This story starts back in July of 1991, when the forward-thinking Matty C put a then-unknown group called Poetical Prophets in the Unsigned Hype section of The Source. 'Straight outta Queens, New York, these two little 5'3 sixteen-year-olds are fast making a big name for themselves in talent shows and radio stations in the New York area.' Matty C then played their music for Bonz Malone, an A&R at 4th & Broadway Records, where they were signed with a twenty-thousand dollar advance & Havoc & Prodigy became Mobb Deep. In Prodigy’s book ‘My Infamous Life,’ P said ‘Our album 'Juvenile Hell' was released in 1993, a year after we recorded it, and was a flop. It sold a little over twenty thousand copies and the label dropped us quick fast.” Prodigy also said that Nas dropping ‘Illmatic’ the following year, while overshadowing their release, also boosted their popularity during their promo tour as journalists and fans started making the Queens connection.
By the time Mobb Deep dropped 'The Infamous' in 1995, 'Juvenile Hell' was already a distant memory, but when new fans went back and listened to the lead single with DJ Premier, 'Peer Pressure,' as well as 'Hit It From The Back,' 'Flavor For The Non-Believers' and even the shelved 'Cop Hell' with Premo, the progression was obvious, but it gave the project new life. It's dope seeing the image of DJ Premier and young Hav & P in the studio back then ... Premo has, was, and always will be the greatest of all-time, doing it with class, integrity and FUNK! Revisit the Juvenile Hell album below...