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.
On the Run
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You be the death of you, every do, last view will be arial
Put the Range on off road, the woods to bury you
Never question my M.O., or the ammo I carry, a state
Crime or federal, task force to battle you
Faggots, know what the lead'll do, put ya vest on daddy
Them slugs will burn like venerial, off top to carry you
Dirty laundry, we airing you, respect my gangsta, and savy
They drink the drink and rade the pain, to build some courage to clap me
Give a fuck if it's tellin' you, more the merry, I'm marry to guns
Muthafucka, pull ligaments, nigga, they vary
Being need of some medical, livin' life as vegetable
Take that, think about it and don't try nothin' fancy
Make a move and I'll level you, like a bomb with atomic forces
Niggas betta pray and kiss they crosses
Holy water to bless you, them slugs will tear your tissue
And clog the fuck outta a vassel, and got you seeing me crystal
Niggas sweatin' in they sleep, I got them sleepin' with pistols
I'm the dope, you the fiend, fuckin' right, I'm fiction
Shot a nigga from frontin', I'm on the run now
Nigga try to fuck with my hustle, I'm on the run now
Used to gettin' paper, I'm touchin', I'm on the run now
Life is so good, nigga, push me, I'm on the run now
Shot a nigga from frontin', I'm on the run now
Nigga try to fuck with my hustle, I'm on the run now
Used to gettin' paper, I'm touchin', I'm on the run now
Life is so good, nigga, push me, I'm on the run now
Nigga be duckin' and slidin', 'cause they know we providin'
All the shots for they night, they on us, we got it
It's on us, you can put ya money back in ya pocket
Keep ya chains and ya watches, this is deeper than robbing
I want your soul muthafucka, see you deep in some shit
Now you catchin' and shifts, and now I'm ready to flip
Without a thought, now we up in the whips
We play our own music, yeah, yo, we all on our dicks
Got these bitches nose open, they be breezin' and fiendin'
Got her shootin' at people, mad 'cause they girl leave them
They can't believe it, now my car change with the seasons
When the spring, summer, fall, the truck droppin' the t-rex
I be boatin' and flying, strapped in when I'm driving
Be on the side walking off, we truly be wilding
They got billions behind 'em, still can't fuck with our rhyming
And these songs overpower, where shit they frontin'
Shot a nigga from frontin', I'm on the run now
Nigga try to fuck with my hustle, I'm on the run now
Used to gettin' paper, I'm touchin', I'm on the run now
Life is so good, nigga, push me, I'm on the run now
Shot a nigga from frontin', I'm on the run now
Nigga try to fuck with my hustle, I'm on the run now
Used to gettin' paper, I'm touchin', I'm on the run now
Life is so good, nigga, push me, I'm on the run now
It's fucked up now ain't no sense in puttin' the gun down
In "On the Run," Mobb Deep discusses their lifestyle as criminals and the violence that accompanies it. The first verse specifically details their proficiency with weapons, suggesting that they are quick to use them and will not hesitate to take someone's life. The second verse talks about the consequences of their actions and how they must constantly be on the run from the law. The chorus emphasizes this, repeating the phrase "I'm on the run now" and suggesting that they cannot escape the lifestyle they have chosen.
Throughout the song, Mobb Deep glorifies their criminal behavior and the freedom and power that comes with it while also acknowledging the danger and fear that accompanies that lifestyle. This reflects a common trope in gangster rap music where crime is romanticized and viewed as an avenue to escape poverty and oppression.
Overall, "On the Run" portrays the price of crime and its emotional toll on its practitioners. It highlights the high-stakes lifestyle Mobb Deep lived in and the consequences that accompany that lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
You know my weapons conventional, blow a hole, then you folding
I have traditional weapons that can do severe damage, leaving you incapacitated.
You be the death of you, every do, last view will be arial
Your actions will lead to your own demise, with your final moments being seen from above.
Put the Range on off road, the woods to bury you
I'll take my off-road vehicle to the woods to dispose of your body.
Never question my M.O., or the ammo I carry, a state
Don't doubt my methods, or the ammunition I possess, whether it's illegal or not.
Crime or federal, task force to battle you
Whether it's a state crime or federal offense, law enforcement will have to go to war against me.
Faggots, know what the lead'll do, put ya vest on daddy
You know the damage a bullet can do, so put on your bulletproof vest.
Them slugs will burn like verenial, off top to carry you
The bullets will burn like a disease, striking you down instantly.
Dirty laundry, we airing you, respect my gangsta, and shotty
We're exposing your secrets, so show some respect for my gangsta and my shotgun.
You little raps don't grab me, the truth'll hurt for they addy
Your weak lyrics don't impress me, and the truth can sometimes be painful.
They drink the drink and rade the pain, to build some courage to clap me
They drink and use drugs to numb the pain, so they can gather the courage to try and kill me.
Give a fuck if it's tellin' you, more the merry, I'm marry to guns
I don't care if it's telling on me, because the more guns I have, the better.
Muthafucka, pull ligaments, nigga, they vary
I'll pull your ligaments and cause you immense pain, because the extent of your suffering will vary.
Being need of some medical, livin' life as vegetable
You'll need medical attention or you'll be left paralyzed and unable to live a normal life.
Take that, think about it and don't try nothin' fancy
Consider that as a warning, and refrain from trying anything risky.
Make a move and I'll level you, like a bomb with atomic forces
If you make a move, I'll take you down with the force of a powerful bomb.
Niggaz betta pray and kiss they crosses
People should pray and seek divine intervention before facing me.
Holy water to bless you, them slugs will tear your tissue
Even the blessing of holy water won't protect you from the bullets that will shred your body.
And clog the fuck outta a vassel, and got you seeing me crystal
The bullets will block your blood vessels, and leave your vision crystal clear as you face your demise.
Niggaz sweatin' in they sleep, I got them sleepin' with pistols
People are so scared of me that they sleep with guns under their pillows.
I'm the dope, you the fiend, fuckin' right, I'm fiction
I'm the drug and you're addicted to me, confirming that everything about me is fiction.
Nigga be duckin' and slidin', 'cause they know we providin'
People are trying to avoid us because they know we're a source of violence.
All the shots for they night, they on us, we got it
Everyone wants to drink and party with us, and we have everything covered.
It's on us, you can put ya money back ya pocket
We have everything under control, so put your money away.
Keep ya chains and ya watches, this is deeper than robbing
Hold on to your jewelry, because this is more than just a simple robbery.
I want your soul muthafucka, see you deep in some shit
I want your very essence, and I'll make sure you get into serious trouble if you mess with me.
Now you catchin' and shifts, and now I'm ready to flip
You're doing everything you can to avoid being caught, but I'm always ready to turn the tables on you.
Without a thought, now we up in the whips
We don't hesitate to jump into our cars and drive away from danger.
We pay our own music, yeah, yo, we all on our dicks
We produce and pay for our own music, and we take pride in our work.
Got these bitches nose open, they be breezin' and fiendin'
We have women under our spell, and they're desperate for our attention.
Got her shootin' at people, mad 'cause they do leave them
These women are so obsessed with us that they'll even shoot people who dare to try and leave them.
They can't believe it, now my car change with the seasons
People are shocked by our success and the material possessions we have, like cars that change with the seasons.
When the spring, summer, fall, the truck droppin' the t-rex
Our truck, which looks like a T-Rex, drops down in the spring, summer, and fall.
I be boatin' and flying, strapped in when I'm driving
I'm always traveling by boat or plane, and even when I'm driving, I'm always armed.
Be on the side walking off, we truly be wilding
We walk away from danger like it's nothing, because we're truly living dangerously.
They got billions behind 'em, still can't fuck with our rhyming
Our skill at rapping and music-making is so strong that even people with billions of dollars can't compete.
And these songs overpower, where shit they frontin'
Our music has incredible power and influence, far surpassing any other artists who are pretending to be something they're not.
Shot a nigga from frontin', I'm on the run now
I had to shoot someone who was pretending to be something they're not, and now I'm on the run.
Nigga try to fuck with my hustle, I'm on the run now
If anyone tries to interfere with my business operations, I'll have to flee the scene.
Used to gettin' paper, I'm touchin', I'm on the run now
I'm accustomed to making money in my own way, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep that going, even if it means going on the run.
Life is so good, nigga, push me, I'm on the run now
My life is great, but if someone tries to test me, I'll have no choice but to go into hiding.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Albert Johnson, Kejuan Waliek Muchita
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind