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/

Project Niggas
Prodigy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Verse- Young Buck](Prodigy)
The sound of gunshots, the smell of swisha sweets
Ki's of cocaine is all a nigga see
And all these niggas be lookin for a lick to hit
'cause it don't look like we leavin these bricks to quit
On them hot summer nights we be servin them whites
On them cold winter days we be shootin AK's
You ain't safe around here or in the yard

Its everyman for himself nigga livin is hard
You see the cars, the bars, the ghetto super stars
Some niggas got money and forgot who they are
We rob, kill, steal, whatever
("Ayo dunn when you gettin out the hood"), Never
My people need me, my heart is still here
Even tho police be hatin I'm still here
I'm standin on this corner till my pockets bigger
I'm goin to my grave as a project nigga

[Chorus- Young Buck/(Prodigy)]
You can take me out the hood but the hood still in me
A Project Nigga till the Lord convict me
(Yo we hood niggas, Project Niggas, everybody know we some ghetto ass niggas)
You can take me out the hood but the hood still in me
A Project Nigga till the Lord convict me
(Straight hood niggas, Project Niggas, y'all better know we some ghetto ass niggas)

[Verse- Prodigy]
P is a triple threat, VIP, the don't
P, bitch get a look at his arm
We megastars, we got bulletproof cars
And we ridin in them shits, with the guns in the door
Baum, is the only thing we smoke
I ain't pickin seed out my weed since '94
In New York, the projects is where we feel safe
Surrounded by the others like us, we embrace
All the bullshit, get you niggas a void
This is our life, we ain't got no choice
Look we enjoy ourselves in the middle of hell
Shots poppin niggas might run up on you with and tell
Like blow you away, you'll die with ya gun on ya waist
Half assed in a bare cold case
Nigga you ain't got strength like the Mobb and G-Unit
In the ghetto, my niggas rear run up in ya place

[Chorus- Young Buck/(Prodigy)]
You can take me out the hood but the hood still in me
A Project Nigga till the Lord convict me
(Yo we hood niggas, Project Niggas, everybody know we some ghetto ass niggas)
You can take me out the hood but the hood still in me
A Project Nigga till the Lord convict me
(Straight hood niggas, Project Niggas, y'all better know we some ghetto ass niggas)

[Verse- Havoc]
Gun through these niggas that stay hatin
Blood I can taste it, Buck I'm losin my patience
This rap shit, dudes got it fucked up boy
Don't you know we gettin money so we got more toys?
I fucked ya bitch, think nuthin of it
Got mad drama but we still out clubbin
We still out gunnin, dumpin the Mac clips
Homie we got this and y'all ain't have this
Baby ain't nuthin you know I'm spittin that crack shit
Like I'm still on the block, bunch of police flippin
Still in the kitchen cookin, workin that Trip Beam
Have fiends baggin watch them lick the plate clean
Do this for my niggas up north from them state greens
Bustin them hammers for clippin my sing sing
All my hood niggas don't worry just maintain
You know what it is G-Unit's what I bang

[Chorus- Young Buck/(Prodigy)]
You can take me out the hood but the hood still in me
A Project Nigga till the Lord convict me
(Yo we hood niggas, Project Niggas, everybody know we some ghetto ass niggas)
You can take me out the hood but the hood still in me

A Project Nigga till the Lord convict me
(Straight hood niggas, Project Niggas, y'all better know we some ghetto ass niggas)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Prodigy's song Project Niggas, specifically the verses by Young Buck, Prodigy, and Havoc, detail the harsh realities of living in poverty in the projects. The song paints a vivid picture of street life, filled with drug deals, gang violence, and constant danger. The repetition of the phrase "You can take me out the hood but the hood still in me" throughout the chorus reinforces the idea that no matter how successful some may become, they cannot escape their upbringing or the environment they came from. The lyrics also touch on themes of loyalty and brotherhood, with lines like "Surrounded by others like us, we embrace," illustrating the strong bonds formed within the community in the face of adversity.

The use of language in the song is significant, as it reflects the gritty reality of the streets. The inclusion of gunshots and the smell of "swisha sweets," a type of cigar commonly used for smoking marijuana, creates a vivid sensory experience for the listener. The lyrics speak to the normalization of violence and criminal activity within the community, with lines like "We rob, kill, steal, whatever," and "Bustin them hammers for clippin my sing sing." The use of slang and profanity further adds to the authenticity of the lyrics, giving the song a raw, unfiltered feel.

Overall, Project Niggas is a powerful commentary on the difficult circumstances faced by those living in poverty in the projects. The lyrics offer a stark reminder of the harsh realities of life for many Americans and the resilience required to survive in such challenging environments. The song also highlights the importance of community and the bonds formed in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

The sound of gunshots, the smell of swisha sweets
The constant gunfire and smell of weed is a regular occurrence in this neighborhood

Ki's of cocaine is all a nigga see
The drug trade is a prevalent part of life here, and cocaine is the main product being sold

And all these niggas be lookin for a lick to hit
People in this neighborhood are always looking for an opportunity to make money, often through illegal means

'cause it don't look like we leavin these bricks to quit
The people here feel trapped in their circumstances and don't see a way out

On them hot summer nights we be servin them whites
Drug dealing is especially lucrative during the summer months

On them cold winter days we be shootin AK's
Violence is a constant threat, even during the cold winter months

You ain't safe around here or in the yard
There is no safe place in this neighborhood, including in the prison yard

Its everyman for himself nigga livin is hard
Life is difficult and competitive, and everyone is out for themselves

Some niggas got money and forgot who they are
Some people in this neighborhood have become successful, but have lost touch with their roots and the struggles of those around them

We rob, kill, steal, whatever
Crime is a way of life here, and people will do whatever it takes to survive

('Ayo dunn when you gettin out the hood'), Never
There is no escape from this neighborhood or its lifestyle

My people need me, my heart is still here
Despite the difficulties, the artist feels loyal to their community and wants to help their people

Even tho police be hatin I'm still here
Despite the police targeting their community, the singer will not abandon their people

I'm standin on this corner till my pockets bigger
The singer is determined to make more money and improve their situation, even if it means continuing to deal drugs

I'm goin to my grave as a project nigga
The singer identifies strongly with their neighborhood and its struggles, and will always be a part of it

P is a triple threat, VIP, the don't
The artist, Prodigy, is a talented and respected figure in their community

P, bitch get a look at his arm
The artist is showing off their wealth and success, possibly through expensive jewelry

We megastars, we got bulletproof cars
While still being a part of their neighborhood, some people have become successful and wealthy enough to own luxury vehicles

And we ridin in them shits, with the guns in the door
Despite their success, people still feel the need to arm themselves and be prepared for violence at all times

Baum, is the only thing we smoke
The artist only smokes high-quality marijuana

I ain't pickin seed out my weed since '94
The artist has not had to deal with low-quality marijuana since 1994

In New York, the projects is where we feel safe
Despite its negative reputation, the artist feels safest in their neighborhood

Surrounded by the others like us, we embrace
The singer finds comfort in being around people who share their struggles and experiences

All the bullshit, get you niggas a void
The difficulties and negativity of life can lead people to feel empty and lost

This is our life, we ain't got no choice
People in this community feel stuck in their situation and have little control over their lives

Look we enjoy ourselves in the middle of hell
Despite the difficulties, people try to find joy and happiness in their everyday lives

Shots poppin niggas might run up on you with and tell
Violence and crime are threats to individuals in this neighborhood

Like blow you away, you'll die with ya gun on ya waist
The artist warns that people who carry guns may still be at risk of being killed

Half assed in a bare cold case
The artist is referring to unsolved murders that have been abandoned by the police

Nigga you ain't got strength like the Mobb and G-Unit
The singer and their associates are formidable and respected in their community

In the ghetto, my niggas rear run up in ya place
People in this community are not afraid to commit crimes, such as burglary

Gun through these niggas that stay hatin
The artist is willing to use violence against those who oppose them or their community

Blood I can taste it, Buck I'm losin my patience
The artist is growing increasingly frustrated with the negativity and violence in their community

This rap shit, dudes got it fucked up boy
The artist feels that others outside of their community have a skewed perception of their lifestyle and culture

Don't you know we gettin money so we got more toys?
Despite the difficulties, some people in this community have found financial success and are able to enjoy material possessions

I fucked ya bitch, think nuthin of it
The artist is bragging about sleeping with someone else's girlfriend, displaying a lack of respect for others

Got mad drama but we still out clubbin
Despite the difficulties and drama in their lives, people in this community still try to have fun and go out to clubs

We still out gunnin, dumpin the Mac clips
Violence is still a part of life in this community, and people are still using guns to settle disputes

Homie we got this and y'all ain't have this
The singer and their associates are proud of what they have accomplished and feel superior to others

Baby ain't nuthin you know I'm spittin that crack shit
The artist is confident in their ability to rap about their experiences, including drug dealing

Like I'm still on the block, bunch of police flippin
The artist is depicting a scenario where they are rapping about their experiences on the same block where the police are constantly surveilling them

Still in the kitchen cookin, workin that Trip Beam
The singer is still actively participating in the drug trade and is cooking cocaine

Have fiends baggin watch them lick the plate clean
The singer's customers are so addicted to their drugs that they will eagerly consume every last bit

Do this for my niggas up north from them state greens
The artist has friends who are incarcerated in prisons upstate, and is motivated to succeed in order to support them

Bustin them hammers for clippin my sing sing
The artist and their associates are willing to use violence to protect their friends who are incarcerated in Sing Sing prison

All my hood niggas don't worry just maintain
The artist encourages their fellow community members to stay strong and persevere through their struggles

You know what it is G-Unit's what I bang
The singer associates themselves with the rap group G-Unit, and their lifestyle and values align with the group's identity

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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