the of course, there's Mobb Deep, official lap dogs of 50 cent... from Vibe magazine:
Your signing to G Unit seemed to catch everyone off guard. How did that happen?
Prodigy: 50 Cent heard that we were free agents. He called Hav like, "Yo, what's up? I'm fu*king with y'all. Let's do it."
After seven albums being self-contained, by joining G Unit are you admitting that maybe, your way wasn't working anymore?
Havoc: Nah, not at all. The way we were doing it always worked. It was just the record companies were fu*king up. Now we have a better platform.
50 recently said he's picking all the beats for your upcoming album. Is that true?
H: He sends beats to us. If we don't like it, we always got our opinions. But he's got such a good ear that every track he picks is right, so it's all good. I'm still producing somewhere close to half the album.
Did you sign an artist deal?
H: Nah, not like a regular deal. We got a lot of perks. We got more points than any artist ever got to this day, so it's a real good deal.
Perks? Give me a few examples of these perks.
P: We got Porsches.
H: Top of the line. I got a GT3 that's nonrecoupable.
So, I guess it didn't bother you that on "Piggy Bank" 50 said to Jadakiss, "I'll do your little ass like Jay did Mobb Deep?"
H: Nope
P: When he said that line, he was just talking about what really happenned. At Summer Jam, Jay-Z put up a picture of me when I was a little kid in my grandmother's dance school. We're all bigger than Jay now.
Similar to Ja Rule's R.U.L.E., Amerikaz Nightmare had it's fans, but it didn't achieve commercial success. Were you worried that your time might hav passed?
H: The difference with Ja Rule is people were tired of him. We came out with a good record, but the record wasn't getting it to the fans.
Speaking of Ja Rule, 50 is known for his beefs. Will it be a problem for you to work with people he's beefing with?
H: I'm a producer, bottom line. Nobody can tell me what I can and can't do as far as me being creative. And 50 is not even like that at all. But, I will say that I'm down for my team, and I ain't trying to start no friction.
Havoc produced "Don't Need Your Love" on The Documentary. And P, you did "Dead Bodies"on the Alchemist's album with Game. Will you continue to work with him in the future?
P: If Fif tells me, "Yo don't give that ***** no verses," them *****s ain't getting no verses, man. It's not gonna stop my money, 'cause I'll get money from somewhere else. I'll be like All right, cool. What verse can I do? That's where I'm gonna get money from, then.
It doesn't matter that someone has a say in your music relationships?
P: Hell no. He made me rich.
How does your G Unit affiliation affect your relationship with Nas?
P: Who that? You're talking about Milkshake? He's not in the picture no more. He left the radar.
Is Big Noyd going to be involved with your new album, Blood Money?
P: Once Mobb Deep gets an album out and goes on tour and our album is selling, then we'll start thinking about different artists. But right now, we're not really worried about nobody else but Mobb Deep.
There was a controversy earlier this year with your former manager Littles, saying you two were breaking up. What was that about?
P: Who that, son? I don't even know who that is.
With your recent appearance on the Anger Management 3 tour, you seem to have lost weight. Are you still struggling with sickle cell?
P: I'm in perfect health. I ain't been sick in a long time.
H: We slim dudes. But check this bank account. Tell me how I look now (laughs). My hips look kinda fat right? My pockets are bulging.
How do you feel about New York's rap chances right now?
H: I mean, everybody gets their time. It started in New York and it's gonna come back ultimately. People go, "What about the South?" That's a tool to pit everybody against one another. We're all making black music. Right now, our Down South brothers are winning cause they deserve it.
Who do you guys feel is really representing New York right now?
H: Mobb Deep.
Duly noted. Since signing to G Unit, what's been the biggest change in your lives?
P: We're megastars now.
H: I never thought it would be this way.
P: When we signed that contract, Fif gave us the keys to the planet. We can open up any door right now.
