H.N.I.C. (Prodigy album)

H.N.I.C.
Studio album by
Prodigy
ReleasedNovember 14, 2000
Recorded1998–2000
Genre
Length66:20
Label
ProducerProdigy, Bink!, Hangmen 3, The Alchemist, Robert Kirkland, Mobb Deep, EZ Elpee, Nashiem Myrick, Rockwilder, Just Blaze, Ric Rude
Prodigy chronology
H.N.I.C.
(2000) 		H.N.I.C. Pt. 2
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Los Angeles Times[2]
HipHopDX[3]
RapReviews8.0/10[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]
The Source[6]
Vibe[7]

H.N.I.C. is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Prodigy. Originally scheduled for a summer 2000 release, the album was ultimately released on November 14, 2000 through Sony Music, Loud Records, SRC Records, and Prodigy's Infamous Records.

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.[8] The song "Keep It Thoro" was released on vinyl.[citation needed]

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),[9] and then-16-year-old Kendrick Lamar for his debut mixtape Y.H.N.I.C. (2003).[10]

H.N.I.C. was certified Gold by the RIAA on December 18, 2000.

  1. ^ Jason Birchmeier (2000-11-14). "H.N.I.C. - Prodigy". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  2. ^ Soren Baker (2000-11-17). "Record Rack - latimes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  3. ^ "Prodigy - H.N.I.C." HipHopDX. 2001-01-12. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  4. ^ "Feature for November 14, 2000 - Prodigy's "H.N.I.C."". Rapreviews.com. 2000-11-14. Retrieved 2015-06-14.
  5. ^ Rollingstone Album Guide Reviews
  6. ^ Miles, Kenneth (January 2001). "Record Report: Prodigy – H.N.I.C". The Source. No. 136. New York. p. 190.
  7. ^ Crowley, David (December 2000). "Revolutions: Prodigy – H.N.I.C." Vibe. New York. p. 196. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  8. ^ "Prodigy Returns To 'RapFix Live'". MTV. July 11, 2012. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "Wiz Khalifa O.N.I.F.C. Title Is 'All Love,' Prodigy Says". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  10. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Explained How Prodigy Inspired Him To Make His First Mixtape As A 16-Year-Old". Uproxx.com. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-26.