H.N.I.C. (Prodigy album)
H.N.I.C. is the debut solo album by American rapper Prodigy. Originally scheduled for a summer 2000 release, the album was ultimately released on November 14, 2000.
| H.N.I.C. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Prodigy | ||||
| Released | November 14, 2000 | |||
| Recorded | 1998–2000 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 66:20 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Prodigy, Bink!, Hangmen 3, The Alchemist, Robert Kirkland, Mobb Deep, EZ Elpee, Nashiem Myrick, Rockwilder, Just Blaze, Ric Rude | |||
| Prodigy chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| HipHopDX | |
| RapReviews | 8.0/10 |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| The Source | |
| Vibe | |
After four Mobb Deep albums, Prodigy took a temporary break from the group and released his first solo effort. "H.N.I.C." is an initialism for "Head Nigga in Charge." Prodigy enlisted a number of producers for the album, including The Alchemist, EZ Elpee, Rockwilder, Just Blaze and his Mobb Deep partner Havoc. Music videos were done for "Keep It Thoro" and "Y.B.E" (Young Black Entrepreneurs). The album received widespread critical acclaim. The song "Keep It Thoro" was released on vinyl.
A sequel, H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 was released on April 22, 2008. It features production by Havoc, a fellow member of Mobb Deep and The Alchemist among others. In 2011, after being released from prison, Prodigy began work on the third album in the series, H.N.I.C. 3.
Several rappers took inspiration from H.N.I.C., including Wiz Khalifa for his album O.N.I.F.C. (2012), and then-16-year-old Kendrick Lamar for his debut mixtape Y.H.N.I.C. (2003).
H.N.I.C. was certified Gold by the RIAA on December 18, 2000.