How Dark Lo and Havoc Made Their Collab Album ‘Extreme Measures’: Interview

Havoc became a rap icon as one half of Mobb Deep, the beloved rapper-producer duo. The legendary producer knows the ins and outs of collaborating on a project with an MC, and he knew exactly what he was doing when he sent Philadelphia rapper Dark Lo a beat (with a special flourish: a verse from himself). That track was “Mob Tales,” which ended up setting the tone for the three-week recording process of their collaborative album Extreme Measures, released today.  

Havoc’s famously gritty production spans from the soulfulness of the title track with Styles P to the sinister synths of the aptly-named “Captivating.” He crafted a cohesive soundscape for himself and Lo, a cult favorite who all fans of gritty street tales should get familiar with. The OBH artist and longtime friend of Ar-Ab has a knack for dishing non-sequitur observations and unfiltered anecdotes that weave into overarching, unfiltered portraits of the Philly streets. 

Lo has had a prolific year, with Extreme Measures being his third full-length release of 2021. But unfortunately, as he tells Complex, that work ethic stems from an impending seven-year prison sentence. In August, he was sentenced for allegedly threatening a witness in OBH’s federal drug conspiracy case. The judge allowed him to stay on house arrest until starting his sentence, which let him get his affairs in order and cook up some music to hold his fans over while he’s away. 

We spoke with Dark Lo and Havoc about Lo’s love for Mobb Deep, the legal system’s weaponization of rap lyrics against artists, Havoc’s future plans and willingness to do a Mobb Deep Verzuz, and more. The interview, lightly edited for clarity, is below.