By Ismael AbduSalaam
A three year jail sentence has not slowed down the musical pursuits of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy, who next week will re-release an updated version of his third solo album, H.N.I.C. Pt.2.
Rechristened as H.N.I.C. Pt.2: The Ultimate Collectors Edition, the three disc album boasts eight new bonus songs featuring Havoc (“Dirty New Yorker”), Big Noyd (“It’s Nothing”), Cormega (“When I See You Remix”), Nyce, and Un Pacino (“Get Trapped”).
The second disc showcases full length videos for each song on the album, including a bonus video for the track “Sleep When I’m Dead.”
The third and final bonus disc is billed as a behind the scenes, “making of the album” documentary featuring Prodigy and executive producers Alchemist and Steve Sola.
Marketing the project as Prodigy’s first completely interactive album, AAO Music/Reality chairman Peter Kuys explained to AllHipHop.com that this album is one of many future releases planned to keep the incarcerated star visible to the public.
“Prodigy is committed to a long term H.N.I.C. Pt.2 plan to brand his H.N.I.C. series of albums. As a label, we’re committed to maintaining his presence in the market and have embarked on several initiatives towards that purpose,” Kuys revealed. “To date, we’ve released the H.N.I.C. Pt.2 audio album, a DVD collection, and created deals with Sansa Player, and opportunities with Grand Theft Auto IV. We’re excited that Prodigy has chosen to release with us and he remains focused on H.N.I.C.”
In 2000, Prodigy was one of the first New York artists to offer an interactive online community through the now-defunct infamousstores.com, where comments from fans and Prodigy helped launch Mobb Deep’s 2001 feud with Jay-Z.
Today, Prodigy keeps in contact with fans through his bi-monthly blog on HNIC2.com, a social community site.
He is currently jailed on an unlawful gun possession conviction, and scheduled for a conditional release on March 7, 2011.
H.N.I.C. Pt.2: The Ultimate Collectors Edition arrives in stores this Tuesday November 4.
