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.
Get Dealt With
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Harms break em down rapper Noyd cut his throat
Don swoop em up or Gotti stomp em out
Each twin grab a arm pick this nigga up
Knitty turn his face to me let me break him up
I throw him up against the wall and put a hole in his face so big
it almost took his whole face off
We got to take position ready for faceoff
With blitz like Dallas ain't no Superbowl faceoff
We form like niggas in the yard up north
with long swords, ready for war, who paid cost
and take ya life lost, never found again boss
A job well done, relax, throw back fifths
of Bacardi Limon, fifteenths of hash get lit
Fuckin with the fabulous Mobb, yeah you were sick
Lunatic nigga jump up or got hit
with max and teks and silencers spit
Shots whiz past your earlobe and shit
That's the sound of a nigga who almost felt it
Got you runnin, dodgin, coverin, shelterin
Bullets rippin through the fabric of ya shirt, it's meltin it
You bleed again, we just another nigga dealt with
Intruder alert! Our house is nothin like the Covenant
We hold big shit like a bitch hold one in the oven
Well if it ain't drama, money above broke bitches
Simple minded niggas, Alpha have it positioned
That's opposition, wetttin me competition
Suddenly and outta tha blue and now I see
by myself, by myself and rollin mad trees
Paranoid on point and now I see who's who
This thing was fake ones outta the immediate crew
Life I take one if you jeopardise my do
You're small mi-nute, gotta death to deal with aces up
You overbidded and in the Bridge you go stuck
This ain't a card game but in perspective it's the same
Put two and two together, Mobb Deep with one name
Contain drama like Outbreak, you order drama
We outtake and then take you out
Keep it real and throw the fake out
Raise the stakes up, hit you off from the waste up
That's how it is and how it is is kinda fucked up
Butter beats bangin got ya whole clique singin
on a corner while it's rainin, four pound left cha ears ringin
Delete those and keep my shit discrete, niggas is trash rhyme
Totally offbeat and outta sync with they light
E and J bent tight, niggas slow ya roll
Ya now ya bleedin tonight for no reason
want to be max and does get smacked, show no love
Crush ya team like the bear hug
The Infamous'll do dirt, dead as smear like mud
New York new get-it-greens, I feel no pity
no remorse, takin it to the source of course
Bare that ass thug real kid, it's only your mask
that you wear, take off
Cop out feel the blast boom on top boom, boom gat for gat
And all the rules got the drop on you
And let the nickel nine pop on you
Yo, my crew in the front got it locked
My live niggas in the back got the gats blowin out'cha back
What the deal, what them tough looks and eye contact
Starin all up in ya cornea, ya cornea lack
the look of a true-to-life, crime niggas attack
Go at the first nigga that front and overread
Ya get dealt with
Dealt with quick
Eye position get melted by hot shit, he felt it
The lyrics of Mobb Deep's "Get Dealt With" describe a violent confrontation with an enemy. The song is a testament to the toughness and readiness of Mobb Deep's crew, who are willing to engage in careful hand-to-hand combat to take down their opponent. The lyrics feature vivid descriptions of the attack, including cutting a rapper's throat and putting a hole in someone's face. Mobb Deep is unafraid of violence and ready to take revenge against their enemies.
Throughout the song, there is a focus on taking a strategic position in order to engage in combat with the enemy. There is a reference to Noyd cutting the throat of the enemy, which suggests that the crew is willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top. The use of military language and imagery, such as formation and long swords, reinforces the idea that this is a tactical battle.
Overall, the lyrics of "Get Dealt With" suggest that Mobb Deep is not to be messed with. The crew is tough, violent, and ready to take down their enemies at any cost.
Line by Line Meaning
I got my clique ready ready for hand to hand combo
My crew and I are prepared to engage in physical confrontations.
Harms break em down rapper Noyd cut his throat
Our team is capable of defeating opponents both verbally and physically.
Don swoop em up or Gotti stomp em out
We have various methods to take down our enemies.
Each twin grab a arm pick this nigga up
We work together as a team to subdue our adversaries and eliminate threats.
Knitty turn his face to me let me break him up
One of our members, Knitty, brings the target to me for punishment.
I throw him up against the wall and put a hole in his face so big it almost took his whole face off
The punishment we inflict is brutal and will do severe damage to our target.
We got to take position ready for faceoff
We are poised to confront rivals and protect ourselves from any potential threats.
With blitz like Dallas ain’t no Superbowl faceoff
We strike with speed and aggression, overwhelming our enemies like a football team on offense.
We form like niggas in the yard up north with long swords, ready for war, who paid cost and take ya life lost, never found again boss
We are akin to prisoners in a penitentiary, armed and ready to fight for our cause, willing to kill and destroy our enemies permanently.
A job well done, relax, throw back fifths of Bacardi Limon, fifteenths of hash get lit
After completing our mission, we celebrate by drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.
Fuckin with the fabulous Mobb, yeah you were sick
Anyone who crosses us or gets in our way will regret it.
Lunatic nigga jump up or got hit with max and teks and silencers spit
If someone challenges us, they will face the consequences of our weapons, which we use with stealth and precision.
Shots whiz past your earlobe and shit That's the sound of a nigga who almost felt it
Our weapons can nearly hit someone, causing them to fear for their life.
Got you runnin, dodgin, coverin, shelterin Bullets rippin through the fabric of ya shirt, it's meltin it
Our enemies must scramble to evade our bullets as they rip through their clothing and flesh.
You bleed again, we just another nigga dealt with
We have already eliminated countless others similar to you and you are of no consequence to us.
Intruder alert! Our house is nothin like the Covenant We hold big shit like a bitch hold one in the oven
Our turf is well protected and we are heavily armed with high-powered weapons.
Well if it ain't drama, money above broke bitches Simple minded niggas, Alpha have it positioned That's opposition, wetttin me competition
We prioritize profit over emotional entanglements and observe our opponents to exploit their weaknesses.
Suddenly and outta tha blue and now I see by myself, by myself and rollin mad trees Paranoid on point and now I see who's who This thing was fake ones outta the immediate crew
I am now alone and high, feeling suspicious of those around me, including some of my own associates.
Life I take one if you jeopardise my do You're small mi-nute, gotta death to deal with aces up You overbidded and in the Bridge you go stuck
We will use deadly force to protect ourselves and our business interests, and will not allow anyone to take advantage of us.
This ain't a card game but in perspective it's the same Put two and two together, Mobb Deep with one name
Although our operations are not a simple card game, we approach them with a united front and a singular mission.
Contain drama like Outbreak, you order drama We outtake and then take you out Keep it real and throw the fake out Raise the stakes up, hit you off from the waste up
We manage conflict and chaos like a disease outbreak, quelling it before it can spread. We are not afraid to remove our rivals from the picture and escalate our tactics as needed.
That's how it is and how it is is kinda fucked up Butter beats bangin got ya whole clique singin on a corner while it's rainin, four pound left cha ears ringin
Our reality is difficult and violent, and we are more powerful than other groups who engage in petty disputes on city corners.
Delete those and keep my shit discrete, niggas is trash rhyme Totally offbeat and outta sync with they light E and J bent tight, niggas slow ya roll
We keep our business private and discreet, and view rivals who lack skill or coordination as inferior and insignificant.
Ya now ya bleedin tonight for no reason want to be max and does get smacked, show no love Crush ya team like the bear hug The Infamous'll do dirt, dead as smear like mud
We will not hesitate to use violence against those who seek to compete or undermine us, and will obliterate our opponents completely.
New York new get-it-greens, I feel no pity no remorse, takin it to the source of course Bare that ass thug real kid, it's only your mask that you wear, take off
We are ruthless in our pursuit of profit, and will not feel any sympathy or guilt for those who try to stand in our way. We see through their façades and expose them for who they are.
Cop out feel the blast boom on top boom, boom gat for gat And all the rules got the drop on you And let the nickel nine pop on you
Law enforcement will not be able to stop or intimidate us in our operations, and we will use our weapons with deadly precision to eliminate our enemies.
Yo, my crew in the front got it locked My live niggas in the back got the gats blowin out'cha back What the deal, what them tough looks and eye contact Starin all up in ya cornea, ya cornea lack the look of a true-to-life, crime niggas attack Go at the first nigga that front and overread Ya get dealt with Dealt with quick Eye position get melted by hot shit, he felt it
Our group is well-coordinated and prepared to trap and attack our enemies from all sides. We are fearless and will not hesitate to strike first and eliminate our targets. Our weapons are powerful and destructive, and will not leave our enemies unscathed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERT JOHNSON, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind