As previously reported, Mobb Deep recently signed a deal with RED Music, Sony’s indie distribution arm. The contract between the legendary Queensbridge duo’s Infamous Records and RED gives the Mobb an outlet for their self-titled ninth album and future projects. BET.com caught up with Mobb Deep backstage at Rock the Bells in New York this past weekend to discuss the new contract and their relationship with 50 Cent.

“[It was a] long time coming, man,” the Mobb’s Prodigy — who was released earlier this year from a New York prison after serving a three-year bid for gun possession — said of the deal. “We always wanted to do something like that. Me and Hav been always building on that — starting our own label so we can control our own music and control our masters.”
Mobb Deep’s new deal had many wondering about the group’s relationship with 50 and how they managed to break off from his G Unit Records, who released the duo’s last album, Blood Money. “We had to work out a couple of issues so we could become free agents,” Havoc said. “But it was resolved and we was able to proceed with RED."
“The contract with G Unit, there was like a little loophole in there, so we just became free agents,” Prodigy — who famously got “G Unit” tattooed on his right hand in 2006 — elaborated. “It was nothing like no creative differences or nothing like that, that’s our family still. 50’s our brother. [Tony] Yayo, [Lloyd] Banks, shout out to all of them.
But Mobb Deep isn’t focused on old ties and past obstacles. The group is fully focused on their new deal and their upcoming self-titled album. “The time is now,” Prodigy said. “We're just glad to still be blessed with our creativity at that same level where we can actually do something with a deal like that.”

(Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)