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 a
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.
...more
Hardcover
,
320 pages
Published
April 19th 2011
by Touchstone
(first published April 1st 2011)
The book I am reviewing is called My Infamous Life This book attracted me because I am a huge fan of rap music, and he is a rapper. But that’s all I knew. I never heard his music, but I wanted to learn more about him, especially after seeing all of the things he went through on the back of the book. Not only that, but Prodigy got praise from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and Nas. So all of that led me to the conclusion that this book must be read. My expectations were met. I expected a tale of a man who mad
The book I am reviewing is called ¨My Infamous Life¨ This book attracted me because I am a huge fan of rap music, and he is a rapper. But that’s all I knew. I never heard his music, but I wanted to learn more about him, especially after seeing all of the things he went through on the back of the book. Not only that, but Prodigy got praise from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and Nas. So all of that led me to the conclusion that this book must be read. My expectations were met. I expected a tale of a man who made lots of mistakes, and was very misguided and immature. I did get that.
The main character is Prodigy. Prodigy is part of a famous rap group called Mobb Deep, and it consists of he and Havoc. Havoc is very close to a main character since he is such a huge part of Prodigy’s life. This book is an autobiography that reveals a lot about Prodigy. Prodigy has a lot of conflict in the book. He has been in several fueds with rappers, he has robbed and fought people, and so much more. These are all person v. person conflicts. People part of his fueds involve Jay-Z, N.O.R.E, and Nas. So definitely expect lots of conflict, fights, and rivalries
My favorite character is Prodigy. He is a really cool character, even though he is incredibly misguided at first. He carried Uzis, he sniffed coke, loved getting high and drunk, and got into lots of fights. He has been arrested before, and has robbed people for money. But, he still seems like such a cool guy. He has respect and love for his friends and family. He seems to get along with people really well. He is also a hard worker when it comes to his music. But he also made his dream come true after him and Havoc released a gold album that many people consider to be a classic. Then his career continued. I am not finished the entire book, but so far I really like Prodigy. I just think he was incredibly misguided at that time
I can’t relate to most of Prodigy’s situations. He did drugs and carried illegal guns. He also had sickle-cell disease. I can’t relate to those situations because I have never been arrested, and I don’t have such a condition. I can’t relate to him robbing people either. I can relate to maturing, which seems to be happening with Prodigy at a very slow pace. Now, he is much more mature and grown. He is still rapping, and released an album with Mobb Deep this year. Also on the back of the book, Prodigy says that it took him until 33 to mature and make better decisions. He is also working with an organization to fight sickle cell disease. But it was a very slow process for him when it came to maturity. And sometimes, it would take some time for me to mature. I can definitely relate to learning lessons and becoming a better and more mature human being. I know Prodigy is much more mature now, just like I’m much more mature than I was when I was 12.
So far, this book is a 10/10. I love the story and the characters, So far, there is nothing I would change. The book has high quality detail and writing, and I am happy to be reading it. The book is perfect so far. I recommend this book to all rap and hip-hop fans. This story will blow them away. You get to know Mobb Deep’s life outside of the studio, which was very rough at times. You will also hear insight on Nas, Raekwon, and lots more. This should be read in olleges and High Schools. It will help the kids think, and it will start interesting discussions. I can’t recommend this book enough. Buy it and read it.
...more
This book is about the famous rapper and his crew named MOBB DEEP. The main character of my story is one of the greatest rapper's to ever and his name is Prodigy. The next main character was his assistant who also is a rapper named Havoc, him and Prodigy are really good at working together and having fun in there life. In this paper I will be telling you all about the hard life that Prodigy and Havoc had to go through to get to where they are at now and it all starts now. Albert Crippen Johnson
This book is about the famous rapper and his crew named MOBB DEEP. The main character of my story is one of the greatest rapper's to ever and his name is Prodigy. The next main character was his assistant who also is a rapper named Havoc, him and Prodigy are really good at working together and having fun in there life. In this paper I will be telling you all about the hard life that Prodigy and Havoc had to go through to get to where they are at now and it all starts now. Albert Crippen Johnson "Prodigy" was born on November 2nd 1974, at approximately nine thirty-two P.M. at Nassau Medical Center in Hempstead, Long Island. In this story the main point for Prodigy was becoming a rapper while getting paid big money, but he had many problems he had to go through to get where his is at in life now. He was allways battling for what he believed in and what his friends believed in. When Prodigy was growing up he thought of himself as a thug that could do anything he wanted without being stopped. He was allways running into trouble with the law, police, and other rappers, I guess you could say he loved to stick up for his beliefs. Prodigy and Havoc were the two main characters in this story but if I were to chose my favorite it would have to be Havoc. I honestly dont have anything against Prodigy but I think that Havoc had a better childhood in my opinion and he is also a better rapper than Prodigy, even though I love them both.
In this book I cant say that I can relate to any of the characters, because they had grown up in the ghetto living a hard life and not allways having someone there for them. They also allways skipped school and didnt care about there education. While today the only thing that I can have is my education because of the situations that I have, but it was all different for Prodigy and Havoc. I can also say that I really haven't shared any personal experiences with them because we are way different people, such as that when they were kids they were always stealing things from stores and if I was ever caught doing that I would be in so much trouble that I propably wouldnt be here. I guess it all just depends on your backround and where you come from because they are good people they just do bad things.
This book is definately my favorite book I have ever read. The reason I say this is because there is always something going on in the book and the characters allways have to find a way to fix it. There is so much action going on in this book that it is so hard to stop reading it, seriously I couldnt stop when I started to read the book. My favorite part in the book was when Prodigy and Havoc were at a party late at night meeting a whole bunch of rappers for a signing for there new label, and when it came down to picking a manager they had like twenty people waiting for an answer but the whole thing turned into a brawl so Prodigy and Havoc had just left because they thought that they were all crazy. My least favorite part in this book was when Prodigy was 7 years old he was with his father and he wasnt supposed to be because he had recently been in jail and his father had taken him to a jewlery store and robbed the whole place and got sent back to jail five years later after they figured out Prodigy's father had commited the crime. If i were to change something in the book I propably wouldnt because if something were to be changed then maybe Prodigy and Havoc wouldnt have the fame that they do today, and I feel that they are just fine with what they have done in there past and what they will do in the future.
This book has a very good story behind it but I would not recommend it to anyone who doesnt believe in foul language and is under the age of 14. The reason I say this is because it is a hard book to follow and if you cant handle some of the things that are said in this book then it isnt the book for you. The type of person who would like this book is someone who loves to listen to rap and is a big fan and believer of all the history of rap. This is my favorite book of all time and I hope that you enjoy it if you decide to read it!
Seldom do we, the fan's and critics, get a chance to see behind the glamour and glits and into the unsheltered soul of Rap Artist. Most of the time when we do, we get a watered down marked up version of the truth, made to look good and boost revenue. I am happy to have had a chance to be able to bypass the glits and glamour and see Prodigy as "Albert Johnson".
Anyone who is a fan of Mobb Deep SHOULD read this book to gain a clearer and better understanding of who Mobb Deep is as individuals as we
Seldom do we, the fan's and critics, get a chance to see behind the glamour and glits and into the unsheltered soul of Rap Artist. Most of the time when we do, we get a watered down marked up version of the truth, made to look good and boost revenue. I am happy to have had a chance to be able to bypass the glits and glamour and see Prodigy as "Albert Johnson".
Anyone who is a fan of Mobb Deep SHOULD read this book to gain a clearer and better understanding of who Mobb Deep is as individuals as well as artists. Anyone who is not a fan of Mobb Deep, but genuinely interested in gaining a better understanding of Hip-Hop culture, Rap Music and the Men and Women who populate it should read this book as well.
Mr.Johnson gives us the up's and down's of his life, the mistakes in which he has made and how those mistakes have affected his perception on Life. I have learned not only alot about Prodigy, but have learned alot about other artists in the industry who he had crossed paths with. and without giving away too much information, it is shocking to find that alot rappers tend to loose themselves in the world of Rap Music and put up alot of false realities they tend to believe in themselves. Mr.Johnson was also very open about his drug usage, his belief on religion and God, what it means to truly be loyal to someone who you consider a friend, the sacrifices that success and relationship's demand, and also a slew of other things we were not privy to by just listening to Mobb Deep's music.
I am appreciative of Mr.Johnson for allowing me to look into his life and him laying it all out on the table in this book. I recommend this book to ANYONE who is interested in the life of a Rapper and how his upbringing dictated his past, present, and his future.
This is a Must Read for ANYONE who claim's to be a fan or critic of Hip-Hop culture and Rap Music.
...more
I read “My Infamous Life” by a 90’s rapper who’s goes by the name of Prodigy. It is a very entertaining and interesting novel. Prodigy takes us on a tour throughout his life, he takes us though his early childhood battles with sickle cell disease, his forming of his rap group “Mobb Deep “with his best friend Havoc, and being involved in shootouts at nightclubs. He also tells his side of the story on the infamous East Coast – West Coast feud of the 90’s.
Prodigy’s purpose for writing this book w
I read “My Infamous Life” by a 90’s rapper who’s goes by the name of Prodigy. It is a very entertaining and interesting novel. Prodigy takes us on a tour throughout his life, he takes us though his early childhood battles with sickle cell disease, his forming of his rap group “Mobb Deep “with his best friend Havoc, and being involved in shootouts at nightclubs. He also tells his side of the story on the infamous East Coast – West Coast feud of the 90’s.
Prodigy’s purpose for writing this book was to inform people about his life and to give people an entertaining novel. He wanted people to know his side of the story on some of the controversial topics surrounding his life. The book will have a lasting impact on its audience. Prodigy’s audience will be forever entertained by the stories of his life. They will know how much Prodigy has been though in his life and maybe they will appreciate him more or become a fan. If somebody reading his book suffers from sickle cell disease, they can find inspiration from this book to do whatever they want in life and not let their diseases affect how they live life.
This book is well written but is mostly in a tone as if he was telling this story to one of his friends. There are no misspellings and little grammar errors but the book is not in a professional tone. “Sha said, “N****, them s**** got five stripes! Adidas only got three.” But Sha was my n****. He didn’t make fun of my shoes, at least not to my face” (21) He uses slang words in his text and even starts sentences with “but”. Despite a couple instances of this type of writing by Prodigy, the book is still a well written book. When he wrote this novel, he was spending time in jail, so I doubt grammar was one of his main priorities.
The book was very captivating. This book had no boring parts and was interesting from front to back. The tone of the book was mainly serious but had a lot of funny moments throughout. He’s had some seriously rough times in his life but just like and famous celebrity with a lot of money; he’s also had some fun times in his life which makes for an interesting story. I don’t feel like I related to any of the characters in the book because most of them were born and raised in rough places, where killings and gunshots were a normal thing.
The greatest strength of the book was the interesting stories Prodigy told. There were all kinds of situations and predicaments that he was put in that made the book great. In my opinion there were no weaknesses of this book unless you are not the type of person who likes to read about violence and cursing throughout. I would defiantly recommend this book to a friend because I know that most if not all of my friends would love the relate ability of this book it was almost movie like. I say movie like because in movies you see all kinds of shootouts, rap battles, and sexual situations. Overall I think this book is an excellent book and deserves a 5/5.
...more
A sometimes obviously honest, sometimes hard to believe read. Being a Mobb Deep fan, I was interested in P's story - especially during the Infamous, He'll on Earth, and Murda Muzik album days. The book is an all-telling, oftentimes funny, street narrative that should entertain most hip hop heads.
Ok, I have to admit I had no idea who Mos Def was when I bought this book. Mos Def is an American rap artist. I still haven't listened to more than one or two of their songs. I read the book because I like biography, I am interested in how other people live and what life looks like through their eyes. So this book was interesting.
I learned a lot about Prodigy in this book. Stuff I thought I knew as well as the things I did not. I thought I was going to be skipping through certain sections of this book only reading parts but I was hooked from the beginning. Mobb Deep was pretty much what got me hooked on rap
muzik
My best friend had a copy so I borrowed it and have to say a 5 star rating well deserved.
Alfonso Ribeiro (a.k.a. Carlton) appeared in Pepsi commercial with Michael Jackson. Later became star in fresh prince of b
I learned a lot about Prodigy in this book. Stuff I thought I knew as well as the things I did not. I thought I was going to be skipping through certain sections of this book only reading parts but I was hooked from the beginning. Mobb Deep was pretty much what got me hooked on rap
muzik
My best friend had a copy so I borrowed it and have to say a 5 star rating well deserved.
Alfonso Ribeiro (a.k.a. Carlton) appeared in Pepsi commercial with Michael Jackson. Later became star in fresh prince of bel-air. That part was originally offered to prodigy by his Grandma.
"Hillside Avenue" Jamaica queens was mentioned in this book. Where Prodigy's grandmother lived. I grew up on Hillside Avenue, Hillcrest Apts in Massachusetts. Thought that was kinda of cool.
A Great Auto-Bio from Prodigy. Recommend to Mobb Deep Fans!!
...more
Prodigy, one half of the rap duo Mobb Deep, published his autobiography (with Laura Checkoway), which includes his background as a child, his struggles with sickle cell anemia, his music success, his stint in prison and release. I am really not sure how I feel about this one. I'd never really heard of Mobb Deep before this; this was a book sent to me at work and I thought I'd give it a go, for something different. The book flows well, and I imagine this being a hit on the Young Adult shelves. Bu
Prodigy, one half of the rap duo Mobb Deep, published his autobiography (with Laura Checkoway), which includes his background as a child, his struggles with sickle cell anemia, his music success, his stint in prison and release. I am really not sure how I feel about this one. I'd never really heard of Mobb Deep before this; this was a book sent to me at work and I thought I'd give it a go, for something different. The book flows well, and I imagine this being a hit on the Young Adult shelves. But it's not for the easily offended. Prodigy doesn't hold a lot back on his experiences with drugs, sex, alcohol, and (arguably the most disturbing) the violence in his life. This was... an eye-opener. Prodigy admits his mistakes in a very pragmatic, matter-of-fact tone. How remorseful and apologetic he truly is, who knows?
...more
Book was man Ill thun...It was gangsta didn't all that ish when down like that kinda had that first 48hour slash cops feel to get. Like reading a police report had the date & time was dope. In between chapter played the current album they had poppin at that time word is bond kid...Mujah
If you like rap, this is a book that's great for you. Prodigy from Mobb Deep was one of the first rappers to ever explode in the game. I have been a fan of his music and everything I read about him is unbelievable. Everything in this book sounds like a movie scene. I thought it was really interesting how the life of Prodigy was, especially since he is one of many rappers that I respect. From gunshots to death on the streets, this is a true story about how a guy came from the bottom all the way
If you like rap, this is a book that's great for you. Prodigy from Mobb Deep was one of the first rappers to ever explode in the game. I have been a fan of his music and everything I read about him is unbelievable. Everything in this book sounds like a movie scene. I thought it was really interesting how the life of Prodigy was, especially since he is one of many rappers that I respect. From gunshots to death on the streets, this is a true story about how a guy came from the bottom all the way to the top.
I recommend this book to everyone who loves rap or have listened to Mobb Deep before. This book is written in depth about his lifestyle. From the drugs to the murders, you name it. In general, this is the best biography I ever read and the most interesting as well.
...more
I read this book twice it was that interesting mobb deep is legendary and i am surprised Albert Johnson is still alive!!! The book goes thru chapters for each album and what has gone on during that period of time...long live mobb deep
Wow. One of the best books I've read this year. There's so much background history in this autobiography that it's pretty mind blowing. In my opinion, this is A must read for anyone claiming to be a true Hip- Hop head.
Listened to the audiobook. As an added bonus the book is narrated by Albert "Prodigy" Johnson. He does a phemomenal job telling his life story. Couldn't stop listening to it.
Albert Johnson has quite a pedigree. His grandfather is Big Bud Johnson and is in the jazz hall of fame. His grandmother was one of the original dancers at the cotton club in Harlem, when she retired she went on to be the dance instructor of many famous people such as Ben Vereen. His mother was a member of The Crystals.
Amazing how a man who came from that family ended up a gun toting gangster who will shoot someone for spilling his drink. The book was good, it is amazing how violent his life is,
Albert Johnson has quite a pedigree. His grandfather is Big Bud Johnson and is in the jazz hall of fame. His grandmother was one of the original dancers at the cotton club in Harlem, when she retired she went on to be the dance instructor of many famous people such as Ben Vereen. His mother was a member of The Crystals.
Amazing how a man who came from that family ended up a gun toting gangster who will shoot someone for spilling his drink. The book was good, it is amazing how violent his life is, but it is a juicy listen.
Prodigy narrates the book, it is a huge change over the professional readers but after I adapted i enjoyed it.
Me and Prodigy both share the misfortune of having Sickle Cell Anemia, so it was very interesting for me to read his life story. The way he describes the pain that Sickle Cell causes is put exactly how I would describe it if I could even form it into words.
We also get an insight into his experiences of living in Queens and becoming one of Hip Hops pioneering gangsta rappers. Prodigy and Havoc (Mobb Deep) share a lot of Hip Hop history between them, so it was exhilarating for me as a Hip Hop fan
Me and Prodigy both share the misfortune of having Sickle Cell Anemia, so it was very interesting for me to read his life story. The way he describes the pain that Sickle Cell causes is put exactly how I would describe it if I could even form it into words.
We also get an insight into his experiences of living in Queens and becoming one of Hip Hops pioneering gangsta rappers. Prodigy and Havoc (Mobb Deep) share a lot of Hip Hop history between them, so it was exhilarating for me as a Hip Hop fan to hear some of the inside stories that occurred from past events.
...more
Well I'm not a very big fan of mobb deep, but I've always bought they're music, after watching some footage on youtube...i decided to go ahead and purchase the book, after reading this book I was amazed about his life as a youngster, he had all the signs of really being something way more than just being a rapper....I'm also amazed on how he speaks on his demons regardless what people may say, he is a true writer to go in the depths of his pain and happiness...this book is definitely a treasure
Well I'm not a very big fan of mobb deep, but I've always bought they're music, after watching some footage on youtube...i decided to go ahead and purchase the book, after reading this book I was amazed about his life as a youngster, he had all the signs of really being something way more than just being a rapper....I'm also amazed on how he speaks on his demons regardless what people may say, he is a true writer to go in the depths of his pain and happiness...this book is definitely a treasure and wake up call for me!
...more
While this is an informative biography with the help of a collaborator, it isn't a very well-written autobiography. Prodigy has definitely lived an interesting life, has a unique family tree, has survived sickle cell anemia, but it's very sloppy and moves all over the place. He's either back in prison having a flashback, telling you a story about how he and Havoc were getting groupies, or talking about beef he has with various people.
I'm biased because i'm a big Mobb Deep fan and came up during that hip-hop golden era. Thus, the book really resonated with me, as i was familiar with most of the people P makes reference to in the text. The story is told with quite a bit of candor and Prodigy displays a vulnerability that's refreshing. I flew through the book, finishing it in 2 days, and is definately a must for any Mobb Deep fan or lover of hip-hop culture.
A lot of great information if you like his music! He really lives what he writes in his music and even being a big fan I didnt know much of his personal life. Havoc was a close friend didn't know they had problems and I learned a lot about his pain and suffering with his disease. Hes a true fighter and a true street legend. Its good to see hes on a more positive route these days.
As a fan of rap music, specifically a fan of Mobb Deep's music, I felt it was a necessity to read this book. Prodigy's autobiography gives a fantastically detailed description and look into a lifestyle not experienced by most. Prodigy unabashedly gives intimate details of his experiences and hardships from a youth through his rise to prominence in the music industry.
This is a very thorough memoir which opens readers up to many of Prodigy's personal and entertaining stories. I can't recall ever being bored at a given point in this book, which means a lot for someone with a tiny attention span like me! Overall it was just a dope read. I would suggest this book even to someone who's not a Prodigy/Mobb Deep fan.
An insightful tale into the life of Prodigy of Mobb Deep, one of the more underrated lyricists in Hip Hop. The book jumps around and Prodigy's narrative is occasionally disjointed, but it is still a solid read for any Mobb Deep fan.
As much as I like Mobb Deep this is pretty mediocre. His rants about the Illuminati are good to read but honestly, stories about "getting ready to pull gats on niggaz outside the club" get a bit tiresome.
I've always been a fan of Mobb Deep and Prodigy was my favorite from the duo. After reading this book, I understand his lyrics more and his wild lifestyle. Good read.
“The UFO came to my house to show me the light, as if to say, 'Wake up, nigga! Snap out of it! We are real and you are important to us! Okay, we gotta go for now, hope you're ready when we come back!”
—
2 likes