While attending the High School of Art and Design in New York City, Queensbridge natives Havoc and Prodigy would begin making music in 1986. Originally they rapped under the name the Poetical Profits, where Prodigy would MC and Havoc would at times MC, but mostly handled production. The name would soon change to Mobb Deep, a reflection of how large their crew was in the Bridge. At the age of 17 the duo would release their debut Juvenile Hell. But despite the backing of production from DJ Premier and Large Professor, the album was given harsh reviews and did not sell. The criticism came from failure to stand out among other hardcore acts in the city. Upon the release of their second album 1995 however, Mobb Deep managed to leave an impression on their audience with a presentation of the haunting realities of New York City.
