The Prodigy had this to say to Complex:
The Prodigy: “When we did that shit in Q-Tip’s crib we 1st came up with the concept for that song. He lived on Linden Boulevard in Jamaica. We were in his crib & he had made the beat right there & we were like, ‘Oh, this is fire right here.’ We took it to the studio later that night.
“Q-Tip was the one that got our foot into the industry. We met him and he brought us into the Def Jam building, which gave us a whole lot of connections for talent shows, parties, and things like that. People started knowing us and seeing our face. So when we finally got to Infamous album, we were like, ‘We need to holler at Q-Tip.’
“He helped bring us in & his production is crazy so we brought him in to consult for us. He executive produced the album, basically. He helped us out with drum patterns, he helped us tighten our sound up. Most of the songs on there—but not all of them—had his input. Like, ‘Yo, I think y’all should do this to this, add a little snare here, or a delay there.’ Little things like that. It just came natural.
“For that song, Q-Tip threw a record on, played it, & it was Esther Phillips’ ‘That’s All Right With Me’] which was the shit from LL Cool J’s ‘Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings.’ He had the original record. That shit amazed us back then, like, ‘Oh shit, this nigga got the original record!’ We was like, ‘Fuck that, we’ve got to take that beat and flip it, make it on some hardcore shit.’ Because L made the song talking about pink cookies in a plastic bag, it was kind of weird. We was like, ‘Fuck that. We’re going to make it some hardcore shit.’ So that’s how we flipped that shit.”
Havoc: “A Tribe Called Quest, their music was just crazy crispy & sounded so professional. We was so rugged & gritty with it, we just needed a snare that popped out the beat, & that’s where Q-Tip came in. And it wasn’t even verbal advice, it was like, ‘Just watch what I do as I go into the studio.’ He was like, ‘Check this idea out. What do you think about this?’ Basically, it was more of just a watch & observe and take that & run with it.”
Q-Tip: “I met Mobb Deep when they were doing their 1st album & we always stayed in contact. I remember I spoke to Havoc a few times & he was like, ‘Come through. Let’s work.’ I came through to the studio when they had the first ‘Shook Ones’ out. I can’t remember exactly though. You know, it was a long time ago.”
“I can’t remember which ones but I mixed a few songs on there that I didn’t produce. I don’t know if I was there at mastering, but I remember speaking to Matty & Havoc about the mastering and how they wanted it to sound. The engineers who engineered it, It was just another gig for them and they didn’t really give a shit.
“I was just trying to push the sound and make it sound as best as I could with what we were dealt. I remember wanting it to bang. Hav was really the general, I was just a soldier so I was trying to lend a hand. It was cool being in a dynamic where somebody else was taking the reigns. It’s a totally different sound than the Tribe stuff.”
Big Noyd: “I never really wanted to be an emcee signed to a label, but that one verse got me my first solo deal with Tommy Boy. We had a big show in Virgina & there was an A&R from Tommy Boy in the crowd. Mobb Deep was the 1st 1s to wear bandannas & we made bandannas that said Mobb Deep on it. I wore mine to the show and when I was on stage, the crowd went crazy so I threw my bandanna into the crowd. When I saw them girls jumping for it, there wasn’t no turning back.
“And after the show my man is like, ‘Yo, somebody is trying to meet up with you.’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t got time for this. I just seen them girls jump on my bandanna, I’m trying to go find some ass.’ He’s like, ‘This is important.’ I’m like, ‘Set it up for Monday morning once we get back to New York.’ Eventually, he introduced me to A&Rs from Tommy Boy. They signed me and I got a record deal for $300,000 just for [my verse on] ‘Give Up the Goods (Just Step).’
“Sometimes, I didn’t even have a choice of what the beat was. If I walk in the studio and that’s the beat that was up. If I had to rhyme to it, I rhymed to it. I might write a rhyme to it that P would be like, ‘No disrespect, this shit is good but you could do better.’ And I would have went in and wrote something else. It would be like, ‘It’s your turn to rhyme. What you got for this beat?’ And sometimes while Hav and P are taking a break, but the engineers are still ready to work, I’d jump on the mic and rhyme to the beat and sometimes they would keep it.
“You would have a conversation with The Prodigy & never know that in his brain, he’s jotting it down. Whatever conversation you had with him, it would come out in a verse. He would just say it and flip it & you wouldn’t even think he was paying attention to you when you were having the conversation.”
According to former Loud Records A&R Schott Free, he revealed to The Source on a Facebook live panel that included founder Steve Rifkind, Havoc, The Alchemist, The Infamous Mobb and Matty C in honor and remembrance of one-half member of Mobb Deep, Albert “Prodigy” Johnson. The Queensbridge duo’s fourth single “Give Up The Goods (Just Step)” video from their second album, April 1995’s "The Infamous" was filmed at Manhattan’s The Supper Club, directed by Froi Cuesta, who previously directed the group’s lead single, “Shook Ones, Part II.”
Give Up the Goods
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm caught up in the hustle when the guns go blast
The fool retaliated so I had to think fast
Pull out my heat first, he pull out his heat last
Now who the fuck you think is livin' to this day?
I'm tryin' to tell these young niggas crime don't pay
They looked at me and said "Queen's niggas don't play. Do your thing
I'll do mine kid stay outta my way"
Can't stop till I'm eatin' off a platinum plate
Po po comes around and tries to relocate me
Lock me up forever but they can't deflate me cause
Havin' cash is highly addictive
Especially when you're used to havin' money to live with
I thought step back look at my life as a whole
Ain't no love it seems the devil done stole my soul
I'm out for delfia, selfia, P's not helpin' ya
I'm tryna get this Lexus up, and plus a cellular
Yo Big Noyd! (What up cuzin'?) I can't cope
With all these crab niggas tryna shorten my rope
Yo it's the r - a double p
E - r, n - o - y - d
Niggas can't fuck with me
Comin' straight outta QB
Pushin' an Infiniti
You ask can I rip it constantly? Mentally?
Definitely, to the death of me
Come and test me
Trust me, nigga couldn't touch me if he snuff me
So bust me, you're gonna have to, cause I'mma blast you
My lyrical like a miracle, ill spiritual
I'm born wit' it
I'm gettin' on wit' it
An' I'mma have it 'til I'm fuckin' dead and gone wit' it
Cause I'm a what? Composer of hardcore
A lyrical destructor
Don't make me buck ya, cause I'm a wild muthafucka
You know my flow, you know my stilo
Even pack my gat when I go to see my PO
Jump out my hooptie
Pass my gat and my lucci to my shorty
In case my PO try to troop me to the island
And if I start wildin'
Flippin' on niggas walkin' around wit' da nice gold medallions
But she didn't violate me, so I escaped see
Back to Queen's pumpin' the fiends makin' more Cream
Know what I mean? I'm a natural born hustler
Won't try to cut ya, pull out my 4 4 and bust ya
Yo babe no time for fakin' jacks
Cuz niggas who fake jacks get laid on their backs
The streets is real can't roll without steel
I feel how I feel cause I was born to kill
Do what I gotta, to eat a decent meal
Brothers is starvin', don't try to find a job son
It's all about robbin'
So don't be alarmed
When we come through, cause we supposed to
If you opposed to
Get your face blown dude, off the map
Cause I react, attack
A brother wasn't blessed with wealth so I act like that
Drug dealin'
I'm frontin on the world once I start 4-wheelin'
Cause back on the 41st side we do a ride
Sippin E & J, gettin' bent all night
Yo, who dat? I never seen him in my whole life
Step to his business cause it's only right
Po po ain't around so I grab my pound
Money retaliated so I hit the ground
My life is on the line gotta hold my projects down
Can't see myself gettin' bodied by a clown-ass nigga
That ain't even from my town
Hit him up in the chest and now he's layin' me down dead
And up from under the benches I started hearin' sirens
I stop firin'
He cut ass like a diamond
Jetted to the cribpiece, what a relief
Stashed the heat then proceeded to peep out the window
Call my son, "yo son we got beef
But no question
Money had a problem so I solved him"
I got my mind on the stick-up now it's time to get paid
Thinkin' of ways to take loot already made
There's crime in the air, ain't no time to be afraid
Gimme yours and get laid
Give up the goods and get sprayed
I got lots of love, for my crew that is
No love for them other crews and rival kids
All them out-a-town niggas know what time it is
And if they don't they need to buy a watch
Word up
Caught up in the cross-fire get theyself hurt
While I be sippin' gin straight in a plastic cup
On a park bench on 12th st., my whole crew's famous
You tried to bust your gat and keep it real but you nameless
First of all slow down, you on the wrong route
Let me put you on your feet and show you what's it all about
The street life ain't nuttin' to play with
No jokes no games kid
For years I been doin' the same shit
Just drinkin' liquor, doin' bids
Extortin' crack heads
And stickin' up the stick-up kids
The lyrics to Mobb Deep's song "Give Up the Goods" depict the harsh reality of surviving in Queens, New York through crime and violence. The opening lines establish the desperation of the situation, with the singer expressing the need for money despite the risks that come with it. The second verse features fellow rapper Big Noyd boasting about his skills as a rapper and his dangerous lifestyle. The third verse shifts back to the original narrator's struggle to survive, detailing his willingness to resort to robbery and violence to make ends meet. The chorus is a call to give up one's possessions or face the consequences.
The song highlights the brutal reality of life in the hip-hop scene during the 1990s when many rappers came from tough neighborhoods and lived through drugs, gang violence, and poverty. This track, in particular, includes themes of survival, hustling and the desire for luxury. The narrative style of "Give Up the Goods" illustrates a sense of defense mechanism against the oppressions that they face in life in their environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey yo Queens get the Money long time no cash
Hey Queens, it's been a while since we've had money
I'm caught up in the hustle when the guns go blast
I'm involved in the dangerous world of crime when the guns start shooting
The fool retaliated so I had to think fast
I had to quickly respond when the other person attacked first
Pull out my heat first, he pull out his heat last
I drew my gun before he did, gaining an advantage
Now who the fuck you think is livin' to this day?
Who do you think is still alive?
I'm tryin' to tell these young niggas crime don't pay
I'm trying to warn these young individuals that crime is not profitable
They looked at me and said 'Queen's niggas don't play. Do your thing
They responded, saying that people from Queens are not to be messed with, so I should continue with my own actions
I'll do mine kid stay outta my way'
They want me to stay out of their path and allow them to handle their own business
It's type hard tryna survive in New York state
It's extremely difficult to survive in the state of New York
Can't stop till I'm eatin' off a platinum plate
I won't stop until I'm fully successful, living a luxurious lifestyle
Po po comes around and tries to relocate me
The police try to force me out of my current location
Lock me up forever but they can't deflate me cause
They may imprison me for life, but they can't break my spirit
Havin' cash is highly addictive
Having money is extremely captivating, causing a strong desire for more
Especially when you're used to havin' money to live with
Especially when you're accustomed to having money to sustain your lifestyle
I thought step back look at my life as a whole
I took a moment to reflect on my entire life
Ain't no love it seems the devil done stole my soul
There's no love or goodness left, it feels like I've lost my soul to the devil
I'm out for delfia, selfia, P's not helpin' ya
I'm focused on obtaining wealth and success, and I won't assist others in achieving it
I'm tryna get this Lexus up, and plus a cellular
I'm trying to acquire a Lexus and a cellphone
Yo Big Noyd! (What up cuzin'?) I can't cope
Hey Big Noyd! I'm struggling and can't handle this situation
With all these crab niggas tryna shorten my rope
There are many envious individuals trying to bring me down
Yo it's the r - a double p
Yo, it's me, the rapper known as R.A.P.P.
E - r, n - o - y - d
My name is spelled E-R, N-O-Y-D
Niggas can't fuck with me
People can't compete with me
Comin' straight outta QB
I'm coming directly from Queensbridge (QB)
Pushin' an Infiniti
Driving an Infiniti car
You ask can I rip it constantly? Mentally?
You're asking if I can consistently deliver powerful rap verses? Mentally?
Definitely, to the death of me
Absolutely, until I die
Come and test me
Go ahead and challenge me
Trust me, nigga couldn't touch me if he snuff me
Believe me, no one could harm me if they tried to attack me
So bust me, you're gonna have to, cause I'mma blast you
So go ahead and try to shoot me, because I will shoot back
My lyrical like a miracle, ill spiritual
My rap skills are extraordinary and possess an undeniable spiritual quality
I'm born wit' it
I have a natural talent for it
I'm gettin' on wit' it
I'm progressing and succeeding
An' I'mma have it 'til I'm fuckin' dead and gone wit' it
And I will continue to have this talent until I die
Cause I'm a what? Composer of hardcore
Because I am a composer of hardcore rap
A lyrical destructor
I have the ability to annihilate others with my lyrics
Don't make me buck ya, cause I'm a wild muthafucka
Don't provoke me, because I am an unpredictable and aggressive person
You know my flow, you know my stilo
You are familiar with my rap style and my distinct way of doing things
Even pack my gat when I go to see my PO
I even carry my gun when I visit my parole officer
Jump out my hooptie
Exit my old, cheap car
Pass my gat and my lucci to my shorty
Hand my gun and money to my girlfriend
In case my PO try to troop me to the island
In case my parole officer tries to send me to jail
And if I start wildin'
And if I start behaving uncontrollably
Flippin' on niggas walkin' around wit' da nice gold medallions
Attacking and robbing individuals wearing expensive gold necklaces
But she didn't violate me, so I escaped see
But my girlfriend didn't betray me, so I managed to avoid trouble
Back to Queen's pumpin' the fiends makin' more Cream
Returning to Queens and selling drugs to addicts to make more money
Know what I mean? I'm a natural born hustler
Understand? I'm naturally skilled at hustling and making deals
Won't try to cut ya, pull out my 4 4 and bust ya
I won't betray you, but I will shoot you with my 4 4 gun
Yo babe no time for fakin' jacks
Hey babe, no time for pretending to be tough
Cuz niggas who fake jacks get laid on their backs
Because people who pretend to be tough end up getting physically defeated
The streets is real can't roll without steel
The streets are dangerous, you can't survive without carrying a gun
I feel how I feel cause I was born to kill
I have a natural desire to be violent and cause harm, it's in my nature
Do what I gotta, to eat a decent meal
I will do whatever it takes to have enough money for food
Brothers is starvin', don't try to find a job son
There are people struggling with hunger, so finding a job isn't the immediate solution
It's all about robbin'
The focus is on committing robberies
So don't be alarmed
So don't be surprised
When we come through, cause we supposed to
When we arrive, because that's what we're expected to do
If you opposed to
If you have a problem with it
Get your face blown dude, off the map
You'll have your face blown off and be eliminated
Cause I react, attack
Because I respond aggressively, I attack
A brother wasn't blessed with wealth so I act like that
I wasn't fortunate enough to have wealth, so I behave this way
Drug dealin'
Engaging in illegal drug trade
I'm frontin on the world once I start 4-wheelin'
I present a false image to the world when I'm driving luxury cars
Cause back on the 41st side we do a ride
Because on the 41st side, we engage in violent activities
Sippin E & J, gettin' bent all night
Drinking E&J brandy and getting heavily intoxicated throughout the night
Yo, who dat? I never seen him in my whole life
Hey, who's that? I've never seen him before
Step to his business cause it's only right
Approach him and confront him, because it's the appropriate thing to do
Po po ain't around so I grab my pound
The police are not nearby, so I grab my gun
Money retaliated so I hit the ground
The other person reacted aggressively, so I dropped to the ground for cover
My life is on the line gotta hold my projects down
My life is at risk, so I must protect my neighborhood
Can't see myself gettin' bodied by a clown-ass nigga
I can't imagine myself being killed by a foolish and insignificant person
That ain't even from my town
Someone who isn't even from my neighborhood
Hit him up in the chest and now he's layin' me down dead
I shot him in the chest, and now I'm lying on the ground dead
And up from under the benches I started hearin' sirens
Emerging from hiding under a bench, I began to hear police sirens
I stop firin'
I ceased shooting
He cut ass like a diamond
He swiftly moved away, evading capture
Jetted to the cribpiece, what a relief
Ran quickly home, feeling relieved and safe
Stashed the heat then proceeded to peep out the window
Hid the gun and then cautiously looked out of the window
Call my son, 'yo son we got beef
Contacted my son, saying 'hey son, we have a problem'
But no question
Without a doubt
Money had a problem so I solved him'
Someone had a problem with me, so I took care of him
I got my mind on the stick-up now it's time to get paid
I'm focused on committing a robbery, as it's a way to earn money
Thinkin' of ways to take loot already made
Contemplating methods to steal money that others have already acquired
There's crime in the air, ain't no time to be afraid
Crime is prevalent, and there's no time to feel fear
Gimme yours and get laid
Give me your possessions or suffer the consequences
Give up the goods and get sprayed
Surrender your valuable items or be shot
I got lots of love, for my crew that is
I have great affection and loyalty for my group
No love for them other crews and rival kids
I have no love or respect for other groups and their rival members
All them out-a-town niggas know what time it is
People from outside the town know and understand the dangerous situation
And if they don't they need to buy a watch
And if they don't know, they need to become aware and stay cautious
Word up
Absolutely, I agree
Caught up in the cross-fire get theyself hurt
They will end up getting injured due to being in the middle of a conflict
While I be sippin' gin straight in a plastic cup
Meanwhile, I'll be drinking gin directly from a plastic cup
On a park bench on 12th st., my whole crew's famous
On a park bench in the 12th street area, my entire crew is well-known
You tried to bust your gat and keep it real but you nameless
You attempted to shoot your gun and appear tough, but you are insignificant and unknown
First of all slow down, you on the wrong route
Firstly, calm down and realize that you're on the incorrect path
Let me put you on your feet and show you what's it all about
Allow me to guide you and explain what it's really like
The street life ain't nuttin' to play with
The lifestyle of the streets is not something to take lightly
No jokes no games kid
There's no room for humor or games in this serious situation, youngster
For years I been doin' the same shit
I've been engaged in the same activities for years
Just drinkin' liquor, doin' bids
Simply drinking alcohol and serving jail sentences
Extortin' crack heads
Forcing money out of crack cocaine addicts
And stickin' up the stick-up kids
Robbing individuals who are known for committing robberies themselves
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TAJUAN AKEOM PERRY, ALBERT JOHNSON, JOHN (USA 2) DAVIS, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA, MAYFIELD SMALL, ALBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xxpsilocybinxx8878
The beat is just magical
@alexanderdevine3501
Thank Q tip from ATCQ
@larrysoundz
magical :)!
@nizxxy
SPINNER
@WUTaNIGGAiAM
@@alexanderdevine3501 nah he copied easy mo bee
@jonathansoko1085
@@WUTaNIGGAiAM I wouldnt say that. Easy's drum style is completley different. Q tips drums are all over the infamous, it works perfect with havocs samples. I wish we knew to what extent Q produced these beats. We will never really know, i know Q is responsible for most of the drums. Its so obvious because its so similar to tribe drums from the er
@AdamS-ps8jt
Rest in beats Prodigy. One of my favourite songs of all time.
@stone2871
"Rest in Beats." I like that.
@bam81380
Word , i came to the comments just to say the same..
@daburu_d
bam81380 me too