Podcast Summary: DOPE AS USUAL – “Mobb Mentality w/ Havoc of Mobb Deep!”

Date: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Dope as Yola (Thomas), Marty O’Neill
Guest: Havoc (Mobb Deep)
Episode Theme:
A deep, entertaining conversation with Havoc about conspiracy theories, hip-hop legacy, creative process, Mobb Deep’s final album, the music industry, and personal stories—delivered with the podcast’s signature balance of humor, sincerity, and east coast/west coast banter.

Main Themes & Purpose

This episode centers on:

• Havoc’s reflections on Mobb Deep's enduring legacy and the making of their final group album “The Infinite.”
• A candid examination of hip-hop culture—past, present, and future—including new artists, the state of the industry, and the influence of technology.
• Stories and philosophies from Havoc’s life and career, touching on creativity, authenticity, and memorable moments from touring, collaborations, and personal life.
• Lively diversions into conspiracies, AI, drugs, and movies, maintaining the podcast’s irreverent, curious, and unfiltered tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Maps, Conspiracies, and “Questioning Everything”

• Obsession with maps and hidden lands

  • Havoc and the hosts laugh about antique maps, lost continents, and government secrets.

  “I think they hiding the truth from us.” – Havoc (01:18)

  • Discussion dives into flat Earth theories, restricted regions, and suspicions about space travel.
  • Havoc clarifies: “I'm a Earth questioner. I don't know if I'm a flat Earther…” (01:37)

• YouTube rabbit holes and the curiosity mindset

  • YouTube’s role as an “endless rabbit hole” for conspiracy research and inspiration.

  “You could go on YouTube and just be there for hours. Next thing you know, the sun's coming up.” – Havoc (03:04)

• Birds aren’t real? AI and truth

  • Exploration of the “birds aren’t real” theory, government surveillance, and advanced technology.
  • Marty segues into the rise of AI and “questioning everything.”

2. AI in Music & Authenticity

• Havoc’s take on AI's impact:

  “If you can’t beat them, join them.” – Havoc (05:59)

  • Havoc sees AI as a tool, albeit one that can’t truly replace the heart and authenticity of genuine artists.

  “You're never going to be able to replace a human in authenticity…producers know.” (08:08)

  • On AI-created music: “To the public, maybe, but…the sounds [are] choppy. Producers know.” (08:46)

• The challenge of proving creative work in an AI world

  • Joke about having to film yourself—and then film the filmer—just to prove authenticity in the future.

3. Mobb Deep Legacy & The Infinite (New Album)

• Deciding on a final album:

  “The only reason why I believe that I'm doing this is because Mob Deep had unfinished business.” – Havoc (09:24)

  • With Prodigy’s passing, Havoc feels a responsibility to finish things with intention and honor:

  “I just want [Mobb Deep] to go out on a high note…I have selfish reasons.” (11:41)

• Hip-hop duos and longevity

  • Discussing Mobb Deep’s unique 30-year run:

  “There’s only so many duos in hip hop that really stand the test of time.” – Marty (10:28)

• Comparisons to Griselda and new generation

  “The sky is the limit for them…I put them up there with the best of them.” – Havoc on Griselda (13:51)

  • Legends embracing Griselda as torchbearers for real hip-hop.

• Creative process for the final album

  • Working around Prodigy’s unreleased vocals, using technology to adapt them to new beats:

  “We built songs around his vocals…Technology now allows us to do a lot.” – Havoc (35:04)

4. Favorite Movies, Music, and Influences

• East vs. West Coast gangster films

  • West Coast: Menace II Society, Boyz n the Hood, Shot Caller
  • East Coast: Paid in Full, New Jack City, Goodfellas
  • Shout-out: King of New York was “underrated as hell.” (32:22)

• Top 3 most listened-to albums

  “The Chronic, Illmatic, and The Infamous.” – Havoc (32:40)

5. Stories from the Golden Era & Collabs

• Def Jam: Fight for NY

  • Havoc recalls the process of being included in the iconic video game and acting like a “little kid again.”

  “Somebody came to us…Def Jam's doing this game. And I'm like, but we not off Def Jam. They're like, so what?” (16:24)

  • Chose no outfits or moves but did the voiceovers.

• On studios and wild recording sessions

  • The wild energy of bringing “30 motherfuckers” into the studio, spilling Hennessy on mixing boards, but missing that element in more mature years.

• Friendship with Nas & Alchemist

  • Nas: “We knew each other from preschool.” – Havoc (46:07)
  • Meeting Alchemist via Cypress Hill affiliates, amazed by his “east coast” sound despite his California roots.

  “I didn’t even know he was from the West Coast. How about that?” – Havoc (44:11)

6. Touring, Fame, and Wildest Experiences

• Crazy fan encounters

  “We was in the UK with Alchemist…this fan wasn't satisfied with the show…Some tall man in the UK…wanted our jewelry, asking for his money back…” (55:42–56:39)

  • Prodigy protected the crew, leading to a wild, tense backstage moment.

• Life after fame hit

  • Flooded with love in New York after going gold at 19, never considered the dangers:

  “It barely was any hate or jealousy. It was just mad love.” – Havoc (39:50)

• Reflections on East Coast/West Coast rivalry

  • Personal anecdote from Thomas about not being allowed to listen to Biggie as a kid because “he’s from the east coast” (40:11), emphasizing the realness and impact of the era.

7. Changes in Hip Hop—the Past, Present, and Future

• On “griminess”, authenticity, and country’s rise

  “No music can stay number one forever…It'll come back around. What goes around comes around.” – Havoc (28:04)

  • On the rise of country surpassing rap and the inevitability of the musical cycle.

• The influence of social media

  “Everybody is on a Persona thing more than like, who are you?...That’s all right, dude.” – Thomas (47:18)

  • Marty notes that artists like Mobb Deep “had no awareness outside of Queensbridge,” making their music uniquely sincere.

• Regional identity in hip hop

  • “Even to this day, I can tell a LA artist from an Atlanta artist. Not even the slang—it’s just the way you pronounce words.” – Havoc (48:29)

• On 8 Mile and Eminem’s shoutout

  • Eminem personally requested the “Shook Ones” beat for 8 Mile:

  “By the time he was doing a movie, he didn’t forget about it.” – Havoc (48:45)

  • “One of the best hip-hop artists has your beat in his movie…introducing [you] back to a new audience.” (49:27)

8. Life Beyond Music: Weed, Psychedelics, and Growth

• Relationship to weed and new ventures

  “I'm opening up a dispensary in New York…it’s called The Bridge.” – Havoc (50:08)

  • Occasional smoker, uses weed for creative inspiration; stays away from psychedelics now.

• Old acid trips and Prodigy’s pranks

  • Prodigy once snuck acid into Havoc’s donut in high school, leading to a wild day.

  “I was tripping till the next day….I never trusted my food around him again.” – Havoc (51:03, 52:09)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I just go down so many rabbit ways…You could go on YouTube and just be there for hours. Next thing you know, the sun's coming up.” – Havoc (03:04)
• “If you can't beat them, join them…It's going to give more value to the people actually really doing the music.” – Havoc on AI (05:59–06:30)
• “I just want Mobb Deep to go out on a high note…I'm not satisfied with, you know, okay, that last project and then…Prodigy's not here and…Alright, pack it up, everybody.” – Havoc (11:41)
• “The sky is the limit for [Griselda]. I put them up there with the best of them.” – Havoc (13:51)
• “We built songs around [Prodigy’s] vocals…Technology now allows us to do a lot.” – Havoc (35:04)
• “There’s only so many duos in hip hop that really stand the test of time…” – Marty O’Neill (10:28)
• “No music can stay number one forever…What goes around comes around.” – Havoc (28:04)
• “Even to this day, even with the new music, I can tell a LA artist from an Atlanta artist…just the way you pronounce words.” – Havoc (48:29)
• “I have selfish reasons…but you know, everybody wants you to be selfish at this point.” – Thomas and Havoc (12:08)
• “We knew each other from preschool.” – Havoc about Nas (46:07)
• “We had 30 motherfuckers in the studio, spilling Hennessy on the track board.” – Havoc (37:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:37 – 05:19: Conspiracies, questioning reality, flat earth, and maps
• 05:19 – 09:12: AI in music production; authenticity, the problem with “proof”
• 09:24 – 13:51: The final Mobb Deep album, legacy, and finished business
• 13:51 – 15:22: Griselda, hip-hop lineage, and new generation
• 16:24 – 18:09: Def Jam Fight for NY & gaming stories
• 19:32 – 22:18: MMA, wrestling, and combat sports fandom
• 23:11 – 25:17: “Shook Ones Pt. II” origins and working a hit record
• 28:04 – 29:43: State of hip hop, country music’s rise, cycles of popularity
• 30:08 – 32:40: Top gangster movies and albums (West vs. East)
• 33:04 – 35:43: Features and construction of new album w/ unreleased vocals
• 39:05 – 40:00: Fame at 19, love/hate in New York, dangerous times
• 44:07 – 45:13: Meeting Alchemist, confessions about grimy east coast sound
• 48:45 – 49:27: “Shook Ones” in 8 Mile, Eminem’s tribute
• 50:08 – 52:19: Havoc’s relationship with weed, opening The Bridge dispensary, classic acid trip story
• 55:42 – 57:22: Wild fan encounter in the UK, Prodigy's loyalty and protection

Conclusion

This episode is a feast for hip-hop heads and podcast fans alike, combining vintage stories, career insight, real talk about the craft and culture, and charismatic conversations with one of the game’s most respected producers/rappers.

• The episode honors Mobb Deep’s place in history, looks ahead to their last statement as a group, and passes the torch to younger legends like Griselda.
• It’s loaded with personality, big laughs, unexpected detours (conspiracies, drug stories, and 8 Mile), and heartfelt moments reflecting on brotherhood, loss, and legacy.
• The conversation is deeply grounded in the duo's authentic—that is to say, “dope as usual”—tone and worldview.