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.
Hold Down The Fort
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We gotta hold down the block
We gotta hold down the fort
We gotta hold down the fort, check it
Nineteen-ninety-motherfuckin-three right?
What's your new year's resolution motherfucker?
Check this out
We gotta hold down the block
Beef on the block, who is he?
Set it dunn, me and my automatic likes to get busy
Ghetto representer, there ain't no motherfucker better
While you be catchin feelings like a love letter
I gotta hold down my fort and won't lose
Nigga die, because I got the tec 9 blues
Bulletproof polo, I'm goin out solo
Whoever wanna come better step like they know cuz
I'mma survive, more rougher than a certified
Around the way, parlay and get high
My mega blast'll last in days to pass
Niggas shoot, too fast, to pull out your gun last
That's why I like to spark first, and shoot your
Bitch-ass down your next ride'll be a fuckin hearse
Cause little niggas don't die son
Half-step and get that ass lit up like a flare gun
Cops they want static, whatever they can have it
My name is prodigy and I'm known to cause havoc
And when I flip I be on some ill shit
I walk the street, like a real super trooper
The block shit proper, who once got had
Mad beef with the dread who sold me that dirt bag
Mad props to the bad little niggas in the neighborhood
Long live the short, gotta hold down the fort
Gotta hold down the fort
Gotta hold down the fort
We gotta hold down the fort
You gotta hold down the fort
We gotta hold down the fort
You gotta hold down the fort
So hold me down son (yeah)
Hold me down (yeah yeah)
Yeah how we go son, pull out the motherfuckin m1
Straight from the 'bridge so you know where I'm from
The little, project nigga, I gets no bigga
Yo, my crew is buck so motherfuck how you figure
Step the fuck back, nigga, attack with the mack
Cause word is bond it's on
Shit is real around the way so sit back and take notes
Dead you on your coat, then cut your motherfuckin throat
Takin life like a thief in the motherfuckin night
While I write write, you bite bite bite
Niggas wanna step to my business
But I just parlay and sip on my guinness
Cause I'm the ripper, mr. flip the scripture
Niggas can't fuck with the flow of a real lil nigga
I wreck shop, in fact, get the mac, this is real
Shit is real, how the fuck you figure, nigga nil
So son hold me down while I pull out the glock
Gotta hold down the block, that's word to my pops
So once again it's on, light up the chalm
Time to drop the bomb, word is bond
We gotta hold down the block
Hold down the block
We gotta hold down the block
We gotta hold down the block
Yo son he pumpin over here dunn?
I know he ain't pumpin over here yo
Yo word is bond yo son peep he comin over let's bring it to him
What, what? what what what, what?
Who the fuck are you?
Man fuck that, what?
Hold down the block
Yeah whattup now? what what, what what?
Whattup now?
Hold down the block
To all the niggas that's live or real
You gotta hold down your block, cock back the glock
Fuck the cops, cause your neighborhood chores
If they beef, make em bleed on the project floors
I get my kicks from loadin up gun clips
Don't fuck with suburb chicks, I need a gangsta bitch
Don't need a crew, I can bust you down solo fast
And after that, dip into the weed stash
I'm quick to blast, enemies won't last the fate
I kill em fast so they can't retaliate
Cause when I'm not alive who'd takes my place
To hold down the fort, we move on
My man got my back
I'm ready to go at anybody, who think they john gotti
Peace to manny c, good lookin out b
I'm hellbound, got my block locked down
We gotta pull out the glock
Gotta pull out the glock
We gotta pull out the glock
Check it, yeah
Call that nigga
In the song "Hold Down The Fort" by Mobb Deep, the rappers are expressing their loyalty and commitment to their neighborhood, or "block", amidst various forms of violence and conflicts. They assert that they have to hold down the fort and protect their territory, using force if necessary. One of the lines, "Beef on the block, who is he? Set it dunn, me and my automatic likes to get busy" highlights their readiness to engage in gun violence and their tough demeanor. The song also touches upon themes of survival, struggle, and camaraderie, as the rappers talk about their willingness to fight and support one another. The chorus stresses the importance of solidarity and mutual protection, with each rapper calling on the other to "hold me down" and "hold down the block."
The lyrics of "Hold Down The Fort" evoke a sense of defiance and pride, as the rappers portray themselves as fearless warriors defending their territory. They also showcase their street smarts and resilience, as they navigate through dangerous situations and prevail against their enemies. Overall, the song presents a gritty and raw portrayal of life in the inner city, highlighting the realities of poverty, crime, and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, we gotta hold down the fort
We need to stay strong and hold our position.
We gotta hold down the block
We need to maintain control of our territory.
We gotta hold down the fort, check it
We must secure our area and stay alert to any threats.
Nineteen-ninety-motherfuckin-three right?
This is the year we're in, 1993, and things are rough.
What's your new year's resolution motherfucker?
What are you planning to do to make things better?
Beef on the block, who is he?
Who is causing trouble in our area?
Set it dunn, me and my automatic likes to get busy
I'm ready to take action and fight back with my weapon.
Ghetto representer, there ain't no motherfucker better
I'm representing my area and won't let anyone else take control.
While you be catchin feelings like a love letter
While others may be emotional, I'm staying focused on the task at hand.
I gotta hold down my fort and won't lose
I need to maintain my position and not let my enemies take over.
Nigga die, because I got the tec 9 blues
I'm so skilled with my weapon, I can take down anyone who threatens me.
Bulletproof polo, I'm goin out solo
I'm dressing to protect myself and am not relying on anyone else for backup.
Whoever wanna come better step like they know cuz
Anyone who wants to challenge me needs to be ready for a fight.
I'mma survive, more rougher than a certified
I am capable of withstanding any hardship and coming out stronger.
Around the way, parlay and get high
I'm enjoying life in my area and relaxing when I can.
My mega blast'll last in days to pass
My weapon is powerful and will have an impact for days to come.
Niggas shoot, too fast, to pull out your gun last
In a gunfight, you need to be quick to respond and not hesitate.
That's why I like to spark first, and shoot your
I prefer to initiate the violence and take control of the situation.
Bitch-ass down your next ride'll be a fuckin hearse
If I take out my enemy, they won't be around for much longer.
Cause little niggas don't die son
I'm confident in my ability to survive and come out on top.
Half-step and get that ass lit up like a flare gun
If you're not careful, you'll get caught in my crossfire and face the consequences.
Cops they want static, whatever they can have it
Police are trying to interfere, but I won't let them stop me.
My name is prodigy and I'm known to cause havoc
I'm a force to be reckoned with and capable of causing chaos.
And when I flip I be on some ill shit
When I lose control, I become dangerous and unpredictable.
I walk the street, like a real super trooper
I am confident and assertive, walking with authority.
The block shit proper, who once got had
Our area is well-organized and we won't let anyone take advantage of us.
Mad beef with the dread who sold me that dirt bag
I have a major problem with someone who gave me a bad deal.
Mad props to the bad little niggas in the neighborhood
I respect the tough kids in my area who are always ready for a fight.
Long live the short, gotta hold down the fort
We need to maintain our area and our reputation, no matter what.
So hold me down son (yeah)
Support me and have my back in tough situations.
Yeah how we go son, pull out the motherfuckin m1
We're escalating and pulling out a powerful weapon.
Straight from the 'bridge so you know where I'm from
I'm representing my home turf, the bridge.
The little, project nigga, I gets no bigga
I come from a humble background, but I'm not to be underestimated.
Yo, my crew is buck so motherfuck how you figure
My crew is fearless and tough, so don't try to test us.
Step the fuck back, nigga, attack with the mack
Back off and don't mess with us, or else we'll retaliate with force.
Cause word is bond it's on
I'm serious, and I mean what I say.
Shit is real around the way so sit back and take notes
Our area is dangerous, so you should be careful and learn from us.
Dead you on your coat, then cut your motherfuckin throat
If you mess with us, we won't just injure you- we'll kill you.
Takin life like a thief in the motherfuckin night
We're ruthless and will take out anyone who threatens us, without warning.
While I write write, you bite bite bite
While I'm busy making moves and taking action, you're just following my lead.
Niggas wanna step to my business
Others are trying to interfere with what I'm doing.
But I just parlay and sip on my guinness
I'm not letting their actions bother me, and am relaxing with a drink.
Cause I'm the ripper, mr. flip the scripture
I am skilled and dangerous, and always ready to fight.
Niggas can't fuck with the flow of a real lil nigga
Others can't keep up with me and aren't as skilled or tough.
I wreck shop, in fact, get the mac, this is real
I am seriously taking control of my area and will use my weapon if necessary.
Shit is real, how the fuck you figure, nigga nil
Our area is not to be taken lightly, and people who underestimate us will lose.
So son hold me down while I pull out the glock
Support me and have my back while I take out my weapon.
You gotta hold down the fort
You need to do your part in maintaining control of our area.
So hold me down son (yeah yeah)
Continue supporting me and working to maintain our area.
To all the niggas that's live or real
To everyone who is tough and can handle themselves.
You gotta hold down your block, cock back the glock
You need to maintain control of your area and be ready to use your weapon.
Fuck the cops, cause your neighborhood chores
Don't cooperate with the police, because they don't understand our area or our needs.
If they beef, make em bleed on the project floors
If the police or anyone else threatens us, we need to defend ourselves and our area.
I get my kicks from loadin up gun clips
I find pleasure and satisfaction in preparing my weapon for use.
Don't fuck with suburb chicks, I need a gangsta bitch
I don't like or trust people from outside our area, and want a tough partner who can handle themselves.
Don't need a crew, I can bust you down solo fast
I am capable of handling any opponent, and don't need a team to back me up.
And after that, dip into the weed stash
I can enjoy myself and relax after a job well done.
I'm quick to blast, enemies won't last the fate
I'm always ready to take out my opponents and am confident in my abilities.
Cause when I'm not alive who'd takes my place
If I were to die, my area would lose an important figure and it would be harder to maintain control.
To hold down the fort, we move on
In order to maintain control, we need to keep moving forward and adapting to new challenges.
My man got my back
I have someone who supports me and has my best interests in mind.
I'm ready to go at anybody, who think they john gotti
I'm not afraid to face anyone who challenges me or my area.
Peace to manny c, good lookin out b
Respect and gratitude to Manny C for his help and support.
I'm hellbound, got my block locked down
I am committed to my area and have taken control of it.
Yo son he pumpin over here dunn?
Is this guy trying to take control of our area?
I know he ain't pumpin over here yo
I won't let anyone else take control or profit from our area.
Yo word is bond yo son peep he comin over let's bring it to him
Let's confront this guy and show him who's in charge.
What, what? what what what, what?
What do you want?
Who the fuck are you?
Why are you trying to interfere with our area?
Man fuck that, what?
I have no patience for your nonsense.
Yeah whattup now? what what, what what?
Do you have anything to say now?
Whattup now?
You don't have anything else to say, do you?
Hold down the block
Maintain control of our area no matter what.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERT JOHNSON, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind