how bad is "blood money?"

Mobb Deep
"Blood Money"
(G-Unit/Interscope)

I've been a Mobb Deep fan since "The Infamous" and as they got closer to achieving commercial success, they've gone farther and farther away from the dark, dank feel of that debut album. But they would still put out good records; even when Havoc gave up his producer title to focus to rhyming, the Mobb brought in the Alchemist to balance the scales. Their last album "Amerikkka'z Nightmare" wasn't as good as its predecessors, but it was still good. Now aligned with 50 Cent's G-Unit posse, Mobb Deep have offered up "Blood Money." So how bad is "Blood Money?" The phrase "The Funky Headhunter" comes to mind.

There's not a doubt in my mind that at least 500,000 kids will buy this record, but those same kids may not realize what a steep decline Mobb Deep has taken to get a gold plaque. It's the lowest-common-denominator-rap: wack beats, horrible lyrics, and cheap drug talk.

When comparing "Blood Money" to "Hell On Earth," it's difficult to comprehend the fact that we're talking about the same group. Maybe major label politics and watching their peers hit mainstream success have made Mobb Deep soft; grit for gold, if you will.

Whatever the case may be, "Blood Money" is not worth going into detail. I can't write about specific songs because it's all one long terrible song.

Maybe Mobb Deep will come to their senses, drop Fiddy and starting putting out good records again, but I doubt it. I'd rather see these clowns break up -- and that's how bad "Blood Money" is.