It ain't hard to tell that the "Queensbridge murderers" came to prominence in the same hardcore hip-hop era that also saw the rise of the Notorious B.I.G.: The verses offered up by Mobb Deep's Prodigy and Havoc cut sideways glances out of narrow slits of eyes at the grimy street life of their native New York. Their deliveries are mirthless, underscored by the roiling, dark clouds of Havoc's production.
Prodigy's real life actually mirrored his raps and landed him in prison for three years. But their music transcends time precisely because it speaks to the darkest corners of human nature. Prodigy was released from his sentence just a couple of months ago.
A couple of other legends will be in the building as well. On this night, Mobb Deep is joined by Wu-Tang's Ghostface and Raekwon.
