“I was like, ‘Damn. What the fuck is this?’ He’s like, ‘It’s some bullshit, I’m about to fucking scratch this shit and do another one.’ I was like ‘Nah, don’t scratch that nigga, hold up. Let niggas hear this.’ And I called niggas over like, ‘Yo, listen to this fucking beat this nigga just made.’ And everybody was like, ‘Yo, that shit is crazy.’ Then we both just started writing rhymes to it and it came out good. We knocked that out all in one day. So, I had to save that one.
“Hav’s pops was a DJ, so Hav had a lot of records from the ‘70s and the ‘80s. We both had a good record collection. Hav was already listening to records before I met him. He was trying to sample on a cassette player, hit record, pause, record, and pause, and making the beats like that. When he met me, we bought the equipment. That’s when he started to really get into making beats. I actually showed him how to sample, how to do this, and how to sequence the shit. Once he got the hang of it he just went in and started going crazy."
Havoc: “I was just making beats in my crib in the projects. We had already put out ‘Shook Ones’ and our confidence was up. At that time, I was into sampling a lot of jazz records so I found this loop. I put it together. I tried to make it sound as crispy as I could when we were in the studio recording it.
“I remember my cousin Ferg being in the studio. He was from Brooklyn, he was running the streets wild, and he was like 16 at the time, so I said, ‘Yo, go in the booth and just go ad-lib behind the chorus.’ And he was just like, ‘Yeah, thug life we still living it.’ And this is way before Tupac [started saying ‘Thug Life’] and I don’t know if he felt like he came with that first. But this is from the heart, when we did that we didn’t know nothing about no Tupac. My little cousin went back there [and did the hook] and the shit was dope. He wasn’t an actual rapper at that time. I know he used to write his little rhymes, but that’s not actually why I put him in the booth—I put him in there to get that raw, unbiased energy.
“ that was our thing. We were just straight hood. It wasn’t no pretty boy shit. It was like, ‘Yo, let’s throw on our Timbs.’ It didn’t get more harder than that. We weren’t the kind of muthafuckas that was in the mirror for like a half an hour, nah. Nine times out of ten, we wearing the same pants for the week. We had our Timbs with our 40s on the block. It wasn’t a gimmick. That’s what we was wearing.”
Matty C a.k.a. Matt Life (Executive Producer and A&R for Loud Records): “The original version of ‘Survival of the Fittest’ had James Brown going ‘Gotta get over before we get under!’ during the chorus and that had to come out. What the publishers wanted for that little sample wasn’t worth it. That was my first time dealing with those issues and helping the group make those calls about what was worth keeping.”
Schott Free (Executive Producer and A&R for Loud Records):“I remember leaving the office and going to the studio with Havoc. He was smoking a thousand cigarettes while chopping away at something and he had had the drums up for a minute. I remember he caught that one piano piece lovely. The whole crew was like, ‘Oooo.’ He came with the rhyme and format and everything like that.
“Then Tip gets a hold of it. Tip leaves the loop just like it is—the same way that Havoc caught it—but then just infiltrates it entirely on the drum situation. It intensifies the entire record. If you ever hear the original, it’s ill, it’s gloomy, it’s street, but it’s nowhere as huge as Tip made it when he just changed up the drums. He just implemented that over the loop that Hav had and then just added so much on top of it."
Survival of the Fittest
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sendin' this one out, to my man Killa B
No doubt indeed, without weed
Know what I'm sayin'?
That old real shit
There's a war goin' on outside no man is safe from
You could run but you can't hide forever
You walkin' witcha head down scared to look
You shook 'cause ain't no such things as halfway crooks
They never around when the beef cooks in my part of town
It's similar to Vietnam
Now we all grown up and old, and beyond the cops' control
They better have the riot gear ready
Tryin' to bag me and get rocked steady
By the MAC one-double, I touch you
And leave you with not much to go home wit'
My skin is thick, 'cause I be up in the mix of action
If I'm not at home, puffin' la, relaxin'
New York got a nigga depressed
So I wear a slug-proof underneath my Guess
God bless my soul, before I put my foot down and begin to stroll
Into the drama I built, and all unfinished beef
You will soon be killed, put us together
It's like mixin' vodka and milk
I'm goin' out blastin', takin' my enemies with me
And if not, they scarred, so they will never forget me
Lord, forgive me the Hennessy got me not knowin' how to act
I'm fallin' and I can't turn back
Or maybe it's the words from my man Killa Black
That I can't say so it's left a untold fact, until my death
My goal's to stay alive
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
Yo, yo
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(We still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(Thug life, we still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(We still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
(We livin' this 'til the day that we die)
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(Survival of the fit only the strong)
I'm trapped, in between two worlds, tryna get dough
Ya know when the dough get low the jewels go, but never that
As long as fiends smoke crack
I'll be on the block hustlin', countin' my stacks
No doubt, watchin' my back and proceed with caution
Five-oh lurkin', no time to get lost in the system
Niggas usin' fake names to get out quick
My brother did it and got bagged with two ounces
I live a world where squads hit the block hard
Ask my man Twin when he got bagged, that fucked me up, God
But shit happens for a reason
You find out who's your true peoples when you're upstate bleedin'
You can't find a shorty to troop your bid witchu
Hit wit a two to four is difficult
Wild on the streets I try to maintain
Tight with my loot, 'cause hoes like to run game
Some niggas like to trick but I ain't wit that trickin' shit
I'm like a Jew, savin' dough so I can big whip
Pushin' a Lex, now I'm set, ready to jet
No matter how much loot I get I'm stayin' in the projects, forever
Jakes on the blocks we out-clever
If beef, we never separate and pull together
When worse comes to worse and my peoples come first
Try to react and get them motherfuckin' feelings hurt
My crew's all about loot
Fuck lookin' cute, I'm strictly Timb' boots and army certified suits
Puffin Ls, laid back, enjoyin' the smell
In the Bridge gettin' down it ain't hard to tell
You better realize
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(We still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(Thug life, we still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(We still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(Thug life, we still livin' it) (the strong survive)
Open your eyes and get wise
Look alive
In '95, word up
Hypnotic thug life
Get that ass paralyzed
Know what I'm sayin'?
Mobb Deep and all that
"Survival of the Fittest" by Mobb Deep is a song that highlights the harsh realities of living in New York City in the 90s, particularly in areas where violence and crime were rampant. The song begins with a dedication to Killa B, and emphasizes that war is going on outside, and no one is safe. Gangsters are always lurking, and the streets have been taken over by them. Those who try to run or hide won't be able to do so forever.
The chorus emphasizes that only the strong can survive under such conditions. The lyrics also explain that the police are unable to control these gangsters, and the situation is compared to the Vietnam War. In the verses, the members of Mobb Deep recount their experiences with violence, crime, drugs, and their strategies to survive. They aim to stay alive and prosper, but also to get revenge on those who harm them. They remain resilient and clever despite the harsh realities that they face.
Overall, the song speaks to the themes of survival, resilience, and strength in the face of adversity. The lyrics are raw, honest, and gritty, and give listeners a glimpse into the harsh realities of life in urban America.
Line by Line Meaning
Sendin' this one out, to my man Killa B
Dedicating this song to my friend Killa B
There's a war goin' on outside no man is safe from
There's a lot of violence and danger in the streets
You could run but you can't hide forever
Trying to escape isn't a permanent solution
From these streets that we done took
We've claimed ownership of these streets
You walkin' witcha head down scared to look
You're afraid to look around and be aware of your surroundings
You shook 'cause ain't no such things as halfway crooks
You're scared because there are no half-hearted criminals
They never around when the beef cooks in my part of town
They disappear when violence erupts in my neighborhood
It's similar to Vietnam
The violence and danger in the streets is like a warzone
Now we all grown up and old, and beyond the cops' control
We've become too powerful for the police to control us
They better have the riot gear ready
The police need to be prepared for our violent actions
I'm goin' out blastin', takin' my enemies with me
I'll kill my enemies even if it means I'll die as well
My goal's to stay alive
I will do whatever it takes to survive
I'm trapped, in between two worlds, tryna get dough
I'm caught between making money and staying out of trouble
As long as fiends smoke crack, I'll be on the block hustlin', countin' my stacks
As long as there's a market for drugs, I'll keep selling them to make money
You can't find a shorty to troop your bid witchu
It's hard to find someone to support you when you're in jail
Hit wit a two to four is difficult
Being sentenced to two to four years in jail is tough to handle
Pushin' a Lex, now I'm set, ready to jet
Now that I'm driving a Lexus, I'm ready to leave the neighborhood
When worse comes to worse and my peoples come first
When things get bad, my friends and family are my priority
Try to react and get them motherfuckin' feelings hurt
If you mess with my people, you will face consequences
My crew's all about loot
My friends are all focused on making money
Puffin Ls, laid back, enjoyin' the smell
Smoking marijuana and relaxing in the neighborhood
Open your eyes and get wise
Wake up and be aware of your surroundings
In '95, word up
This is the year 1995
Hypnotic thug life
The gangster lifestyle is powerful and addicting
Get that ass paralyzed
We are not afraid of using violence to control others
Mobb Deep and all that
Mobb Deep is my crew and we're focused on success and survival
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kejuan Waliek Muchita, Albert Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gabrielkaufman8272
[Intro: Prodigy]
Yeah, sendin' this one out
To my man, Killer B
No doubt indeed
Where that weed?
Nomsayin'?
That old real shit
[Verse 1: Prodigy]
There's a war goin' on outside no man is safe from
You could run, but you can't hide forever
From these streets that we done took
You walkin' with your head down, scared to look
You shook, ‘cause ain't no such things as halfway crooks
They never around when the beef cooks in my part of town
It's similar to Vietnam
Now we all grown up and old, and beyond the cops' control
They better have the riot gear ready
Tryin' to bag me and get rocked steady
By the MAC one-double, I touch you
And leave you with not much to go home with
My skin is thick, ‘cause I be up in the mix of action
If I'm not at home, puffin' lye, relaxin'
New York got a nigga depressed
So I wear a slug-proof underneath my Guess
God bless my soul
Before I put my foot down and begin to stroll
Into the drama I built
And all unfinished beef, you will soon be killed
Put us together, it's like mixin' vodka and milk
I'm goin out blastin', takin' my enemies with me
And if not, they scarred, so they will never forget me
Lord, forgive me
The Hennessy got me not knowin' how to act
I'm fallin' and I can't turn back
Or maybe it's the words from my man Killa Black
That I can't say so it's left a untold fact
Until my death, my goal's to stay alive
Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
Mob[Chorus: Havoc]
Yo, yo, we livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
(We still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
(Thug life, we still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
(We still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
[Verse 2: Havoc]
I'm trapped, in between two worlds, tryin' to get dough
Y'know, when the dough get low the jewels go
But never that, as long as fiends smoke crack
I'll be on the block hustlin', countin' my stacks
No doubt, watchin' my back and proceed with caution
Five-oh lurkin', no time to get lost in the system
Niggas usin' fake names to get out quick
My brother did it and got bagged with two ounces
I live a world where squads hit the block hard
Ask my man Twin when he got bagged
That fucked me up, God, but shit happens for a reason
You find out who's your true peoples
When you're upstate bleedin'
You can't find a shorty to troop your bid with you
Hit with a two to four is difficult
Wild on the streets, I try to maintain
Tight with my loot, ‘cause hoes like to run game
Some niggas like to trick, but I ain't with that trickin' shit
I'm like a Jew, savin' dough so I can big whip
Pushin' a Lex, now I'm set, ready to jet
No matter how much loot I get
I'm stayin' in the projects forever
Jakes on the blocks we out-clever
If beef, we never separate and pull together
When worst comes to worst, my peoples come first
Try to react and get them motherfuckin' feelings hurt
My crew's all about loot—fuck lookin' cute!
I'm strictly Timb boots and Army certified suits
Puffin L's, laid back, enjoyin' the smell
In the Bridge, gettin' down, it ain't hard to tell
You better realize
[Chorus: Mobb Deep]
Yo, yo, we livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
(We still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
(Thug life, we still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
(We still livin' it)
We livin' this 'til the day that we die
Survival of the fit, only the strong survive
[Outro: Prodigy]
Open your eyes and get wise
Look alive, in '95, word up
Hypnotic thug life, get that ass paralyzed
Nomsayin? Mobb Deep and all that
@God-mg8zo
Mobb Deep... 2022 listeners are real gangsta rap fans, the authenticity will make Mobb Deep live forever
@MiyamotoMusashi.
Fr
@eamoncodwell6223
yuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr i also listen to wu tang
@MiyamotoMusashi.
@Eamon Codwell same
@e-industries9277
We are here😂
@emielderoo7718
Hell yh fkn 16 year olds being raised with this is best there is
@jimifash
If it doesn't make you feel like you can do anything, it's not true rap.
God bless Mobb Deep.
RIP Prodigy.
@bouncybengal7243
That is the deepest, most accurate (yet succinct) way I’ve ever heard someone sum up rap music🥇
@lutherpetty884
for real. I was super young banging this.
@albertdavis4920
Actually this is life. Their life they just spittin’