Havoc 13

Havoc-13-Nature Sounds-(2013)

Artist: Havoc

Album: 13

Label: Nature Sounds

Producers: artist, Statik Selektah   

It’s the speaking of the thun language that established the duo Mobb Deep and made it popping. When fans talk about one of the hottest prolific producers in the game who comes to mind? Of course one of them is Havoc, one half of the Infamous duo Mobb Deep. The eclectic emcee/producer has made extreme hits for other artists, branded the Mobb Deep name and brought out other brethren including Big Noyd and Infamous Mobb. Critics have questioned about his lyrical delivery and it is up to him to prove them wrong. Now putting the final touches on his new album, it comes with a specific number: 13.

            This album puts the different perspective. Havoc keeps the hard production that made him a household name while keeping it current. The guest appearances gel really well with this album. “Favorite Rap Stars” featuring Styles P and Raekwon put things in perspective with three of the nicest emcees over the ominous bass line and noticing strings that makes this compatible while “Life We Chose” featuring G-Unit’s Lloyd Banks fits the bill with awesome kicks on the  production. Hav works well with Royce da 5’9” on “Tell It To My Face” and one of the tighter tracks “Colder Days” escalates his production skills based on a cold grimey beat with the ill guitar sample with singer Masspike Miles who killed the chorus.

In between the first and last tracks, the album goes up and down like a see-saw. Tracks like “Gone” and “Eyes Open” featuring Twista hit heavy production wise but not as compelling like the other tracks on the album. Havoc switches his delivery to a more southern flow that makes it confusing. The album picks up with “Already Tomorrow”, “Getting Mines” and the Statik Selektah dark murky piano produced bonus track “Can’t Sleep”.

This is how you construct the album especially from a production standpoint. Havoc still proved himself to be one of the most prolific producers in the game. This album keeps the dark momentum valid and makes it one of the albums to listen to this year. The only misstep of this album is Havoc’s repetitive subject matter which is a minor issue but does not alter the momentum of the album completely. Lyrically Havoc been stepped it up for a while from “Get Mine” not a follower, so naturally I took the leader role/let the hater’s say couldn’t wait to let em see me blow/you can’t hold back ambition/honesty went faith with no ass kissing or the chorus of “Life We Chose” this the life we chose/dealing with the life we chose/it’s a cold homey and its only getting colder/muthafuckers get their whole life froze. Strongly the commercial/street banger balanced album, Havoc still maintains to relish street banger dark grimey 90’s feel beats with a modern contemporary sound for the most part. His production skills have not lost its, touch which still establishes the cadence of the thun language.

            Strong Tracks: “Tell It To My Face”, “Life We Chose”, “Favorite Rap Stars”, “Colder Days”, “Can’t Sleep”, “Getting Mines”

            Average Tracks: “Gone”, “Eyes Open”, “Hear Dat”, “Already Tomorrow”

            Weak Tracks:  None

            Rating:out of