On this day in 2017, we suffered the loss of one of hip-hop's greatest artists, Prodigy of Mobb Deep. We must continue to recognize and represent Prodigy's contributions and the impact he's left on this world, so today I am sharing this H.N.I.C. Tribute Mix that was released via NahRight in 2017. Peace to Eskay and Stan Ipcus. The mix includes classic songs, deep album cuts, freestyles and many slept-on gems as well. Prodigy's close friend, journalist, and co-author of their Commissary Kitchen book, Kathy Iandoli (fellow Fat Beats alumni, too!), shared heartfelt words in Prodigy's memory, which I hope will help explain why this was such a loss to the hip-hop community: "When he left prison a few years ago, P called a bunch of rappers he was on the outs with. He didn’t want to carry old negativity into his new life. That’s the kind of person Albert "Prodigy" Johnson was. He slick talked in his rhymes, yet as a man, he cared about the world.... His lyrics became vernacular. Instrumentals to his classics are pop culture soundbeds. There is not a single part of hip-hop that wasn’t touched by this genius.... You always said your darkest songs were just you rhyming through the pain. You’re not in pain any longer." Prodigy put his lifetime in between the paper's lines, so listen to a great tribute mix below, and celebrate his life through his finest music. In Memory Of... Albert "Prodigy" Johnson!