Soon after the release of the Mobb Deep's seventh studio album Blood Money, Prodigy parted ways with G-Unit Records and began working on a H.N.I.C.

Record producer and circa Murda Muzik days collaborator the Alchemist, who pictured on the album cover alongside Prodigy, took on the project, which was intended to be a prequel mixtape to upcoming H.N.I.C.

[3] Tom Breihan of Pitchfork wrote: "what it is is the announcement of a stunning and unexpected late-career renaissance; Prodigy is tapping back into the fearsome frustration that once drove him".

[7] AllMusic's David Jeffries resumed: "even if this is familiar ground, an album so tight in theme and feel is refreshing in an era where most lyricists invite anybody and everybody".

[9] Mark Abraham of Cokemachineglow was "happy to hear Prodigy sounding engaged and excited again, even if the quality of his lyricism doesn't match his newfound enthusiasm".