearms, and putting people to sleep permanently, all complete with as catchy of a hook as a gunshot-ridden tune could possibly have.
While it’s not the most innovating project around, The Silent Partner does exceedingly well at sticking to the formula and will live up its intended audience’s wishes, with realistic expectations taken into consideration regarding the inevitable passing of time and maturity, of course.
????
listened to it once, love early mobb deep and still like alk, but my verdict is…..
naaaaah
Satan speaks in all lies. So your review must be a lie. In reality, you live the album. Quit lying.
ILL SHIT
if your’e a fan of gritty hip hop, this album is for you. Seize Power might be my favorite track. there’s other good songs on here too like the Method Feature & Prodigy feature.
Live niggas respect it!!
Rating
Wish Jadakiss would get off them big labels and do a whole album with Alchemist, Rza, Premier or Havoc beats he never gonna put out a classic solo until he goes independent
I was so excited to hear this due to the fact that Alchemist is on the boards and from what I saw in his IG videos, thought it was gonna be incredible. I was damn wrong, the first 5 tracks are boring sh*t nearly puts you to sleep. Thought Alc is in for a strong comeback but his beats were trash, he tried to have that gritty feel but he f*cked it up with repetitive weird loops and the spoken words that had nothing to do with the meaning of the any of the songs (Hell they didnt even have a meaning!). Havoc was never a top notch lyricist, but he could spit… however, on this album his subject matter is really bad and uninspired, mixed with the boring monotone slow flow, and the biggest problem, his sh*t doesn’t even rhyme anymore! it’s like he’s just talking on the beat! There’s nothing decent about this album from tracks 1-5, track 6 has a good instrumental backing it, but both Havoc and Prodigy f*ck it up… Prodigy went from being a top 5 emcee to 16’s that have only two words rhyming together in them, it’s just sad how these guys fell off. Buck 50 and Bullet Wounds has a nice beat, but Method Man is mediocre… and the biggest highlight is the last track, Cormega goes in on grimy dark piano loop… overall there ain’t much here to look for, but at least it’s better than the trash coming out today…
jump in the lake & stay there
jump in the lake & stay there
forgot rating.
What a god damn disappointment. I thought Alc was supposed to be a professional, but the production on this album sounds like a beginner made all the beats. Boring, too repetitive and just dull. Not worth even streaming, let alone buying. 2/5 at it’s best.
kill ur self
If you love Racist Alan’s shitty ass beats, then these frisbee is for you.
pull up nigga
If Alchemist is a racist you are indirectly calling Havoc an Uncle Tom and we all know that isn’t true. Shut the fuck up.
Great album, some of Alch’s most cohesive work. Highly recommended.
Consumer question, are ALC’S beats here more Russian Roulette or Lord Step?
Not extreme as RR. Some songs could’ve been on Lord Step. I would say its “Havocs Chemisty Set”.
Al gave Curren$y the better beats.
Currensy gets pretty repetitive weed,cars,more weed talk and his flow can be boring unless you high but i guess thats his main market of fans
Alchemist sucks. These guys could be working with Diamond D, Showbiz, DJ Premier, Buckwild, Les (Beatnuts), Pete Rick and so many other legendary NY producers. They instead work with Al Kardashian. A white fascist Arminian rich kid from Santa Monica California that bit everyone’s style. SMH. Look up him and Scott Cahn’s (Hawaii Five o) old tracks the whooloiganz when he was copying Cypress Hill’s sound. Biting since the 90s.
pull up to QB soft ass nigga
man i wish they workd with Pete rick, I LOVE that guy.
What color, race, ethnicity, and his upbringing have zero to do with his talent. Please explain to me how the fuck Alchemist is a fascist? Did he try to enforce his beliefs on the USA? Did he try to stop you from speaking out against him or his political views? I honestly don’t think you even know what the fuck that word means. He is a good producer and he outshines Havoc on this album ten fold. Havoc is straight garbage on this album. He is corny, boring, his delivery is poor, and his lyrics are bad considering the topics he chose to speak about. As for your claim that he is biting, I would also call bullshit on. Every producer grabs the hot style at the time. How many producers tried to copy Dre in the 90’s? How many producers tried to copy Rza? It comes with the territory. Hip-hop’s roots are in theft of others instruments, sounds, and style. I would study up on your Hip-Hop before you start calling other people biters.
Terrible. Boring. Repetitive. Wack. Repeat.
pull up nigga
if you like hardcore, gritty hip hop with beats and lyrics this was great for you. everyone else go back to your trap club music.
this ish hard as a mf mobb deep for life an shit u heard me
If u didn’t grow up in the 90’s u not going to understand this album for those that’s talking shit u don’t know real rap shit if not from nyc all queen’s everything shout to Ravenswood it’s a queen’s thing u outsiders is never going understand only hood niggas is going to relate to it
Great album alchemist plus havoc classic shit just as good as ..einstein and return of the Mac hope P and hav do a double with the alchemist….hopefully real rap comes back and tight pants and soft ass sing along hip hop go bye bye