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.
What Can I Do
Mobb Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, uh-huh ("What can I do?")
Yeah yeah (What's goin on man?)
(The fuck is goin on man?)
Yo {"What can I do?"}
To make that paper was the trait that I received at birth
Niggas jealous and hatin' on me ("What can I do?")
Fuck the fame and glory ("What can I do?")
When your shorty gets nasty and horny, she all over me kid
You locked down, doin' a bid ("What can I do?")
With a nigga, tryin' to take food off of my plate
And you know I got a kid ("What can I do?")
When my stomach touchin', ribs showin'
You off in the corner glowin' ("What can I do?")
Nothin' else, but to take what's yours, convert it to mines
From the cash to the shine ("What can I do?")
When shit is so fucked up, can't tell wrong from right
Right from wrong ("What can I do?")
When they say, life is short, to you it's the cash
Today it's seemin' long ("What can I do?")
Now I try to keep a positive look, my motto to jux
But can't seem to stay focused ("What can I do?")
They say, an unoccupied mind's the devil's playground
So I sat and wrote this, to kill time ("What can I do?")
[Prodigy]
Yeah yeah that's that gangsta shit son
I feel you my nigga (that's right that's right) ("What can I do?")
(Infamous baby you ain't know?) We goin' do it like this
(That Mobb shit nigga) ("What can I do?")
But send niggas to hell
They try and stop me from cashin' in man ("What can I do?")
But squeeze without thinkin', flip without warnin'
I got the drop on 'em ("What can I do?")
You know, give it my best, empty this clip
And if live and happen to snitch ("What can I do?")
Except, find his home, bring it to his family
Should I shoot his moms? ("What can I do?")
Fuck it, send him a warnin', lick that bitch
Let him know the shit is on ("What can I do?")
It's not my fault, it's just the game we in
And when you violate codes ("What can I do?")
But punish niggas for they actions
My shit jam when I start blastin', no ("What can I do?")
Just relax, take out the clip, fix that shit
Put the clip back and keep goin' ("What can I do?")
Man you gotta keep your thug showin'
People take kindness for weakness and so ("What can I do?")
But be a cold-hearted bastard
This world is fucked up, and that's how it go ("What can I do?")
(Fuck that son, Infamous nigga) ("What can I do?")
(For two-thousands baby, why yall niggas got your own) ("What can I do?")
(Your little run, your little five year run ten year run)
(Y'all niggas small time baby) ("What can I do?")
(Small time baby, beneath us baby)
[Repeats]
"What can I do?"
The lyrics of Mobb Deep's "What Can I Do?" talk about the struggles of living in the harsh realities of life, from poverty to violence, jealousy and betrayal. The verses are expressed in a stream-of-consciousness manner, where both Havoc and Prodigy (the members of the group) rap about the difficulties that come with trying to make money and keep oneself safe in a treacherous environment. The chorus "What can I do?" is a constant and rhetorical question asked throughout the song, where the artists acknowledge all the challenges they face but ultimately conclude there's not much they can do, and that they have to keep fighting and defending themselves.
The first verse sung by Havoc, he talks about the jealous and envious people around him that are plotting and scheming against him. He explains that he carries his gun everywhere, and while he's not interested in fame or glory, women throw themselves at him, causing problems with other men. Havoc also talks about being in prison, and how the experience changed him, making him more aggressive and fearful, and his only concern is getting his fair share and taking what is his. In Prodigy's verse, he raps about the cold-hearted reality of the game they're in, where the ultimate goal is to survive and make money. He knows that he has to be tough and merciless to succeed in this environment, and that means being willing to hurt others, even their families' members, without hesitation.
The song shows the harshness of the life Mobb Deep lived and experienced, giving insight into the struggles of people caught in situations of poverty, violence, and mistrust. The verses reiterate that life is not fair, and for anyone to thrive in harsh environments, they must be willing to do what it takes and face their fears head-on. The message of the song is not a pleasant one, but it's the reality of the situation that many people have lived through.
Line by Line Meaning
To make that paper was the trait that I received at birth
Making money is what I was born to do.
Niggas jealous and hatin' on me ("What can I do?")
People envy me and want to bring me down, but there's nothing I can do about it.
When they plottin' and schemin' on me, the hammer just keep it on me
When people are plotting against me, I make sure to carry a gun for protection.
Fuck the fame and glory ("What can I do?")
I don't care about being famous or glorified.
When your shorty gets nasty and horny, she all over me kid
When your girlfriend gets horny, she comes to me.
You locked down, doin' a bid ("What can I do?")
You're in jail and I can't do anything to help you.
With a nigga, tryin' to take food off of my plate
Someone is trying to take what's mine.
And you know I got a kid ("What can I do?")
I have a child to provide for.
When my stomach touchin', ribs showin'
I'm hungry and don't have enough to eat.
You off in the corner glowin' ("What can I do?")
You're happy and doing well while I'm struggling.
Nothin' else, but to take what's yours, convert it to mines
I have to take what's rightfully mine.
From the cash to the shine ("What can I do?")
I want money and success.
When shit is so fucked up, can't tell wrong from right
When everything is a mess, it's hard to make the right decision.
Right from wrong ("What can I do?")
It's difficult to distinguish what's right from wrong.
When they say, life is short, to you it's the cash
People say life is short, but to me, money is everything.
Today it's seemin' long ("What can I do?")
Time is moving too slowly for me.
Now I try to keep a positive look, my motto to jux
I try to stay positive and keep hustling.
But can't seem to stay focused ("What can I do?")
I have trouble concentrating.
They say, an unoccupied mind's the devil's playground
If you're not busy, you'll get into trouble.
So I sat and wrote this, to kill time ("What can I do?")
I wrote this to pass the time and keep myself occupied.
But send niggas to hell
I don't tolerate disrespect.
They try and stop me from cashin' in man ("What can I do?")
People try to prevent me from making money.
But squeeze without thinkin', flip without warnin'
I'll shoot without hesitation.
I got the drop on 'em ("What can I do?")
I have the advantage over them.
You know, give it my best, empty this clip
I'll do my best to win and use all the bullets in my gun.
And if live and happen to snitch ("What can I do?")
If they survive, they might tell on me, but I'm not sure what I'd do.
Except, find his home, bring it to his family
I might intimidate him by threatening his family.
Should I shoot his moms? ("What can I do?")
I'm considering whether or not to harm his mother.
Fuck it, send him a warnin', lick that bitch
I'll send him a message to let him know I'm serious.
Let him know the shit is on ("What can I do?")
He needs to understand that I'm not playing around.
It's not my fault, it's just the game we in
I don't make the rules, I just play the game.
And when you violate codes ("What can I do?")
If you break the rules, you suffer the consequences.
But punish niggas for they actions
I'm not afraid to punish people who cross me.
My shit jam when I start blastin', no ("What can I do?")
My gun might malfunction when I start shooting.
Just relax, take out the clip, fix that shit
If my gun fails, I'll fix it and keep going.
Put the clip back and keep goin' ("What can I do?")
I'll continue to fight even if my gun malfunctions.
Man you gotta keep your thug showin'
You need to show your toughness and strength.
People take kindness for weakness and so ("What can I do?")
If you don't seem strong, people will take advantage of you.
But be a cold-hearted bastard
You need to be ruthless to succeed.
This world is fucked up, and that's how it go ("What can I do?")
The world is messed up, and there's nothing I can do about it.
"What can I do?"
I'm expressing my frustration and asking for help.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CLARENCE HENRY REID, DELVIN JONES, O'SHEA JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisdub846
found this CD (with the bonus disc) at a local record shop for $4. truly a hidden gem
@1SportyP
You stole that🤣🔥
@Dopesque
Yeah what a steal🔥🔥🔥
@BigD7997
this whole cd was a classic
@sgs6330
Theultragamer official had this when it came out.
@adamgordon2572
Theultragamer : Yessir 🔥🔥
@1trl2
word
@breaks3085
Badman track 🔥🔥🔥
@rubski-ds9yc
@@breaks3085 I still have my double cd in perfect condition 18 years later
@moneyflee
This is one of the most slept on tracks from Mobb Deep🔥🔥🔥