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.
Handcuffs
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smack flames out a nigga and I got you smilin'
The way I cut a nigga every which way but loose
A blood stained Gucci suit will be the proof
Laid back cat but I love to chill
Love a freak in a thong with a ? full of ?
Said you went to catholic school and that's cool
Let me see you throw the suit on
Start for the touchin'
And I'm sick with the candle
A fatty, ain't nothin' that a nigga can't handle
I been through it
It's a first time for everything, settin you free
And I feel you your man ain't lettin' you breathe
You a dime from your face to your navel
Your man better wake the fuck up and let you out of that stable
Used to think like that until I thought
? shoe on the other foot and I got ?
Stay home, cook and clean like she the boss
Hell no nigga, not while I'm up in New York
She gonna do what she want, flirt when she want, fuck who she want
Then nigga It's a wrap
You like 'No she won't', but yes she will
Chick might as well have Big comin' out of jail
I got them keys to those handcuffs (handcuffs)
Wanna be free throw your hands up (wanna be free)
I got them keys to those handcuffs (handcuffs)
Wanna be free throw your hands up (wanna be free)
I got them keys to those handcuffs (handcuffs)
Wanna be free throw your hands up (wanna be free)
I got them keys to those handcuffs (handcuffs)
Wanna be free throw your hands up (wanna be free)
My niggas in NY know the game
Bitch front, she gettin' out on the shoulder lane
It's 3 in the mornin', why you think you came
Should've stayed where you was, I don't play those games
Ring on the finger, fatty off the meter
There's only one thing that this shit could lead to
The reaction, your mind'll crack
And put my mans on if it's poppin'
Bitch you laughin'?
Everything that I spit is real
And everything on your inside you scared to tell
The word creep, "no" ring a bell
Girl I know the situation all too well
I'mma keep it gangsta, rep the 'bout
Lady caught on, so I had to bounce
With bleach in the crib, all my clothes got doused
That's when a nigga knew I had to get out
Know what you're goin' through, been there before
Relationships now, it's like they got these laws
Girl all you wanna do is just be free
And that's why a nigga like me got these keys
I got them keys to those handcuffs (handcuffs)
Wanna be free throw your hands up (wanna be free)
I got them keys to those handcuffs (handcuffs)
Wanna be free throw your hands up (wanna be free)
I got them keys to those handcuffs (handcuffs)
Wanna be free throw your hands up (wanna be free)
I got them keys to those handcuffs (handcuffs)
Wanna be free throw your hands up (wanna be free)
"Mobb Deep's 'Handcuffs'" reveals a romantic relationship between two people, one of whom is in a dangerous lifestyle while the other desires freedom from her partner. The thug in the song is aware that his partner loves him and enjoys his violent behavior, which is reflected in the line, "Girl, I know you love a thug be wildin'." However, the woman seeks to be free from the constraints of the gangster's life, as evidenced in the refrain, "I got them keys to those handcuffs, wanna be free throw your hands up."
The song warns about the dangers of neglecting one's partner's desires for liberty or power. The woman in the song desires to throw away her "catholic school" background and break free from the constraints and manipulation of her partner. She chooses to dance, flirt and love who she wants, which the singer encourages through metaphorical references such as "Lady caught on, so I had to bounce." He provides her with the "keys to those handcuffs," a metaphorical allusion to the chains of the dominant and unequal relationship she is in.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl I know you love a thug be wildin'
The singer knows that the girl enjoys a wild and dangerous man
Smack flames out a nigga and I got you smilin'
The singer is proud that he can physically harm others and sees the girl's enjoyment of it as a sign of her attraction to him
The way I cut a nigga every which way but loose
The singer is skilled at violence and knows how to inflict pain in various ways
A blood stained Gucci suit will be the proof
The artist does not care about the violence he commits and even has a plan to show off his crimes through his designer clothing
Laid back cat but I love to chill
The artist appears relaxed and calm but still enjoys a wild lifestyle
Love a freak in a thong with a ? full of ?
The singer enjoys sexually adventurous women and implies that the girl he is speaking to fits that description
Said you went to catholic school and that's cool
The singer is making small talk with the girl and mentions something she has shared about herself
Let me see you throw the suit on
The artist is encouraging the girl to wear something sexy for him
With no interruptions, ma turn the cell off
The artist wants to have uninterrupted time with the girl and asks her to turn her phone off
Start for the touchin'
The artist is ready to begin physical intimacy with the girl
And I'm sick with the candle
The singer is skilled at creating a romantic atmosphere with candles
A fatty, ain't nothin' that a nigga can't handle
The artist is confident in his ability to please a woman sexually regardless of her body type
I been through it
The singer has experienced similar relationship troubles before
It's a first time for everything, settin you free
The singer is willing to help the girl leave her current relationship and experience something new
And I feel you your man ain't lettin' you breathe
The singer believes that the girl's current partner is too controlling and suffocating
You a dime from your face to your navel
The artist thinks the girl is beautiful from her face down to her waist
Your man better wake the fuck up and let you out of that stable
The artist thinks that the girl deserves to be treated better by her current partner and encourages her to leave him
Used to think like that until I thought
The singer used to have similar relationship troubles but has since learned from these experiences
? shoe on the other foot and I got ?
The singer is referring to a hypothetical scenario in which he imagines himself in the girl's current situation (possibly being controlled by someone else)
Stay home, cook and clean like she the boss
The artist is mocking the idea of a man being submissive to a woman and performing traditional household duties
Hell no nigga, not while I'm up in New York
The artist is assertive about his own independence and unwillingness to be controlled
She gonna do what she want, flirt when she want, fuck who she want
The artist believes that the girl should be free to pursue her own desires and not be tied down by anyone
Then nigga It's a wrap
The singer feels that once the girl has left her current relationship, she will never want to go back
You like 'No she won't', but yes she will
The artist is confident that the girl will eventually leave her current partner despite any objections others may have
Chick might as well have Big comin' out of jail
The singer compares the girl's newfound freedom to the excitement and anticipation of a well-known rapper being released from prison
My niggas in NY know the game
The singer is familiar with the culture of New York City and its unique social rules
Bitch front, she gettin' out on the shoulder lane
The singer will abandon anyone who goes against him or disrespects him in any way
It's 3 in the mornin', why you think you came
The artist is implying that the girl came to see him for a sexual encounter
Should've stayed where you was, I don't play those games
The artist thinks that the girl made a mistake by coming to see him and he will not tolerate being played with or toyed around with
Ring on the finger, fatty off the meter
The singer is referring to the girl wearing a wedding ring while also being physically attractive
There's only one thing that this shit could lead to
The singer is implying that the girl will end up cheating on her partner with him
The reaction, your mind'll crack
The artist is aware that the girl may feel guilty or conflicted about cheating on her partner
And put my mans on if it's poppin'
The artist may involve his friends or associates in the situation if things get intense or violent
Bitch you laughin'?
The artist asks the girl if she is taking him seriously or if she thinks he is joking
Everything that I spit is real
The singer believes that he is always honest and straightforward about his intentions and actions
And everything on your inside you scared to tell
The artist believes that the girl is secretly attracted to him but is afraid to admit it
The word creep, "no" ring a bell
The singer is referencing the concept of a man being a "creep" and implies that he himself may be seen as one
Girl I know the situation all too well
The singer has experienced similar situations in the past and understands the girl's perspective
I'mma keep it gangsta, rep the 'bout
The singer will always be true to himself and his own lifestyle, even if it is unconventional or illegal
Lady caught on, so I had to bounce
The girl realized that the artist was involved in illegal or unethical activities and he left to avoid being caught
With bleach in the crib, all my clothes got doused
The artist had to destroy all of his clothing because they were covered in blood from a violent incident
That's when a nigga knew I had to get out
The singer realized that his lifestyle was dangerous and he needed to make a change
Know what you're goin' through, been there before
The singer understands the girl's situation because he has experienced similar difficulties in his own life
Relationships now, it's like they got these laws
The artist feels that modern relationships are too restrictive and lack the freedom that he desires
Girl all you wanna do is just be free
The artist understands the girl's desire for independence and encourages her to pursue it
And that's why a nigga like me got these keys
The artist has the ability to help the girl become free from her current relationship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MONTY CRISWELL, TOM SHAPIRO, DRIVER WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sega Genesis
one of the greatest albums ever. EVER.
Acey Ace
Phat tune bro
fast eddie
Such an underated album......hooks beats all on point.....this one has one of the best bass rifs off all time!!!!
Aimee
My shit!! Never will get old..one of mobb's best albums!
IKON ONE
one of my favs since a kid
anwjuice
Big facts
Professor Dre
This whole beat sounds like i'm killing demons in Doom.
anwjuice
Whole album was fire
Matt Bettencourt
One of the best hooks I’ve ever heard, slaps hard af
anwjuice
Maybe the most underrated Mobb song ever?