Words by Ime Ekpo
Don’t you just love it when hip-hop legends honor one another?
Best known as being the PMD of classic Golden Era Hip-Hop duo, EPMD, Parish Smith is all about preserving the greatness of the Hip-Hop MC. Prodigy’s clever spits on the mic revived east coast hip-hop, during a time when opposed coasts were gaining dominance, overshadowing the genre’s New York appeal.
PMD, a hip-hop legend who was also instrumental in the birth of hardcore rapping, collaborated with the late Mobb Deep lyricist back in 1997 for his song “It’s The Pee ‘97.” On Prodigy’s 43rd birthday (Nov. 2nd), PMD released the visual for “Prodigy Tribute” which samples a part of Prodigy’s verse from “It’s The Pee ‘97”. The self-titled tribute features Brooklyn emcee Agallah, who has collaborated with Prodigy on his own tracks such as “Tip Toe” and “Rich and Famous.” The track also features a solo melody from guitarist Charlie Marotta.
The beginning of the video welcomes Prodigy edited in proper gestures that align with his “It’s The Pee ‘97” verse, a presence that will send chills down your spine. The visual features PMD spitting in front of a Prodigy mural fused with clips from Prodigy’s most memorable music video scenes. Also featured in “Prodigy Tribute” is recognition of the late Sean Price, whose wife Bernadette Price is seen representing his mark clothed with a custom-made jean jacket and upholding a sign with one of his most noted quotables.
“P, you came through on “It’s the Pee ‘97”/ Now you’re gone but not forgotten up with the lord in heaven/ You put it down with Das Efx on “Microphone Master”/ Showed up to the video with the show got plastered…” PMD
For the true hip-hop enthusiast, seeing one legend pay homage to another is exhilarating because it proves the reality of unity in hip-hop. Hip-hop is a very young culture. The livelihood of its perseverance depends on how the icons handle affairs. Pioneers, legends, and veterans paying homage on birthdays, album anniversaries, and at the gravely time of death is key to keeping the culture intact. Peep the visual to PMD’s “Prodigy Tribute” by pressing play, above.
