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.
Cobra
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
Just when you thought it was ova
The Mobb came back to put the game in a +Cobra+
Now, you can catch me by the bar
Shorty lovin' my full, gettin' her nipples hard
"And heard y'all broke up?"
Look off in the corner my nigga P, now focus
That nigga been my grimy for 15
And rumor, this nature couldn't stop us from gettin' CREAM
A nigga asked me one more time, in the Infa' beam
I'ma chop your homey down, make a nigga my minie-me
Stop all of the gossip, baby don't you got better things
Fuck a new friend, they just potential enemies
Overall, wounds on your hole, and let it bleed
Can't front the jealousy, just bring out the best of me
Bring out the heater, spit the Ether 'til cheddar bring
Broke work friends, yea they all on my melody
Me and P Generals, y'all just soldiers
Mobb here forever, trick remember I told ya
[Chorus:Repeat x4]
The best two man team in rap music
You don't gotta ask, this is what it sound like to be ruthless
Relentless at makin' hits
Mobb Deep boy, what y'all gon' do? (Shit)
With my bullets pine your head
The only one you know, squeezin' folks
And connect, to whoever I was squeezin' for
I get searched and let 'em feel my gun
They know P not shootin' unless you force him
And they know Hav' won't get you, unless you make that nigga
And we off in the club, doin' what we does
So while you runnin' your mouth about us
Me and Hav' in the hotel, tradin' sluts (Aiyo get'out)
You can rally the troops from our dunns
Call all your goons, from when you was locked up
Put us all in one room, and we can lock up
This is Infamous to the death son
[Chorus:Repeat x4]
Yea, yea, yea
No stop the blasphemy talkin'
Mobb they goin' everywhere, we been tourin'
If you thought other wise, then fuck it, we spoilin'
Your plans, hit you then you lose the 21 grands
So you can run and tell your mens
They ain't gotta switch over to commercial brand
Yo dunn, they wish they can have talent like this
We do our own beats, and we write our own shit
Pay for our own movies to be filmed and put out
Got stamina for longevity, we in the house, forever
You gon' know our name
And it's gon' burn you up inside the more you think
[Chorus:Repeat x4]
In "Cobra" by Mobb Deep, the lyrics start with the phrase, "Just when you thought it was ov(a)" referring to the assumption that their musical career may be declining or ending but they come back strong to put the game in a "cobra" - an aggressive stance as in a snake ready to strike. The song continues with the duo addressing rumors about a breakup and highlighting their bond as they have known each other for 15 years. They discuss people who try to spread gossip and conflict, but they simply focus on their music and elevate their game. The track celebrates their longevity and talent, emphasizing that they write their own songs and invest in their filmmaking, indicating that the group is here to stay.
The song is embedded in the culture of East Coast hip-hop as part of Mobb Deep's 2001 album "Infamy." The lyrics showcase the duo's chemistry and the production in the track has an East Coast grittiness to it. Moreover, Mobb Deep's chemistry was part of the New York Queensbridge scene of the 90s, which included immensley gifted artists like Nas, Capone-N-Noreaga, Tragedy Khadafi, and many others.
Line by Line Meaning
Just when you thought it was ova
Just when you thought the Mobb was done for
The Mobb came back to put the game in a +Cobra+
The Mobb is back to dominate the rap scene
Now, you can catch me by the bar
You can find me at the bar
Shorty lovin' my full, gettin' her nipples hard
Girls are into me and getting aroused
Asked, 'what's up with the Mobb?'
People are curious about the status of the Mobb
'And heard y'all broke up?'
They heard that the Mobb had broken up
Look off in the corner my nigga P, now focus
Look over there, my friend P is hanging out
That nigga been my grimy for 15
P has been my loyal friend for fifteen years
And rumor, this nature couldn't stop us from gettin' CREAM
Even the rumors and challenges couldn't stop us from getting money
A nigga asked me one more time, in the Infa' beam
Someone asked me one more time with hostility
I'ma chop your homey down, make a nigga my minie-me
I will hurt your friend and make him my subordinate
Stop all of the gossip, baby don't you got better things
Stop the rumors and focus on what's truly important
Fuck a new friend, they just potential enemies
New friends are potential enemies
Overall, wounds on your hole, and let it bleed
Be honest about your vulnerabilities and let the wounds heal
Can't front the jealousy, just bring out the best of me
Jealousy can't hide, it only makes me better
Bring out the heater, spit the Ether 'til cheddar bring
Bring out the gun and rap until money comes
Broke work friends, yea they all on my melody
My broke friends only come around when I have money
Me and P Generals, y'all just soldiers
P and I are leaders, others are just followers
Mobb here forever, trick remember I told ya
The Mobb will always be around, remember what I said
The best two man team in rap music
We are the best rap duo
You don't gotta ask, this is what it sound like to be ruthless
Our music is ruthless without explanation
Relentless at makin' hits
We are relentless at making hit songs
Mobb Deep boy, what y'all gon' do? (Shit)
What can you do? We are Mobb Deep
With my bullets pine your head
I'll shoot you in the head
The only one you know, squeezin' folks
I'm the one who gets violent
And connect, to whoever I was squeezin' for
I connect with the person I was fighting for
I get searched and let 'em feel my gun
I let them search me and feel the gun I'm carrying
They know P not shootin' unless you force him
They know P won't shoot unless he has to
And they know Hav' won't get you, unless you make that nigga
They know Havoc won't come after you unless you provoke him
And we off in the club, doin' what we does
We're partying in the club
So while you runnin' your mouth about us
While you're talking about us
Me and Hav' in the hotel, tradin' sluts (Aiyo get'out)
Havoc and I are in the hotel, hooking up with girls (get out)
You can rally the troops from our dunns
You can get your friends to fight us
Call all your goons, from when you was locked up
Get all your friends from prison
Put us all in one room, and we can lock up
Put us in a room and let's fight it out
This is Infamous to the death son
This is Infamous rap group for life
No stop the blasphemy talkin'
Stop talking bad about us
Mobb they goin' everywhere, we been tourin'
The Mobb is going places and touring
If you thought other wise, then fuck it, we spoilin'
If you thought otherwise, too bad we're succeeding
Your plans, hit you then you lose the 21 grands
We'll ruin your plans and you'll lose money
So you can run and tell your mens
You can tell your friends
They ain't gotta switch over to commercial brand
They don't have to switch to mainstream music
Yo dunn, they wish they can have talent like this
People are jealous of our talents
We do our own beats, and we write our own shit
We make our own music beats and lyrics
Pay for our own movies to be filmed and put out
We finance our music videos
Got stamina for longevity, we in the house, forever
We have the energy to keep going and we'll always be around
You gon' know our name
You'll know who we are
And it's gon' burn you up inside the more you think
The more you think about us, the more it will bother you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DALE R JACOBS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Ras Tafari
One of the hardest beats in hip hop EVER!!!
KCKing1975 !
R.I.P Prodigy! Beats Still 🔥
hip hop videos mixtapes 2022 SDL
A
J Mart
Cobra Clutch 🐍 one of Havoc's dopest beats
A DJC PRODUCTION
Wish it would made the album.
GLOBALFIRM JUST WAR ALiAS Govern Man
He really pushed it to the next level on Amerikaz Nightmare. Just Real N's could be replaced by Alchemist's When it comes to beef. Peace
J DeVita215
THIS BEAT IS SO CRAZY REST IN PEACE BANDANA P
LaChant Tyson
This should have 34 million views
Freestyle Miami
CLÁSSICO!!!...BRASIL NA ÁREA!!!...