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.
Kill That Nigga
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If my nigga was my nigga like I thought he was
Would he have snitched, hung me out the dry to fuck
Guess you don't know a nigga 'till you catch a case with 'em
It ain't all gravy just because you make cake with 'em
It's real, niggas scared to death of state prison
To the end when a nigga get caught start snitchin'
For about 20 joints with the nerve to point
Hurt worser than that physical pain
You fetish nigga roll with the sorry fuck now he switchin' to lame
Niggas in the box could relate to my pain
All I got is my word and I'mma get you thats my word
Through family friends or even fuckin' your bird
Fuck it anything long as your death occur
Whatever happened to death before dishonor
It's time for your end and i'ts my honor
(Kill that nigga)
Never wish death, only if I have to, if it's my last option left
(Kill that nigga)
Should of kept your mouth tight he's losin' his life
Be locked up or sending out kites
Ay yo this nigga runnin' 'round runnin' his mouth speakin' on the wrong shit
What the fuck is this Dave Letterman shit on the late night
Creep on the talk show as rap asses get shot in they throat, speak on that
Girlie mouth nigga you worse than a bitch
I done shot niggas for you put my life at risk
How you gonna go behind me and knife my back
Must be insane and I got a cure for that
My hammer will knock sense in the nigga real quick
Nail a nigga tongue with the four fifth
Nigga you in violation of that code of silence
Niggas like you get real niggas unedited
We can have that kidnap that bitch torture and tourment that snitch
We gotta make examples out these hummig bird fucks
Matter fact pull 'em out the trunk, I'm bout to
(Kill that nigga)
Never wish death, only if I have to, if it's my last option left
(Kill that nigga)
Should of kept your mouth tight he's losin' his life
Be locked up or sending out kites
(Kill that nigga)
Never wish death, only if I have to, if it's my last option left
(Kill that nigga)
Should of kept your mouth tight he's losin' his life
Be locked up or sending out kites
Never wish death
Kill that nigga
Kill that nigga
Kill that nigga
I'm sendin' out kites
Kill that nigga
Kill that nigga
Kill that nigga
Kill that nigga
The song "Kill That Nigga" by Mobb Deep tackles the issue of betrayal among friends, particularly in the context of criminal activities. The lyrics suggest that loyalty is an important virtue among people who share a common goal, but it is not always guaranteed. The first verse talks specifically about the pain and outrage one feels when a friend becomes a snitch, someone who cooperates with the authorities to avoid punishment. The rapper expresses his disbelief and hurt that someone he's known for years would turn their back on him like that. He also highlights the fact that prison can make even the bravest men crumble and turn cowardly, which is why it's important to know who you can trust before engaging in risky behavior.
The second verse is more threatening and violent in tone. The rapper is addressing a person who has been bad-mouthing him behind his back, and is basically challenging him to a fight. He accuses the person of being a coward and a traitor, and warns him that he won't get away with it. The rapper uses violent imagery and language to convey his anger and frustration, and suggests that he has no qualms about using violence to defend his honor.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the harsh realities of street life, where loyalty and trust are hard to come by and betrayal can have deadly consequences. It shows the darker side of friendship and how easily it can be broken under certain circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, It's like this man, It's real simple
This is a straightforward concept
If my nigga was my nigga like I thought he was
If someone I trusted wasn't really trustworthy
Would he have snitched, hung me out the dry to fuck
Would he have betrayed me and gotten me in trouble?
Guess you don't know a nigga 'till you catch a case with 'em
You can't really know someone until you're in a difficult situation with them
It ain't all gravy just because you make cake with 'em
Just because you make money with someone doesn't mean everything is good
It's real, niggas scared to death of state prison
People are really afraid of going to prison
To the end when a nigga get caught start snitchin'
When someone is caught, they will start to talk and get others in trouble
Imagine the eyes of a nigga that you knew
Think about someone who you thought you knew well
For about 20 joints with the nerve to point
Someone who can point fingers and blame others, even though you've known them for a long time
Hurt worser than that physical pain
The emotional pain is worse than physical pain
You fetish nigga roll with the sorry fuck now he switchin' to lame
Someone who was once your friend and now is a snitch
Niggas in the box could relate to my pain
People who are locked up can understand what I'm going through
All I got is my word and I'mma get you thats my word
All I can promise is that I'll get revenge
Through family friends or even fuckin' your bird
I'll do whatever it takes to make you pay, even if it means hurting those close to you
Fuck it anything long as your death occur
I don't care how it happens, as long as you're dead
Whatever happened to death before dishonor
People used to value dying with honor, but now that doesn't matter
It's time for your end and i'ts my honor
I take pleasure in ending your life
(Kill that nigga)
I want this person dead
Never wish death, only if I have to, if it's my last option left
I don't want someone to die unless it's absolutely necessary
Should of kept your mouth tight he's losin' his life
If you had kept quiet, you wouldn't be in this situation
Be locked up or sending out kites
Either be in prison or be communicating secretly
Ay yo this nigga runnin' 'round runnin' his mouth speakin' on the wrong shit
This guy is talking about things he shouldn't be
What the fuck is this Dave Letterman shit on the late night
Why is he talking about this on TV?
Creep on the talk show as rap asses get shot in they throat, speak on that
While he's talking about nonsense, rappers are getting killed
Girlie mouth nigga you worse than a bitch
You're acting like a coward
I done shot niggas for you put my life at risk
I've done dangerous things for you in the past
How you gonna go behind me and knife my back
How can you betray me like that?
Must be insane and I got a cure for that
You must be crazy, and I have a way to deal with that
My hammer will knock sense in the nigga real quick
I will beat some sense into him
Nail a nigga tongue with the four fifth
Shoot him in the mouth
Nigga you in violation of that code of silence
You broke the trust and loyalty among us
Niggas like you get real niggas unedited
People like you make real niggas look bad
We can have that kidnap that bitch torture and tourment that snitch
We could kidnap someone close to him and make him suffer
We gotta make examples out these hummig bird fucks
We need to punish people who are weak or disloyal
Matter fact pull 'em out the trunk, I'm bout to
Actually, bring him here, I'm going to kill him now
(Kill that nigga)
I want this person dead
Never wish death, only if I have to, if it's my last option left
I don't want someone to die unless it's absolutely necessary
Should of kept your mouth tight he's losin' his life
If you had kept quiet, you wouldn't be in this situation
Be locked up or sending out kites
Either be in prison or be communicating secretly
(Kill that nigga)
I want this person dead
(Kill that nigga)
I want this person dead
(Kill that nigga)
I want this person dead
I'm sendin' out kites
I'm communicating secretly
(Kill that nigga)
I want this person dead
(Kill that nigga)
I want this person dead
(Kill that nigga)
I want this person dead
(Kill that nigga)
I want this person dead
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERT JOHNSON, J. WILLIAMS, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind