Today [November 2] would have been the legendary Prodigy of Mobb Deep’s 43rd birthday. While the artist left a gaping hole in the foundation of hip-hop following his passing on June 20th of this year, his music lives on forever. Prior to his death, P linked up with producer Vanderslice, Mobb Deep affiliate Twin, and street rap upstart Conway on the infectious single “Hard Body Karate.”

Per Vanderslice, the beat was actually tailored for Prodigy from jump. I had the sample in my stash for YEARS and the second Steez & I finished it I set it aside for our new album and come hell or high water, we were going to do whatever it took to get Prodigy on it. the producer explains. It’s an NFL record, it was rare and expensive so we wanted to make sure we utilized it properly. Steez laid the bass & synth, I layered the drums, and did all the chops, it’s poetry in motion.

The cut hits the pinnacle of street rap, where shit-talking and slick threats from the bold lyrical trifecta give way to Prodigy’s tongue-in-cheek delivery, remarking on the rap underlings who try and stunt. In true Bandana P fashion, he asks, “Is that all you got?”

Prodigy has been my favorite rapper since Shook Ones II really. It was such a humbling experience to finally get to work and build any sort of relationship with him and once it was done I felt a sense of accomplishment unlike i’ve ever felt with my music. I have lost a lot of people in my personal life and when I heard he died my reaction was just “That’s impossible we JUST finished our song man?” and I called Kathy and she was beyond comfort and I knew it was real. I was shattered inside, I don’t think rap will ever recover from losing P. Vanderslice explains. Twin and I have worked on several occasions and we have a good chemistry, once P passed away I couldn’t picture anyone else even on the song. They were like brothers and Conway is the closest thing we’re getting to a new street artist, they gelled perfectly. I really wanted to try and create something that feels and plays organically. We definitely achieved that.

The track will appear on Vanderslice’s upcoming project The Best Album Money Can Buy dropping this Winter, featuring other A-list heatmakers like Ghostface Killah, Freddie Gibbs, Evidence, and Slug of Atmosphere. For now enjoy this loosie and go rob a bank or something.