Want a NOOK? Explore Now
From one of the greatest rappers of all time, a memoir about a life almost lost and a revealing look at the dark side of hip hop’s Golden Era . . .
In this often violent but always introspective memoir, Mobb Deep’s Prodigy tells his much anticipated story of struggle, survival, and hope down the mean streets of New York City. For the first time, he gives an intimate look at his family background, his battles with drugs, his life of crime, his relentless suffering with sickle-cell anemia, and much more. Recently released after serving three and a half years in state prison due to what many consider an unlawful arrest by a rumored secret NYPD hip hop task force, Prodigy is ready to talk about his life as one of rap’s greatest legends.
My Infamous Life is an unblinking account of Prodigy’s wild times with Mobb Deep who, alongside rappers like Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z, and Wu-Tang Clan, changed the musical landscape with their vivid portrayals of early ’90s street life. It is a firsthand chronicle of legendary rap feuds like the East Coast–West Coast rivalry; Prodigy’s beefs with Jay-Z, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Ja Rule, and Capone-N-Noreaga; and run-ins with prodigal hit makers and managers like Puff Daddy, Russell Simmons, Chris Lighty, Irv Gotti, and Lyor Cohen.
Taking the reader behind the smoke-and-mirrors glamour of the hip hop world, so often seen as the only way out for those with few options, Prodigy lays down the truth about the intoxicating power of money, the meaning of true friendship and loyalty, and the ultimately redemptive power of self. This is the heartbreaking journey of a child born in privilege, his youth spent among music royalty like Diana Ross and Dizzy Gillespie, educated in private schools, until a family tragedy changed everything. Raised in the mayhem of the Queensbridge projects, Prodigy rose to the dizzying heights of fame and eventually fell into the darkness of a prison cell.
A truly candid memoir, part fearless confessional and part ode to the concrete jungles of New York City, My Infamous Life is written by a man who was on the front line of the last great moment in hip hop history and who is still fighting to achieve his very own American Dream.
“A surprising triumph, both as an archive of 1990s New York hip-hop folk tales and for its stirring sketches of a man who, on many occasions, could have made his life a lot easier on himself … This is the kind of vulnerability that is fearless, especially within hip-hop.” –Slate.com
Introduction ix
Chapter 1 Genesis 1
Chapter 2 Poetical Prophets 35
Chapter 3 Mobb Deep 51
Chapter 4 Juvenile Hell 63
Chapter 5 The Infamous 79
Chapter 6 Hell on Earth 95
Chapter 7 Murda Muzik 131
Chapter 8 H.N.I.C. 155
Chapter 9 Infamy 189
Chapter 10 Free Agents 197
Chapter 11 Amerikaz Nightmare 203
Chapter 11 Blood Money 239
Chapter 13 Return of the Mac 273
Acknowledgments 305
Anonymous
Posted May 7, 2011
This book is amazing. I cannot put it down. It's like a drug. Reading Prodigy's stories will make your jaw drop. He is real and has seen and done it all. This book will also give you good insight into other artist's such as Jay Z, Tupac, and Nas. It is a must have for any hip hop fan. Definitely worth the money.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This is an insightful autobiography that hooks the audience from the Introduction as Prodigy in a prison four hours from the city realizes he is just another inmate though a celebrity. From there Prodigy explains his family roots changed from musical affluence to the Queensborough projects where violent crime is the norm. For instance, Prodigy, who suffers from Sickle Cell Anemia, admits he committed a robbery to insure he met the code of high school which reminded me of the 1950s Blackboard Jungle by Evan Hunter. His family also knew crime first hand when his aunt a bartender was shot in Queens. When he became a famous rapper, blood money and drugs eventually led to prison. There he found out who his true friends are.
This is a timely fabulous memoir as Albert Johnson pulls no punches with his insightful look at his "infamous life" and at the civil war era of Hip Hop. Profound throughout Mr. Johnson lays bare his guts of thriving and dying in the concrete jungle of New York. Although too frequent use of the first person "I" pronoun at the start of sentences (even for an autobiography) feels a bit disjointing, readers will appreciate the honesty that Mr. Johnson provides in this deep gripping introspective memoir.
Harriet Klausner
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 26, 2011
So many stories, so many stories, so many stories. A in depth perspective of a hip-hop legend on growing up in poverty, living with illness, the early rap days, the music industry, Hip Hop Cops, ect. Highly entertaining, honest. Shows the vulnerabilities that many hip hop artists shy away from and gives many first hand inside perspective on many hip hop legends including Nas, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, CNN, Alchemist, G-Unit ect. A must read for hip hop fans.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 14, 2012
Surprisingly good.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 12, 2012
Couldn't stop reading.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 6, 2012
A whole lot of truth and a great read for hip hop fans.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 3, 2011
I got this book for my husband and he said he really liked it. I didn't get a chance to read it. However, I believe in him if he said he enjoyed it.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 25, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted June 5, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted April 25, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted September 13, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted July 17, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted June 16, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted July 24, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted September 25, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted April 19, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted June 26, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted July 26, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted April 21, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
From one of the greatest rappers of all time, a memoir about a life almost lost and a revealing look at the dark side of hip hop’s Golden Era . . .
In this often violent but always introspective memoir, Mobb Deep’s Prodigy tells his much anticipated story of struggle, survival, and hope down the mean streets of New York City. For the first time, he gives an intimate look at his family background, his battles with drugs, his life of crime, his relentless suffering with ...