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.
Got It Twisted
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'ma scoop shorty then vacate the party
You keep grillin' I pump-pump the shotty
Put you in the trunk then dump-dump the body
Nigga you don't know, you better ask somebody
Ya'll get down, we gonna clash probably
Peel snowflake outta that Abercrombie
I'm tryna grip Britney, so I made Jive sign me, nigga
I'm the wrong one to fuck with
Nah I know the promoters I'm in with the musket
Pound of that haze and a box of Dutches
High to the cottonmouth, paranoid
Make the wrong move, bitch, and your ass is out
Like MOP, nigga, I'll mash you out
If I can't get you here, swing by your house, muthafucka
Ya'll niggas got it twisted, huh?
That liquor up into to you, charged
That truth come out when you drunk
Your ass won't make it to see tomorrow
Ya'll niggas got it twisted, huh?
That liquor up into you, charged
That truth come out when you drunk
Your ass won't make it to see tomorrow
We step up in the club with one thing
On our mind, that's leave with something
Get rid of that ring, get rid of those cuffs
We about to girl
We about to girl
We about to girl-girl
We about to girl
We about to girl-girl
Party over here, ain't shit over there
Them Mobb Deep boys got it locked right here
Wherever we at we keep the blix right there
So wherever there's beef, it's gettin' fixed right there
And they can't stop us they too scared
They know our caliber of thugs shoot at heads, nigga
Qb drop you off of that bridge
Show you how we do it in Queens where murder ain't shit, nigga
This is P talkin, show you where I live
You can come right to my crib and get it for shiz
You bein' manslaughtered, right in front of my kids
A little blood get on my daughter, it's nothing, she'll live
Got cops shook to death of uswe don't like D's
You never catch us runnin' with the police
Ya'll niggas get your vest-es up
And ya'll better invest in some real heavy bullet-proof paneling
Ya'll niggas got it twisted, huh?
That liquor up into to you, charged
That truth come out when you drunk
Your ass won't make it to see tomorrow
Ya'll niggas got it twisted, huh?
That liquor up into you, charged
That truth come out when you drunk
Your ass won't make it to see tomorrow
We step up in the club with one thing
On our mind, that's leave with something
Get rid of that ring, get rid of those cuffs
We about to girl
We about to girl
We about to girl-girl
We about to girl
We about to girl-girl
In Mobb Deep’s song "Got It Twisted," the lyrics describe their dangerous lifestyle and their willingness to resort to violence to protect themselves. The opening lines boast that the party is not complete until they arrive and then they threaten other attendees with guns and potential murder. The lyrics continue to describe their carelessness with human life, revealing that they have no qualms about killing someone if they cross them. They also mention the effects of alcohol, and how it can make people say or do things they may regret later. However, Mobb Deep seems to have no problem with revealing their true selves, even when under the influence.
In addition to the message in the lyrics, the song’s instrumentation also provides insight into Mobb Deep’s mindset. The repetitive and aggressive beats are reminiscent of gunfire or someone walking menacingly. The tone of the music brings the listener inside the mind of a person ready for a fight. And yet, there's a hint of caution in their lyrics that reveals they’re not totally invulnerable – they, too, get paranoid when the smoke clears.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, yo ain't no party once we crash the party
Our arrival at the party changes the atmosphere from being a good time to a tense one
I'mma scoop shorty then vacate the party
I plan to pick up a girl and then exit the party
You keep grillin I pump-pump the shotty
If you keep staring at us, I'll shoot you with my shotgun
Put you in the trunk then dump-dump the body
I'll kill you and dispose of your body in the trunk of my car
Nigga you don't know, you better ask somebody
You're ignorant and should seek knowledge
Ya'll get down, we gonna clash probably
If you don't back down, a fight is likely to occur
Peel snowflake outta that Abercrombie
I'm going to steal money from a wealthy, trendy clothing store
I'm tryna grip Britney, so I made Jive sign me, nigga
I want to date Britney Spears, so I signed a record deal with Jive Records to become famous
Catch me in the club with a double edge banger
I carry a dangerous weapon with me when I go to the club
I'm the wrong one to fuck with
Don't mess with me, you'll regret it
Nah I know the promoters I'm in with the musket
I have connections with the club promoters and can bring a firearm without getting caught
Pound of that haze and a box of Dutches
I'm smoking a large amount of marijuana and will share it with others
High to the cottonmouth, paranoid
I'm extremely high and experiencing dry mouth and paranoia
Make the wrong move, bitch, and your ass is out
If you do anything wrong, you'll be kicked out of the club
Like M.O.P., nigga, I'll mash you out
I will violently attack you, similar to the rap group M.O.P.
If I can't get you here, swing by your house, muthafucka
If I can't get to you at the club, I'll come to your house to get revenge
Party over here, ain't shit over there
The real party is happening here, not anywhere else
Them Mobb Deep boys got it locked right here
We are in control of this area
Wherever we at we keep the blix right there
We always have our firearms with us
So wherever there's beef, it's gettin fixed right there
If there's a problem, we will solve it with violence immediately
And they can't stop us...they too scared
Nobody can stop us, as they are afraid of us
They know our caliber of thugs shoot at heads, nigga
People know that we are dangerous and will shoot to kill
QB drop you off of that bridge
I'm from Queensbridge and will throw you off a bridge as punishment
Show you how we do it in Queens where murder ain't shit, nigga
I will demonstrate how easy it is to kill someone in Queens
This is P talkin, show you where I live
I am Prodigy, and I am willing to reveal where I live
You can come right to my crib and get it for shiz
You can come to my house and fight me
You bein manslaughtered, right in front of my kids
I will kill you in front of my children and not care about their safety
A little blood get on my daughter, it's nothing, she'll live
If my child gets blood on her, it's not a big deal because she'll be okay
Got cops shook to death of us...we don't like D's
Police are scared of us and we do not cooperate with them
You never catch us runnin with the police
We never work with the police or seek their help
Ya'll niggas get your vest-es up
You should wear bulletproof vests
And ya'll better invest in some real heavy bullet-proof paneling
You should buy high-quality bulletproof material to protect yourself
Ya'll niggas got it twisted, huh?
You guys have a misconception or misunderstanding
That liquor up into to you, charged
Alcohol can influence your behavior
That truth come out when you drunk
People may reveal their true thoughts and feelings when they are drunk
Your ass won't make it to see tomorrow
If you continue down this path, you may not survive
We step up in the club with one thing
When we go to the club, we have a specific goal in mind
On our mind, that's leave with something
We want to leave the club with a girl, drugs, or money
Get rid of that ring, get rid of those cuffs
We want to have sex without worrying about our marital status or getting arrested
We about to... girl
We are getting ready to pick up a girl
We about to... girl-girl
We are going to try and pick up multiple girls
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Albert Johnson, Kejuan Waliek Muchita, Thomas Morgan Robertson, Alan Maman, Jonathon Michael Kerr, Joseph Kerr, Thomas Dolby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NVSx16
Mobb Deep has some of the hardest beats ever, hands down.
@H20Sniper
💯 Facts 🔥
@solohere5608
Truly
@SpeedomusicSM
Definitely
@adamgordon2572
Yup… and the fact Havoc was producing their beats around 19/20 old makes it even better 🔥🔥 R.I.P. P ✊🏾
@yodeadmama
the alchemist made this
@MrRobsifi
This is how HipHop is supposed to sound! Thank u Mobb Deep! Warriors of Realness!
@businessme9035
He looks like RHYZE Hendricks lol
@tiah1927
I played this non-stop when it came out. The sample is incredible!
@rjames4533
Thanks weird science. 👈✌️