Prodigy’s entire perspective on life is revealed over the Alchemist’s beat for “The One and Only.” After getting out of jail it’s understandable: “I want to change/but these people out here push me to engage.”

The weird thing about Prodigy getting outta jail and instantly releasing an album named after Ellsworth ‘Bumpy’ Johnson shouldn’t be lost on any of his fans. Mobb Deep, the group Prodigy came to prominence with during the nineties, wasn’t ever shy about relating street level skirmishes, referencing drugs or anything else one might want to associate with running around in the streets of New York. Jail doesn’t generally result in genuine penance. And it doesn’t seem that Prodigy feels that way either – all the interspersed vocal samples from what seems to be American Gangster, but it might be Hoodlum. It’s a confusing beginning to the second – or third – chapter in this emcee’s life.

Joined by a few high profile producers doesn’t hurt matters much even as the release, in cooperation with Complex, is clearly an attempt to capitalize on the media attention Prodigy’s garnered since his release from prison a week or so back. Alchemist’s other production, though, comes on “For One Night Only,” which is clearly preceded by a Lawrence Fishburne acting as the titular character. “Enjoy the flow,” Prodigy slowly gets out, even as it’s clear that anyone with discerning taste is going to take issue with not just the writing here, but the delivery and even some of the production. The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson Story is mostly for folks who leave a wealth of comments over at 2dopeboyz, but might be passable for some others as well.