Lin-Manuel Miranda's New #Hamildrop Features Mobb Deep

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Lin-Manuel Miranda joined forces with legendary hip-hop duo Mobb Deep for his monthly Hamilton- themed #Hamildrop series. The latest release, titled “Boom Goes the Cannon,” is the last project the late rapper Prodigy worked on before his untimely death in June 2017.

“Their lyrics, as ever, paint a vivid picture of friendship and solidarity in the face of overwhelming odds,” said Miranda, who authored and starred in the Tony Award-winning play. "I'm unbelievably proud to present new Mobb Deep music in 2018."

The collaboration first originated when Miranda invited the duo to the Rogers Theater in New York City back in 2016 to watch Hamilton: An American Musical. But, as it goes with most Lin-Manuel Miranda projects, the Puerto Rican actor had more than just a visit in mind. I thought of Mobb Deep, who were instrumental in the early 90s New York City hip-hop scene, as the perfect partners to rework Hamilton 's "Right Hand Man."

The other half of Mobb Deep, Havoc, was also involved in the project, saying, the collab was "right up my alley." As the song plays into the relationship of George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, Havoc alluded to the role Prodigy had in his life. "[The song] is a great way to pay homage to him and continue not only Mobb's legacy, but his as well," said Havoc. “He'll forever be my 'right hand man.'” Prodigy died on June 20, 2017 due to complications related to sickle-cell anemia.

The monthly #Hamildrop series is a project created by Lin-Manuel Miranda in January 2018 as part of the Hamilton franchise. Miranda has also reworked the Hamilton soundtrack into two full-length projects, The Hamilton Mixtape, featuring masters like Nas and René Pérez Joglar, and The Hamilton Polka with “Weird Al” Yankovic.