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Few sounds in hip-hop are as poignant, or as influential, as the gritty production that came out of Queensbridge in the ‘90s.  This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Havoc, producer, rapper, and one half of Mobb Deep, to break down the sonic blueprint that helped define East Coast hip-hop.

From crafting signature beats behind classics like The Infamous to shaping the identity of Queensbridge rap alongside Prodigy, Havoc reflects on his production style, creative process, and the raw realities that informed their music. The conversation dives into sampling, drum programming, and how limitation often led to innovation in early hip-hop production. Havoc breaks down:

• Legacy, longevity, and how the Mobb Deep sound continues to influence generations of producers and artists today from underground purists to mainstream trap.

• The making of Mobb Deep’s signature dark sound.

• Havoc’s production techniques and sampling approach.

• Producers rappers that he would solicit beats vs rhymes from today.

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Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com.

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