There’s something profound about music that transcends time. When I pressed play on Mobb Deep’s new album Infinite, it didn’t just sound like a project, it felt like a portal. Another amalgamation of sorts or a bridge between eras, A reminder of everything that shaped us, everything that lives within us, and everything still to come.
I was born in the ’80s, raised on ’90s music, and matured through the early 2000s with a deep respect for the back catalogue of genres that existed long before I arrived. My musical upbringing was layered. When I was younger It was DMX & Aaliyah. It was ODB’s unfiltered rawness, Sean Price’s razor wit, Michael Jackson’s unmatched presence, and shortly after, the soulful genius of Prince. It was Brownsville Ka’s poetic grit and Prodigy’s piercing insight.
When these artists transitioned, I remember exactly where I was each time the feeling was like losing a homie. It wasn’t just celebrity news. It was a genuine void. A gap in artistry, authenticity, and honest expression. Their voices carried a type of artistic intelligence that cut through confusion and reminded us who we were. These were artists who provoked thought, sparked reflection, and held a mirror up to our lives in a way that felt real.
Hearing Sean Price’s Imperius Rex after his passing was bittersweet, beautiful, powerful, necessary. A verse from Prodigy on that album was like a warm embrace from the past. Shout out to Bernadette Price for gifting us that moment. And now, to hear Prodigy’s voice on the new Mobb Deep Infinite album is nothing short of spiritual.
This project isn’t just a release, it’s a time capsule. With features from Nas, Jorja Smith, Clipse, Rae & Ghost, H.E.R., and Big Noyd, Havoc and Alchemist have curated something both nostalgic and forward-moving. It’s as if the golden era found its way into the present, reminding us what timeless craftsmanship feels like.
While reflecting on all this, news broke that D’Angelo had passed, another giant whose music shaped generations. His transition pulled me back into his catalogue, revisiting Voodoo, and Angie Stone’s work as well. It’s moments like these that remind us just how fragile time is… and how powerful it can be when we use it with intention.
As artists, writers, and creatives, our purpose is not to simply exist but to create with meaning, to leave a mark that outlives us. I pray that I can fulfil all I’ve set out to do and that everyone who’s found their purpose moves with more intention and urgency. For those still searching, I hope the echoes of these greats inspire you to find your path.
Music like Infinite shows us that the past isn’t just behind us, it’s woven into the present, guiding the future. We are part of an infinite cycle of creation, reflection, and inspiration. The question is: what will we add to it?
