The album's haunting style, defined by its evocative melodies, rugged beats, and lyrics dealing with crime and poverty in inner-city neighborhoods reflected the dark side of New York's urban landscape in a manner that garnered special recognition and critical praise. Along with albums such as Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Illmatic, and Ready to Die, The Infamous is widely credited as a major contributor in the East Coast Renaissance. Furthermore, the album is credited for helping redefine the sound of the hardcore hip-hop sub-genre using its production style, which incorporated eerie piano loops, distorted synthesizers, eighth-note hi-hats, and sparse bass lines.
