No rapper on the planet had a hotter pen than Prodigy going into Y2K, and P knew it. Wisely, he took advantage of the opportunity that many members of legendary rap groups either prematurely jump to or prolong when launching solo careers. What Does it Mean?,” which Ice-T credits for inspiring the cadence of his 1986 single “6 in the Mornin,’” a son of the Big Apple helped bring the subgenre full circle with his solo debut H.N.I.C.

There’re several directions you can take when discussing the etymology of “gangster rap.” Traditionally, most discussions begin in Los Angeles, and credit Ice-T as the godfather of the subgenre. It was interviews with Ice-T himself that helped bring attention to the unsung originator of reality rap, Schoolly D, and his vivid lyrical depictions of the rugged streets of Philadelphia, PA.įifteen years after the release of Schoolly D’s seminal classic “P.S.K. Happy 20th Anniversary to Prodigy’s debut solo album H.N.I.C., originally released November 14, 2000.

Prodigy hnic album art