1992–1994: Early Career
Prodigy and Havoc met one another while attending the prestigious High School of Art & Design in Manhattan. Coming from similar backgrounds, the duo broke into the rap game in 1992. Growing up in hostile environments that included the prevalence of poverty, drugs, and gang violence, Mobb Deep attempted to express their life experiences through rapping circa 1992. Before Havoc and P were known as Mobb Deep they were a couple of teenaged rappers known as Poetical Profits. The world first heard of them via the Source's Unsigned Hype column and this is the demo track that was quoted in that feature. The song would later see the light of day on their debut LP Juvenile Hell.
"Flavor 4 The Non Believers" (demo version) They released their first album, Juvenille Hell, in 1993. At a time when East Coast hip hop was dominated by the jazziness of A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, and the Afro-centric stylings of Brand Nubian and Public Enemy, their style of music eschewed the popular conscious hip hop of the time, and reflected the harsh climate of New York City in the late-1980s and early-1990s. Because both Prodigy and Havoc were still in their teens at the time of their debut, many were surprised by the violent nature of the album. Although the album was not well-received by the public, it displayed the raw talent of the duo; the unique chemistry of Prodigy's lyrical delivery combined with Havoc's melancholy beats. Through this unique style, the duo were signed by Loud Records, and began recording their sophomore album, The Infamous, in 1995, which would establish the duo in the Hardcore hip hop community.
1995–2000: Rise to Success
Following its release, The Infamous became perhaps one of the most influential hip hop albums of the East Coast hardcore rap genre. Still at a young age, the duo powered themselves to the top of the hardcore rap scene through their straight forward narration of street life. As with their first lyrical production, Mobb Deep portrayed the struggles of living in New York City's Queensbridge. Their production also was noticed as the beats were often hard hitting and direct, a testament to Havoc, who produced the duos' tracks almost exclusively throughout their careers. Furthermore, the hit single Shook Ones Pt. II, received acclaim as one of the greatest rap songs ever. Their third album, Hell On Earth was released in 1996, debuting at number six on the Billboard album chart. The album continued their portrayal of harsh street life, while further pushing them to the forefront of the hardcore rap scene, along with contemporary East Coast rappers such as Notorious B.I.G., The Wu-Tang Clan collective, Jay-Z, and fellow Queensbridge associate, Nas.
In 1999, the duo released the highly anticipated Murda Musik album. Despite extensive bootlegging (nearly thirty songs of unreleased material leaked onto the internet) and countless delays, the album debuted at number three on Billboard and quickly went platinum —further highlighted by the popular single, Quiet Storm. Shortly afterwards, Prodigy released his long awaited solo album H.N.I.C (2000), in which the rapper collaborated with other artists and producers (including The Alchemist).
2001–2004: Decline
Some time after the release of Murda Muzik, rapper Jay-Z, spoke out against the duo, leading to an increase in publicity. At the Hot 97 Summer Jam show of 2001, Jay-Z performed the freestyle, "Takeover", which he later re-recorded for the The Blueprint LP, dissing Prodigy. He also revealed photographs allegedly of Prodigy wearing a dance leotard in 1988. Mobb Deep subsequently released Infamy in 2001. The album marked a major stylistic change that saw the duo move away from the raw, minimalist, stripped-down beats of their hardcore roots, towards more commercial fare with such songs as Hey Luv. This transition fostered accusations of "selling out" — upsetting many long-time fans who did not wish to see them veer away from their original style. Although this stylistic adjustment opened up Mobb's audience to a wider variety, many critics and fans credit Prodigy's feud with Jay-Z with damaging Mobb Deep's gangster image and record sales (most evident when comparing the platinum-selling Murda Muzik to Infamy barely reaching the gold status). Not to be fazed, Prodigy noted that his lifelong bout with sickle cell anemia and his beef with Jay-Z had changed his outlook.
In 2003, the group split with Loud Records and released The Murda Mixtape which proclaimed "Free Agents" on the cover, addressing the group's split with Loud and search for a new label. Jive Records signed the duo later in the year and subsequently released Amerikaz Nightmare in 2004, which was seen by the general rap audience as a weaker release by the two - resulting in poor sales and the subsequent dropping of the duo from Jive.
2005–2017
In the spring of 2005, it was announced that the duo signed with G-Unit Records. This came as a surprise to many, as 50 Cent aimed a sly diss at them on the "Piggy Bank" track. The duo made it known that this was not the case as Havoc stated in an interview, "Mobb Deep isn't gonna change and when we first got here 50 was like, 'Listen, I want y'all to keep doing what you been doing.' That's it." 50 Cent has a connection to the duo, as he grew up in nearby Jamaica, Queens and also has used Havoc as a producer for several different beats. The relationship became deeper than business as the Mobb and 50 Cent got tattoos to pledge their loyalty to each other. Prodigy has the words "G-Unit" tattooed on his right hand and 50 has "Mobb Deep" tattooed on his wrist. Upon signing to G-Unit, both Prodigy and Havoc were given new Porsches, for two artists who have received very little monetary compensation in the past.
They recorded their album, titled Blood Money which was released on May 2, 2006. The album featured G-Unit members 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Young Buck. This marks their seventh release and has vaulted the duo into the hip-hop spotlight. As one of the most recognized names in hip-hop at the time, it was expected for G-Unit to help Mobb Deep attract a new fanbase. As Havoc stated shortly after the deal, “As an artist, you want to be able to reach the furthest audience as you can. We put in hard work on our previous albums and still hit our core fan base. The difference this time around is that more people will hear this product this time.” Despite this, many of the Mobb's longtime fans were skeptical as G-Unit is known for their mainstream crossover music, and feared that Mobb Deep will conform to this style. The album was released to mixed reception mainly from fans, regarding it as one of the duo's weakest albums.
In 2007, Prodigy was sentenced to serve three-and-a-half years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm. Originally facing a mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison, Prodigy struck a deal with the prosecution, and pleaded guilty in exchange for the shorter prison sentence. He would later be released from prison in March 2011, with Mobb Deep releasing their first official project in five years, Black Cocaine, eight months later. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1995 album The Infamous, the duo released their final album The Infamous Mobb Deep in 2014, featuring a second disc of unreleased songs and remixes from the 1994-95 sessions of The Infamous. They would also put out their overall final project, an EP called Survival of the Fittest in 2015, which featured an all new ESPN remix of the classic 1995 single as well as a few brand new songs.
On June 20, 2017, Prodigy died at the Spring Valley Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, due to complications related to his sickle-cell anemia.
Technique
Early on, Mobb Deep gained their critical acclaim for a dark, dynamic, grimey sound with haunting melodies--Havoc's production--that to many represented "street" in a way not done by many or any before. Additionally, Prodigy's penchant for starting off a verse with an attention-grabbing line, writing compelling rhymes based heavily on Queensbridge slang, and a rambling but clear delivery appealed to fans on the lyrical aspect.
For some time, Prodigy was the star MC of the duo, Havoc sounding less focused on the lyrical aspect and more on production. This continued until The Alchemist was brought in to do a few beats for each album, after which Havoc seemed to begin concentrating more on his verbal prowess, slowly developing his own style. After the beef with Jay-Z, Prodigy changed his style, rhyming words less and slowing down his delivery, while Havoc increasingly contributed more to the rhyme end of the duo. After being on independant labels, such as LOUD, and then a larger label JIVE, styles from the grimy, gritty styles from the QB duo changed greatly, much to the despair of the mainstream fans, never fully recovering from the Jay-Z beef, they were forced into the limelight, and after releasing the street wood effort of Infamy, never reclaiming the status of the best kept secret. Signing with G-Unit seems to have worsened their career and Blood Money, their first album released on G-Unit, only sold approximately 110,000 in its first week, coming in at #3 on the Billboard 200.
Allustrious
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
M-O-B-B uh huh yeah
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Know what I'm sayin? 41st side
Niggaz know how we do right right
I can see you back there yeah (what up?)
Yo
Take shit back to trip who fat Goose
Queensbridge representative ghetto entrepreneur stay on tour
Dick riders want to get em bullshit
The same law, same day contract, different clause
Don't run red lights, I never caught the blue balls
Gold medalist spit, doin this ever since
third time felon nigga, who you tellin?
'Cause we illustrious, ashes to ashes
and dust to dust, if you fuck with us
It's a must we bust, and if you stand wit us
Nine times out of ten son you might get bucked
'Cause we illustrious, ashes to ashes
and dust to dust, if you fuck with us
It's a must we bust, and if you stand wit us
Nine times out of ten son you might get bucked
Yo, the lost page of a wild rhyme writin nigga
P holds the pen tightly, explode nightly
I count on one finger all y'all rap niggaz that excite me
y'all niggaz is trash rap, want to fight me?
You shook to death, take breaths and step lightly
y'all little league niggaz is so bald they might be
spent too much time with wifey, come out to play
with the hard-headed, Infamous song torture
Crack your knuckles, buckle up your pants tight
Pull your hats down, let's get it on like papi bar fights
My spiral book, hold the world's most lethal
There's no cure, for what my pen do neither
Bring the fever, y'all niggaz is the rap Justin's
While we was gone for a moment, y'all kept the crowd goin now
move over bacon, time for som'in meatier
Your shit's weak, your best song was mediocre
Fuck a penis, how dare you entertain the thought
that you could come out to challenge me in blood talk?
Take a walk jerk this ain't Levert, Sweat and Johnny Gill
This is rap for real, somethin you feel
You catch a chill when you hear the Mobb bang through your stereo
It's heavy metal for the black people, rock'n'roll
but it's hip-hop though, my drug music
It's thereapeutic to the user, you slam dance to it
Nigga we Infamous, ashes to ashes til death do us
And y'all weak to us
If you stand amongst us, prepare for the worst
It's a must we burst ours first
Nigga we Infamous, ashes to ashes til death do us
And y'all weak to us
If you stand amongst us, prepare for the worst
It's a must we burst ours first
Yo crack the Henny bottle while I drop this jewel on your dome
My shit'll touch home, straight to the core you ain't alone
Play the unknown type Dunn, mysterious stars
Concealin them slugs, if it go down, remember that mug
'Cause ain't no love when a nigga shit is touchin his ribs
Hungrier than a hostage, shit, we blitz
In formation pack the led up in shit
The better you get, the better we get, and that's it
Yo this snake's in the grass when they bite Mobb anti-venom
Stop 'em in they tracks, goin at em when you send em
Imperial dogs, creepin through fog
Carved needle slip and you fold, the shit's lethal
We roll Mobb Diezel, the whole Q.U. double E, N-S
And when you spot us, play low-key
Dunn these niggaz is actresses, and they tryin to play the man's role
Can't they see us wildin on the video?
Don't they see us in the club swingin elbows?
Or on the street with our jewels on the cell phone?
Hoppin the sidewalk with Benzes and Jeeps
I ran through more cars than it's sand on the beach
I'm pleased to meet you, now here's a word to the smart
Don't ever let your peoples boost up your heart
'Cause you'll fuck around and get your ass torn apart
Challengin the Mobb in the arts
Our literature stands collossal, compared to y'alls
Way ahead of your time, you're strugglin to keep up
Your style's limited, your rap's primitive
Go 'head with that bullshit you kicked Dunn
Nigga we Infamous, ashes to ashes til death do us
And y'all weak to us
If you stand amongst us, prepare for the worst
It's a must we burst ours first
Nigga we Infamous, ashes to ashes til death do us
And y'all weak to us
If you stand amongst us, prepare for the worst
It's a must we burst ours first
The song "Allustrious" by Mobb Deep is an aggressive and confident display of lyrical prowess from the group. Throughout the song, Prodigy and Havoc assert their dominance in the rap world and warn those who dare to challenge them. The chorus emphasizes their power and reputation, stating that anyone who stands with them has a high chance of coming out on top, while those who oppose them will face the consequences.
The verses each highlight different aspects of Mobb Deep's skill and experience. Prodigy boasts about his ability to write impactful and hard-hitting rhymes that put other rappers to shame. He also warns against underestimating the group, insisting that they are hungrier and more talented than ever. Havoc's verse emphasizes the group's ability to adapt and improve, stating that the more they are challenged, the stronger they become. He also calls out other rappers for pretending to be tough when they cannot compare to Mobb Deep's real-life experiences.
Overall, "Allustrious" is a powerful and confident showcase of Mobb Deep's lyrical ability and reputation in the rap world. The group asserts their dominance and warns those who would dare to challenge them, proving themselves to be a force to be reckoned with.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah Prodigy H-A-V-O see
Prodigy and Havoc introduce themselves
M-O-B-B uh huh yeah
They emphasize their group name
Uh huh uh huh uh huh
Repetitive ad-lib
Know what I'm sayin? 41st side
They assert their affiliation with Queensbridge and the 41st side
Niggaz know how we do right right
They assert their reputation for delivering their raps skillfully
I can see you back there yeah (what up?)
They acknowledge the listener and ask how they're doing
Yo
Interjection to start the verse
The Mobb'll spit that shit rip that bitch leave it loose
They claim they can skillfully rap and tear up tracks with ease
Take shit back to trip who fat Goose
They reference the brand of a popular jacket and claim to bring it back to its roots
Queensbridge representative ghetto entrepreneur stay on tour
They assert their affiliation with Queensbridge, claim to be a successful entrepreneur, and frequently tour
Dick riders want to get em bullshit
They express frustration with people who are insincere and trying to ride their coattails
The same law, same day contract, different clause
They suggest that some contracts are similar but have different consequences
Don't run red lights, I never caught the blue balls
They reference traffic lights and suggest that they don't take unnecessary risks that could lead to failure
Gold medalist spit, doin this ever since
They suggest that they are the best at rapping and have been doing it for a long time
third time felon nigga, who you tellin?
They reference having been convicted of a crime multiple times and assert their tough-guy image
'Cause we illustrious, ashes to ashes and dust to dust, if you fuck with us It's a must we bust, and if you stand wit us Nine times out of ten son you might get bucked
They claim to be well-known and dangerous, and warn others not to cross them
Yo, the lost page of a wild rhyme writin nigga
They suggest that they are unique and have a particular style of rapping
P holds the pen tightly, explode nightly
They reference a member of their group (Prodigy) and suggest that he is a skilled lyricist
I count on one finger all y'all rap niggaz that excite me
They claim that few other rappers impress them
y'all niggaz is trash rap, want to fight me?
They insult other rappers and dare them to fight
You shook to death, take breaths and step lightly y'all little league niggaz is so bald they might be
They mock other rappers for being scared and suggest that they are inexperienced
spent too much time with wifey, come out to play with the hard-headed, Infamous song torture
They insult other rappers for being soft and suggest that their songs are painful to listen to
Crack your knuckles, buckle up your pants tight
They suggest that they are gearing up for a fight
Pull your hats down, let's get it on like papi bar fights
They reference physical fights and suggest that they are ready to fight
My spiral book, hold the world's most lethal There's no cure, for what my pen do neither
They suggest that their lyrical style can be damaging and cannot be fixed
Bring the fever, y'all niggaz is the rap Justin's
They use a brand name (Justin) to mock other rappers for being generic
While we was gone for a moment, y'all kept the crowd goin now move over bacon, time for som'in meatier
They suggest that other rappers filled in for them while they were gone, but now it's their turn again
Your shit's weak, your best song was mediocre
They insult other rappers for being average
Fuck a penis, how dare you entertain the thought that you could come out to challenge me in blood talk?
They use vulgar language and suggest that other rappers should not try to challenge them in violent ways
Take a walk jerk this ain't Levert, Sweat and Johnny Gill
They reference a group of singers and suggest that other rappers are not on the same level
This is rap for real, somethin you feel
They suggest that their music is authentic and emotionally resonant
You catch a chill when you hear the Mobb bang through your stereo
They suggest that their music is powerful and can elicit an emotional response
It's heavy metal for the black people, rock'n'roll but it's hip-hop though, my drug music
They claim that their style is a mixture of multiple genres and can be intoxicating
It's thereapeutic to the user, you slam dance to it
They suggest that their music can be therapeutic and inspire a certain type of dancing
Nigga we Infamous, ashes to ashes til death do us And y'all weak to us
They reiterate their group name, claim a reputation for being dangerous, and suggest that others are inferior
If you stand amongst us, prepare for the worst It's a must we burst ours first
They warn others to be prepared for a confrontation and suggest that they will be the first to strike
Yo crack the Henny bottle while I drop this jewel on your dome
They reference a brand of alcohol and suggest that they are about to drop some knowledge
My shit'll touch home, straight to the core you ain't alone
They suggest that their lyrics can resonate with listeners and provide comfort
Play the unknown type Dunn, mysterious stars
They suggest that they can be unpredictable and enigmatic
Concealin them slugs, if it go down, remember that mug
They suggest that they carry weapons and advise others to remember their face in case something happens
'Cause ain't no love when a nigga shit is touchin his ribs Hungrier than a hostage, shit, we blitz In formation pack the led up in shit
They suggest that they are willing to use violence when necessary and are always ready for a confrontation
The better you get, the better we get, and that's it
They suggest that they will always be better than whoever tries to challenge them
Yo this snake's in the grass when they bite Mobb anti-venom
They suggest that others are trying to sabotage them, but they have a way to protect themselves
Stop 'em in they tracks, goin at em when you send em Imperial dogs, creepin through fog
They suggest that they will catch their enemies off guard and are prepared for any situation
Carved needle slip and you fold, the shit's lethal
They reference an object that can be used as a weapon and suggest that their style is deadly
We roll Mobb Diezel, the whole Q.U. double E, N-S
They reference a brand of automotive fuel and their affiliation with Queensbridge
And when you spot us, play low-key Dunn these niggaz is actresses, and they tryin to play the man's role
They suggest that others should not try to attract attention when they see them and that other rappers are not authentic
Can't they see us wildin on the video? Don't they see us in the club swingin elbows?
They reference music videos and suggest that they are actively involved in the club scene
Or on the street with our jewels on the cell phone? Hoppin the sidewalk with Benzes and Jeeps
They suggest that they are wealthy and can afford luxury cars and jewelry
I ran through more cars than it's sand on the beach
They suggest that they have owned and damaged many cars in their lifetime
I'm pleased to meet you, now here's a word to the smart Don't ever let your peoples boost up your heart 'Cause you'll fuck around and get your ass torn apart Challengin the Mobb in the arts
They offer a warning to others not to let their friends influence them and suggest that they will easily defeat anyone who challenges them in their field
Our literature stands collossal, compared to y'alls Way ahead of your time, you're strugglin to keep up Your style's limited, your rap's primitive Go 'head with that bullshit you kicked Dunn It's a must we burst ours first
They claim that their lyrics are superior to others and suggest that other rappers are not innovative or skilled enough to compete with them
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERT JOHNSON, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind