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.
Dirt
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If rap was prison our shit would be the Supermax
No sunshine, just dark skies
Nothing but dark thoughts going through my mind
I got bad blood, mad love only for the team though
Everyone one of us is the shooter, now where the beef go
I ain't seen none of these niggas and we out here
Wanna be celebrity thugs a lot of mouth, yeah
Real shit look at our life all in the public
We under the microscope they all watching us
We have no choice but to keep it trill they sizing us
And if they wasn't god, always pay attention don't he
I couldn't live with myself being phony
Look, if life was a game then I guess we winning
'Cause this life we made for ourselves is bitching
Didn't want to do it but the voices tug and pullin'
On my eardrums something that I knew I shouldn't
Got me wildin with the ratchet out like shit is legal
Looking for a victim put 'em in the fetal
Fuck is going on? when it's on I know it's on
But shit not really popping and I'm looking for a war
Looking out my window pointing shit at police
To make matters worse I'm sipping on some OE
Shit got me buzzing, I'm already bugging though
With mad [???] bottles that I drank about a month ago
Fuck is on my mind? I'm feeling bipolar
Plus paranoid looking over both shoulders
I woke up with blood on my hands
Fuck I do this time? now a nigga scared
Fuck, I'll probably get the fucking chair
Grab my fucking gun, a few clothes son I'm outta here
The opening lines of Mobb Deep's song "Dirt" set the tone for the rest of the track. The lyrics "Call it how it is - according to the facts, If rap was prison our shit would be the Supermax, No sunshine, just dark skies, Nothing but dark thoughts going through my mind" express the gritty reality of life in the streets. Rather than glorifying the gangster lifestyle, Mobb Deep presents a harsh portrayal of a life filled with violence, paranoia, and struggle.
The next lines, "I got bad blood, mad love only for the team though, Everyone one of us is the shooter, now where the beef go, I ain't seen none of these niggas and we out here, Wanna be celebrity thugs a lot of mouth, yeah" emphasize loyalty to one's crew over anything else. These lines also touch on the perceived falseness of those who claim to be tough but have never actually faced the dangers of the streets.
The chorus, "Oh my god we could not be fucked with, Real shit look at our life all in the public, We under the microscope they all watching us, We have no choice but to keep it trill they sizing us" highlights how the lyrics are a reflection of the artists' own lives, lived under the scrutiny of the public. The song then enters the second verse, which follows the internal struggles of a person who is struggling to resist the violent impulses that surround him.
Line by Line Meaning
Call it how it is - according to the facts
Let's be honest about the reality of the situation
If rap was prison our shit would be the Supermax
Our music is so intense and raw that it compares to prison's Supermax
No sunshine, just dark skies
Life can be rough and there doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel
Nothing but dark thoughts going through my mind
My thoughts are consumed by negative and violent ideas
I got bad blood, mad love only for the team though
My loyalty lies solely with my team, even though I hold grudges against others
Everyone one of us is the shooter, now where the beef go
All of us are capable of firing a gun, so why start a conflict?
I ain't seen none of these niggas and we out here
Despite being in the same area, I haven't come across any of my enemies
Wanna be celebrity thugs a lot of mouth, yeah
People want to act tough and gain notoriety, but it's all talk
Oh my god we could not be fucked with
We are unbeatable and unparalleled
Real shit look at our life all in the public
Our lives are exposed to the public eye and everything is real
We under the microscope they all watching us
We are being highly scrutinized and monitored by others
We have no choice but to keep it trill they sizing us
We have to keep it real and be ourselves because others are judging us
And if they wasn't god, always pay attention don't he
Even if someone doesn't believe in God, they should still pay attention to their surroundings
I couldn't live with myself being phony
I could never be fake because it goes against my personality and morals
Look, if life was a game then I guess we winning
If life is a competition, then we are currently succeeding
'Cause this life we made for ourselves is bitching
The life we have built for ourselves is amazing
Didn't want to do it but the voices tug and pullin'
I was hesitant to do something, but my inner thoughts convinced me otherwise
On my eardrums something that I knew I shouldn't
Something is influencing me, but I know it's not right
Got me wildin with the ratchet out like shit is legal
I'm acting reckless with my gun like there are no consequences
Looking for a victim put 'em in the fetal
I'm searching for someone to target and harm
Fuck is going on? when it's on I know it's on
I'm not sure what's happening, but if there's trouble, I'll be involved
But shit not really popping and I'm looking for a war
There's no action happening, so I'm trying to start a conflict
Looking out my window pointing shit at police
I'm paranoid and aiming my weapon at law enforcement
To make matters worse I'm sipping on some OE
I'm adding to my bad decisions by drinking a poor quality beer
Shit got me buzzing, I'm already bugging though
The alcohol is affecting me and I'm already acting erratic
With mad [???] bottles that I drank about a month ago
I consumed numerous bottles of alcohol a month ago and it's still affecting me
Fuck is on my mind? I'm feeling bipolar
My thoughts are all over the place and I'm feeling emotionally unstable
Plus paranoid looking over both shoulders
I'm not only unstable, but I'm also paranoid and constantly aware of my surroundings
I woke up with blood on my hands
I did something violent and regrettable
Fuck I do this time? now a nigga scared
I don't know what I did and I'm now frightened
Fuck, I'll probably get the fucking chair
I will likely face the death penalty for my actions
Grab my fucking gun, a few clothes son I'm outta here
I'm taking my gun and some belongings and leaving before I get caught
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THORNTON, DIONDRIA THOMAS, ALBERT JOHNSON, KEJUAN MUCHITA, RAMON IBANGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@G3O.On3
This is the most underrated Mobb Deep project and honestly one of my favorites.
@kapellavision5592
I agree
@jordanpc1489
This is my 2nd favorite Mobb Deep album. This whole album is fire
@d.pinit7796
Love this album. I can’t find it to purchase on cd. It’s like they never issued a physical product for this project. Strange. This is my favorite project they dropped since the 90s
@bigdl9918
Their last and one of their most slept-on albums...classic 90's mobb deep beats&lyrics in 2014
@mandelasangster8685
Agreed. Sound like their old shit!
@bossace2294
This is crazy I'm listening to the whole album right now and haven't heard a bad song yet Mobb Deep is the greatest hip hop duo of all time
@QankoIvanov
@@bossace2294 Not fucking outcast or anything else MOBB for life
@darius7095
Some of the songs were recorder on the 90's 1998 exactly.... that s why sounds so classic....anyway this album IT s Dope
@ahmedhanyildiz2155
RIP One of the Infamous Brothers
Prodigy The Don P The HNIC
Forever MoBB DeeP