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/

Veterans Memorial Pt. 2
Prodigy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, yeah
Growing up niggas were murdered for no reason
We just wanna pop our guns, we was just beastin'
All up in the streets and Black was the worst

That was Hav' brother, we called 'em killa
Killa had an obsession for popping unexpected
He would just pop off when you weren't expected

High shot 'em in his head, shit killa ran home

Took some mad vil and put a bullet out on his own
A real nigga made of stone, we don't budge
We just stick to the script, when the Ds question us
Killa got knocked for a body and pump snitched on 'em

The next thing you know Killa came home Muslim
Huh, we ain't mad at cha' like the Mack-to-the-10
Too much and he's back at it again like the Scarface Twinz
I seen this, nigga cut a nigga up so bad I had to stop looking

I miss the dead, I wish the dead
Oh, please come back, I need ya help
And everybody that got somebody deceased
I know you feel the same, the spirit gon' live through me

Listen, I light a candle on your death and birthday
Lord have mercy it seems you cursed me with a life of pain
All I do is strain, everyday is a struggle, everyday it rain
Even when the sun's shining, they say that's when God's crying

Dark clouds hanging over my head made lightning
Strike me down if I'm lying
I miss my pops, all I got is lonely tear drops
And memories of him teaching me
To hurt people with my bare hands
And how to shoot people

I remember me and him stuck a jewelry store
He did the sticking, I was in the get-a-way car
Pops came out with a big bag full of jewelry
We had a high speed chase with Nassau County
I was eight years old, my pops was drama
They locked him and sent me home to mama

Thinking back it was me and E
Moneybags up in Champion Motor
I was Ferrari dreaming, E copped the navigator
On the way there and back, he told me about the jukes

Him and Troy took the niggas for their shine and had 'em shook
And how he killed Black Just but he meant to hit Preme
Shot up the nigga Rovo over by the Coliseum
I remember laying up fucked up in the hospital

Troy and Bags would visit, Troy had Sickle-cell
Me and him use to kick it and Bag's baby moms died giving birth
'Cause of Sickle-cell problems
And Shamik from LeFrak would bring me Red Lobster

I never knew they was coming, they would just pop up
My niggas, you stunt on us, we shoot people
Straight like that, no half step, I eat you

Alive with this .4/5 mag-num
Stay on your toes 'cause we toe-tagging 'em

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Prodigy's song Veterans Memorial Pt. 2 paint a vivid picture of the violent world that the rapper grew up in. The song begins by describing how senseless murders were a regular occurrence and how he and his friends just wanted to be tough, hence popping off their guns just to prove their masculinity. Hav's brother, Killa, had an obsession with sudden gun violence and ended up taking his own life after committing a murder. Prodigy describes how they stuck to the code of the streets and never cooperated with the police. He also talks about missing his father and the criminal activities that he engaged in during his youth such as robbing a jewelry store with his dad.

The song is intense and emotional, highlighting the pain and trauma that gun violence inflicts upon communities. The lyrics also expose the glamourization of violence, especially among young people who look up to tough guys with guns as heroes. Prodigy, however, acknowledges the fact that violence ultimately leads to death and encourages listeners to celebrate the memories of those they have lost.

Line by Line Meaning

Growing up niggas were murdered for no reason
In our neighborhood, people used to get killed without any justification or motive

We just wanna pop our guns, we was just beastin'
As youngsters, we had a strong desire to show off our firearms and intimidate others

All up in the streets and Black was the worst
We were always hanging around in the dangerous part of town, and things were particularly bad for black people

That was Hav' brother, we called 'em killa
There was a guy in our gang named Killa who was Havoc's brother

Killa had an obsession for popping unexpected
Killa had a tendency to shoot people when they least expected it

He would just pop off when you weren't expected
He had a habit of firing his gun without warning or provocation

High shot 'em in his head, shit killa ran home
One time, Killa shot a guy in the head and then fled the scene

Took some mad vil and put a bullet out on his own
Later on, Killa committed suicide by shooting himself with a gun

A real nigga made of stone, we don't budge
We prided ourselves on being tough and unyielding in the face of danger or adversity

We just stick to the script, when the Ds question us
When the police interrogated us, we always stuck to our story and didn't deviate from it

Killa got knocked for a body and pump snitched on 'em
Killa was arrested for a murder and then gave information to the police about someone else

The next thing you know Killa came home Muslim
After Killa got out of prison, he had converted to Islam

Huh, we ain't mad at cha' like the Mack-to-the-10
We didn't have any ill feelings toward Killa, even after he had given information to the police

Too much and he's back at it again like the Scarface Twinz
Killa soon returned to his old ways, just like the Scarface Twinz who were notorious for their criminal activities

I seen this, nigga cut a nigga up so bad I had to stop looking
I witnessed a guy getting stabbed so badly that I couldn't bear to keep watching

I miss the dead, I wish the dead
I feel a lot of sorrow and longing for the people who have passed away

Oh, please come back, I need ya help
I wish the deceased individuals were still alive, as I often feel like I could use their guidance or assistance

And everybody that got somebody deceased
This feeling of loss is something that many people can relate to, regardless of their specific circumstances

I know you feel the same, the spirit gon' live through me
I believe that the spirits of the dead continue to exist through us and our memories and actions

Listen, I light a candle on your death and birthday
To honor the memory of those who have passed away, I light a candle on the anniversary of their birth and also on the day of their death

Lord have mercy it seems you cursed me with a life of pain
I feel like I have been burdened with a lot of suffering in my life, and I wonder if there is some divine reason behind it

All I do is strain, everyday is a struggle, everyday it rain
My life feels like a constant battle, and even on the days when the sun is out, it still feels like a stormy, difficult journey

Even when the sun's shining, they say that's when God's crying
Some people say that when it is sunny outside, it is because God is weeping for our sadness and pain

Dark clouds hanging over my head made lightning
I feel like I live under a dark cloud of misfortune and negativity, and sometimes it feels like that cloud throws lightning bolts at me

Strike me down if I'm lying
I am speaking the truth and am willing to face any consequences if I am proven to be wrong

I miss my pops, all I got is lonely tear drops
I am deeply saddened by the loss of my father, and my only solace is to cry and mourn for him

And memories of him teaching me
I cherish the memories I have of my father teaching me important life lessons

To hurt people with my bare hands
One of the things my father taught me was how to physically harm others with just my fists

And how to shoot people
Another thing my father taught me was how to use a gun and take someone's life

I remember me and him stuck a jewelry store
I have a vivid recollection of my father and me robbing a jewelry store together

He did the sticking, I was in the get-a-way car
I was the driver for the robbery, while my father went inside and committed the actual theft

Pops came out with a big bag full of jewelry
After he was done stealing, my father emerged from the store with a large bag full of valuable items

We had a high speed chase with Nassau County
The police pursued us in a high speed chase that followed our get-away car as we tried to flee the scene of the crime

I was eight years old, my pops was drama
I was only eight years old at the time of the robbery, and my father was a dramatic and intense person

They locked him and sent me home to mama
After we were caught by the police, they arrested my father and sent me back home to my mother

Thinking back it was me and E
As I reflect on my past, I realize that my friend E was often around for many of my experiences

Moneybags up in Champion Motor
Me and E were in a fancy car from a luxury brand called Champion Motor

I was Ferrari dreaming, E copped the navigator
I was fantasizing about owning a Ferrari someday, while E decided to purchase a different type of car instead

On the way there and back, he told me about the jukes
During our car ride, E shared stories with me about all of the successful robberies he had pulled off, which he called 'jukes'.

Him and Troy took the niggas for their shine and had 'em shook
E and his friend Troy had robbed some people and taken their valuable items, which made the victims very scared

And how he killed Black Just but he meant to hit Preme
E had killed a guy named Black Just, even though he had actually intended to kill someone else named Preme

Shot up the nigga Rovo over by the Coliseum
In another violent incident, E had shot someone named Rovo near the Coliseum

I remember laying up fucked up in the hospital
I have a clear memory of being badly injured and hospitalized after some kind of traumatic event

Troy and Bags would visit, Troy had Sickle-cell
While I was recovering in the hospital, my friends Troy and Bags came to see me, and Troy had a condition called Sickle-cell

Me and him use to kick it and Bag's baby moms died giving birth
Troy and I used to hang out and spend time together, and I remember when Bags' girlfriend died from complications during childbirth

'Cause of Sickle-cell problems
She had Sickle-cell disease, which can cause serious health issues especially during pregnancy

And Shamik from LeFrak would bring me Red Lobster
Another one of my friends, named Shamik, would bring me food from a chain restaurant called Red Lobster while I was recovering in the hospital

I never knew they was coming, they would just pop up
I didn't expect visits from my friends, so it was always a nice surprise when they came to see me

My niggas, you stunt on us, we shoot people
If someone tries to disrespect or challenge us, we will respond with violence and shoot them without hesitation

Straight like that, no half step, I eat you
We are completely serious about our willingness to commit acts of violence and end someone's life, without any hesitation

Alive with this .4/5 mag-num
We always keep deadly weapons on us, such as a .45 caliber pistol

Stay on your toes 'cause we toe-tagging 'em
People need to be careful around us, because we are not afraid to kill them and leave them for dead, with a toe tag on their ankle identifying their body

Contributed by Oliver O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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