Mobb Deep affiliates Infamous Mobb have made a (near) career off of sounding like Mobb Deep.  With their new album, Reality Rapp, they continue their grimy, East Coast style, but alas, it seems to be getting old (even for them). Their sound encompasses an amalgam of NYC styles from the last 5 years, and this is most definitely not a good thing.  Chipmunk samples, Jamaican singers, the morose synthetic sound of their more famous associates, its all here.  The album suffers from a lack of cohesion sonically, which isn’t helped by the 12 contributing producers. Many of the tracks sound too thin and digital, with no life to them aside from the simple 4 bar loop. Lyrically none of the group’s members are breaking new ground here: their hollow voices give away the stagnation throughout.  The usual thug life drama is covered, from representing one’s hood (“Capital Q” and “Streetz of NY”), paranoia (“Who Can You Trust”) to gun talk (“Get it Poppin” and “Blauu!”.)  The only saving grace for this album is the well executed sampling of both Alchemist and Evidence, who combined turn in 3 excellent cuts for the album.  Overall, the Queensbridge natives (don’t worry if you forget that, they will remind you countless times on this album) strive for the triumphant sound of the best of G-Unit, but fall somewhere closer to D-12.  As Twin Gambino says on the song “Border Line” “I’m in the studio all day killin the flow/ I ain’t your best rapper but I got time to grow.” Let’s hope so.

Grade: D                    

Reviewed by Zach Best