On his most recent release, Soul Burger, current Hip-hop legend Ab-Soul delivered a face-melting performance over an iconic Hip-hop anthem. In the intro to Soul’s new album, “9 Mile,” you hear an eerie piano melody that starts to play as the artist interpolates the final rap battle scene from Eminem’s 8 Mile film. These piano keys should be familiar to any Hip-hop head, as they come from one of the most legendary Hip-hop songs of all time. Just barely out of his teens, Havoc of Mobb Deep flipped a piano melody from Herbie Hancock’s “Jessica” to create the foundation for the duo’s most successful single, “Shook Ones, Part II.”
Not only has the lead single from Havoc and Prodigy’s second studio release gone on to become a crown jewel of the genre, it essentially launched Mobb Deep into the mainstream spotlight. The single landed on the group’s 1995 LP, The Infamous. Their sophomore effort launched the duo’s career and positioned their brand of hardcore Hip-hop in the spotlight. For this Golden Age Thursday, we witness Mobb Deep navigate the BET stage for a performance of “Shook Ones, Part II.” Even through the grainy video footage, every syllable delivered can be felt. “Shook Ones, Part II” transcended time and space and can still be seen floating through the expansive atmosphere of modern Hip-hop. You can watch a young Mobb Deep tear through your screen to remind you of their pure prowess below.
