Prodigy is the name of more than one artist. For the electronic group, plea… Read Full Bio ↴Prodigy is the name of more than one artist. For the electronic group, please correct your tags to The Prodigy.

1) rapper from Mobb Deep
2) group fronted by Todd Duane and Lale Larsen
3) 90s teenage rapper
4) 70s powerpop from Minnesota
5) US progressive/power metal
6) lounge jazz, alias of Miki Litvak
7) 90s US metal
8) US rapper in The Dominion

1) Albert Johnson (born November 2, 1974 in Bradford, Brooklyn, New York and died on June 20, 2017 in Las Vegas), better known by his stage name Prodigy, was a member of the hip hop duo Mobb Deep. Prodigy worked as a solo artist since the early 2000s. He was born to parents of Ethiopian and Jamaican descent. Prodigy was born with sickle cell anemia and suffered from the disease throughout his life. Propelled to awareness partially by fellow Queens, New York rapper Nas, who took a similar approach lyrically on his championed "Illmatic" album from 1994, as well as with the aid of a successful single, "Shook Ones Pt. 2," Mobb Deep suddenly found themselves developing a quickly growing cult. A year later, in 1996, Prodigy and Havoc released "Hell on Earth"; debuting at number six on SoundScan, the album found them fully realizing their approach, dropping both evocative beats and cinematic rhymes that communicated the dark side of New York's urban landscape. Thanks to a grim video for "Hell on Earth (Front Lines)" and theatrical Scarface-like photos inside the CD booklet picturing the duo with guns and a mound of cocaine, Mobb Deep had created an elaborate image for themselves that took hardcore gangsta rap to a new level for East Coast hip hop. Their next release, "Murda Muzik", was heavily bootlegged while still in its demo stage, leaking rough versions of the nearly 30 songs the duo had recorded onto the streets and over the internet.

Months after the bootlegs leaked and after several pushed-back street dates, "Murda Muzik" was formally released, debuting at number three on the Billboard charts and quickly going platinum on the strength of "Quiet Storm," a song that epitomized the Mobb Deep style. The album was welcomed by critics, who again lauded the group's lucid cinematics, driven primarily by Havoc's production. In late 2000, Prodigy finally released his long-rumoured solo album, "H.N.I.C.", which saw the more lyrically gifted member of the group collaborating with outside producers such as The Alchemist and Rockwilder on tracks that didn't depart far from the trademark sullen Mobb Deep style. Their follow-up, "Infamy", was the duo’s last album for Loud, distributed by Columbia Records and was, for some, a disappointment lyrically and musically, while others praised it as amongst the best rap albums of the year. Loud was absorbed by its new distributor shortly afterwards.

Mobb Deep then signed with Jive, under a unique deal that gave the duo its own imprint, Infamous Records, and released "Amerika'z Nightmare", a very uneven effort, which featured production by The Alchemist and Lil' Jon. However, despite a successful single that featured a Thomas Dolby sample. The duo was not happy with Jive, and were let go at its request. The duo took a hiatus afterwards and came back in 2006, signing to 50 Cent’s Interscope/Universal-distributed G-Unit imprint. Their well-hyped "Blood Money" was a failure from the money side when compared to fellow label mates like 50 Cent, Young Buck and Lloyd Banks. Some accused the duo of selling out, with their beats and rhymes not up-to-par with previous efforts on Loud.

He completed work on his third solo album "H.N.I.C. Part 2", which was previewed on his official mixtape "The Return of the Mac" on the independent label Koch Records. The mixtape single and mixtape video are called "Mac 10 Handle," and it shows Prodigy once again reverting to his trademark braids that he had prior to the release of Mobb Deep's 2004 "Amerika'z Nightmare" album; different from the short fade he had from 2004 to 2006. "H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 was released through Voxonic Inc., of which Prodigy is an equity holder.

www.hnic2.com/

Nickel And A Nail
Prodigy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Intro:]
This... is one of those ones... you heard?
Alchemist! (yeah nigga?) What the fuck is the deal, nigga?
It's that gutta, gutta, gutta, gutta shit nigga! (Yeah, Twin I see you, my nigga!)
With my little dirty niggaz!

[Verse 1:]
That nigga P is thug enough to rep' QB from Long Island

Hempstead niggaz thug their way to the top,
Man as a young gun I was like they can't stop me
Now I'm all grown obviously they ain't stop me (nope!)
Tried my hands at drug that shit wasn't for me (uh-uh!)
Appear to this royalty that shit is like chicken fee.
Some chose +Ballin'+, music was my callin'
As long as it sounds gutta you hear me all along (yeeah!)
Where most make in a year - I get off one song
And that shit is not fair to you - but fuck y'all man!
I'm still comin' up on that rough side, that tough side
Nuttin' was handed to me, I had to go for mine (yeah!)
My shit is hard earn, you stumbled on your shine
We built this from the dirt - you copy off of mine (mine!)
Once again! - It's the homie that thug rhymes
And kill beats! - Niggaz is burnt, they runnin' outta lines.

[Interlude:]
Ha-ha-ha!
Nah nigga don't ask me from shit!
Nigga don't come up to me with that!

[Chorus:]
The fully loaded .2-5! (.2-5!) (uh-huh!)
With one extra bullet on the side!

[Interlude:]
You don't want what I got in my pocket, nigga.
Do you really want this? Do you really want this? (yeah!)
I got somethin' for you! (yeah, uh-huh!) Come here, check it out! (uh-huh!)

[Chorus:]
The fully loaded .2-5! (.2-5!)
With one extra bullet on the side! (yeah!)

[Verse 2:]
That nigga P bug enough to bring my gun, where's that wildin'
It's too much cops there, chill P you wildin'. (waov!)
Fuck that I've been too much to start calmin'
Down now seen too much to start fallin'. (damn!)
Off of my gun game, niggaz is retarded!
Won't catch P! - Bucket - naked - without my pistoler (nope!)
Like Adam in the garden,
It's beast out in the field and apples ain't shit when you're starvin'
Time for me to run 'em up, pardon!
I'm overly aggressive with life - you too soft, man!
I'm doin' what I does best, you try to block me
You'll get knocked down try to stand where I rock please. (pssssshhh!)
Don't force to pop these shots in your frame
Leave your blood blocked in the brain. (in the brain!)
And that's not suppose to bleed
How you gon' pull through with them hoes and your bee. (Nah, he's not gon' make it!)

[Chorus"]
The fully loaded .2-5! (Uh-huh, you see me nigga?)
With one extra bullet on the side! (You see me nigga, what nigga?, what?)

The fully loaded .2-5, (Want that?)
With one extra bullet on the side (You could have it!)
All I got in my pocket... (in my pocket...)
Is a nickel and a nail. (What else?)

The fully loaded .2-5! (.2-5!)
With one extra bullet on the side (uh-huh!)
All I got in my pocket... (What's that?)
Is a nickel and a nail! (And what's that?)

The fully loaded .2-5! (.2-5!)
With one extra bullet on the side! (Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Nickel plated .2-5!)

[Sample"]
"The Mac is motherfucking back! "

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Prodigy's song "Nickel And A Nail" tell the story of his rise in the music industry from a young gun to a successful artist. He talks about his struggle to make it to the top and how he had to earn his success the hard way. Throughout the song, we see Prodigy's signature tough and aggressive style, as he talks about his experiences with drugs, his hard work in music, and his unapologetic attitude toward those who doubt him. The chorus, "The fully loaded .2-5 with one extra bullet on the side" represents his readiness for any situation, as he carries a loaded gun with him at all times.

The song also includes a sample from the classic 70s blaxploitation film "The Mack," where the main character boldly proclaims his return. This sample adds to the overall theme of toughness and resilience in the face of adversity that Prodigy embodies throughout the song.

Overall, "Nickel And A Nail" serves as a testament to Prodigy's grit and determination in the face of obstacles, making it a fan-favorite and a classic in the hip-hop genre.

Line by Line Meaning

That nigga P is thug enough to rep' QB from Long Island
Prodigy is tough enough to represent Queensbridge, New York from Long Island

Hempstead niggaz thug their way to the top
Hempstead guys climb to the top by being thuggish

Man as a young gun I was like they can't stop me
When he was young, he felt unstoppable

Now I'm all grown obviously they ain't stop me (nope!)
Now that he's grown, it's clear that they didn't stop him

Tried my hands at drug that shit wasn't for me (uh-uh!)
He tried drugs but it wasn't his thing

Appear to this royalty that shit is like chicken fee.
The money he makes from music is like chump change to him

Some chose +Ballin'+, music was my callin'
Some people choose to play basketball, while music was P's calling

As long as it sounds gutta you hear me all along (yeeah!)
As long as it sounds raw and gritty, people will hear him

Where most make in a year - I get off one song
He makes more money from one song than most do in a year

And that shit is not fair to you - but fuck y'all man!
He knows it's not fair, but doesn't care about others' opinions

I'm still comin' up on that rough side, that tough side
He's still coming up from the rough side, the hard way

Nuttin' was handed to me, I had to go for mine (yeah!)
He didn't have anything handed to him, he had to work for it

My shit is hard earn, you stumbled on your shine
He earned everything the hard way, while others stumbled upon their success

We built this from the dirt - you copy off of mine (mine!)
He built his success from the ground up, while others copied his style

It's the homie that thug rhymes
He's the guy who raps with a thug mentality

And kill beats! - Niggaz is burnt, they runnin' outta lines.
He's killing beats, while others are running out of rhymes

The fully loaded .2-5! (.2-5!) (uh-huh!) With one extra bullet on the side!
He has a fully loaded .25 caliber gun and an extra bullet

You don't want what I got in my pocket, nigga.
He has something dangerous in his pocket

Do you really want this? Do you really want this? (yeah!) I got somethin' for you! (yeah, uh-huh!) Come here, check it out! (uh-huh!)
He's taunting someone, saying he has something for them

All I got in my pocket... (in my pocket...) Is a nickel and a nail. (What else?)
All he has in his pocket is loose change and a nail

The fully loaded .2-5! (.2-5!) With one extra bullet on the side! (Yeah, uh-huh! Nickel plated .2-5!)
He repeats that he has a fully loaded gun with an extra bullet and mentions it's nickel plated

That nigga P bug enough to bring my gun, where's that wildin'
Prodigy is brave enough to carry his gun, even when it's risky

It's too much cops there, chill P you wildin'. (waov!)
His friend tells him to calm down because there are too many cops around

Time for me to run 'em up, pardon!
He's ready to take on his opponents

I'm overly aggressive with life - you too soft, man!
He's rough with life and thinks others are too soft

I'm doin' what I does best, you try to block me You'll get knocked down try to stand where I rock please. (pssssshhh!)
He's doing what he does best, and warns others about trying to stand in his way

Don't force to pop these shots in your frame Leave your blood blocked in the brain. (in the brain!) And that's not suppose to bleed How you gon' pull through with them hoes and your bee. (Nah, he's not gon' make it!)
He threatens to shoot someone, saying they won't survive with their friends and family around

The fully loaded .2-5! (.2-5!) With one extra bullet on the side! (You see me nigga, what nigga?, what?)
He repeats that he has a fully loaded gun with an extra bullet

The Mac is motherfucking back!
This is a sample from another song - The Mac is back!

Contributed by Levi R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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