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/
Wanna Be Thugs
Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uh-huh, yeah, here comes another one
And niggaz gon' now what I'm talkin about
(Most def, most definitely)
[Prodigy]
Hey yo, Hav' man (yeah) kick that shit my nigga
Check me out yo, uh-huh, yeah..
[Chorus: Havoc: x2]
Want to be thugs, there's sugar in they tank
Want to be thugs, no cash in the bank
Want to be thugs, up North get raped
Want to be thugs, flashing jewels get ganked
[Havoc]
Yo I seen all types be the victim of a kite
Be like, them silly fishes be the first one to bite yo
They see the cheese but they don't see the trap
Not a real live cat, but a real live rat
You got, broken guns, the first to run
First to leave, first to abandon your team
Yo you wonder who I'm talking about?
I'm standing right next to you ass, the one that you got in doubt
First to shout, to get you into some bullshit
Now you're all drowning, cause loose lips sink ships
Do you like Hav'? He be like, hell no
It works, cause you know, that the fucking truth hurts
I just, let niggas bring 'em down in the day they cool
After six they throw on the nightgown
Loud sounds, expected after sundown
Man down, half crowns get shot down and right now
[Chorus]
[Prodigy]
Yo, hey yo, we leave niggas with dry blood on they face
Put slugs where your bones at, break you off a taste
Shots of tequila, plenty Henny, we drinking heavy
Smoking dust, Dunn I brought mez tabs with me
And to my mamis on ecstasy
See man, we can bungee in the V.I.P.
We turn bitches out, take turns in that bitch mouth
Carve niggas up, show niggas what it's all about
It's us, the best of Queens, handguns to minks
Top fashion, we flash and bang
Niggas think they Flash Gordon, we snatch the link
Cause we mafioso and you the average dick
Kid, we send messages through bottles
Crash your face with the Mo, have glass all in your nostrils
And run through why y'all niggas like the shits
Kick niggaz with the boots, dukes we get biz, you's a
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Prodigy Feat. Havoc's song Wanna Be Thugs tell a story of the insecurity and greed often found in those who try to portray themselves as gangsters. The chorus repeats the phrase "Want to be thugs" while highlighting the flaws in these people's characters. The verse by Havoc speaks to the issue of people who are always looking to be someone they are not. They see the wealth and fame associated with being a thug but are unaware of the dangers that come with it. There are people who are not true to themselves and are always trying to sell their fake image to gain acceptance by others. They might be the first ones to fall for a trap set by others who can see right through their fake persona.
The verse by Prodigy seems to glorify the gangster lifestyle, as he talks about drinking heavily, using drugs, and being violent. However, he is also mocking those who try to be like them but are not up to the task. He talks about turning women out and proving their power by attacking others. The lyrics are full of aggressive language but are ultimately condemning those who try to portray themselves as something they are not.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh-huh, yeah, here comes another one
Havoc is introducing the song
And niggaz gon' now what I'm talkin about
Havoc is confident that people will understand what he is saying
Most def, most definitely
Havoc is emphasizing his point
Hey yo, Hav' man (yeah) kick that shit my nigga
Prodigy is asking Havoc to start rapping
Check me out yo, uh-huh, yeah..
Havoc is ready to start rapping
Want to be thugs, there's sugar in they tank
The people who want to be thugs are fake and not really tough
Want to be thugs, no cash in the bank
These people don't have any money and are pretending to be something they're not
Want to be thugs, up North get raped
If they go to prison, they will be taken advantage of by other inmates
Want to be thugs, flashing jewels get ganked
If they show off expensive jewelry, they will get robbed
Yo I seen all types be the victim of a kite
Havoc has seen many people fall for scams
Be like, them silly fishes be the first one to bite yo
The people who fall for these scams are gullible and easily fooled
They see the cheese but they don't see the trap
They are only focused on the reward and not the risk
Not a real live cat, but a real live rat
They are not tough or real, but instead are weak and deceitful
You got, broken guns, the first to run
Those who pretend to be tough often have fake or ineffective weapons and will run away when confronted with danger
First to leave, first to abandon your team
They are not loyal and will abandon their friends
Yo you wonder who I'm talking about?
Havoc is referring to those who want to be thugs
I'm standing right next to you ass, the one that you got in doubt
Havoc is mocking those who doubt his words
First to shout, to get you into some bullshit
They will be the first to start trouble
Now you're all drowning, cause loose lips sink ships
They will get themselves and their friends in trouble because they can't keep their mouths shut
Do you like Hav'? He be like, hell no
Havoc knows that these people don't really like him
It works, cause you know, that the fucking truth hurts
Havoc is speaking the truth about these people and they don't like it
I just, let niggas bring 'em down in the day they cool
Havoc will allow these people to embarrass themselves
After six they throw on the nightgown
They are not tough after dark
Loud sounds, expected after sundown
There will be violence and chaos at night
Man down, half crowns get shot down and right now
Those who pretend to be tough will get shot and killed
Yo, hey yo, we leave niggas with dry blood on they face
Prodigy is describing how they will hurt their enemies
Put slugs where your bones at, break you off a taste
They will shoot their enemies and kill them
Shots of tequila, plenty Henny, we drinking heavy
They drink heavily and party
Smoking dust, Dunn I brought mez tabs with me
They also do drugs
And to my mamis on ecstasy
Prodigy is addressing women who are high on ecstasy
See man, we can bungee in the V.I.P.
They are VIPs and can do whatever they want
We turn bitches out, take turns in that bitch mouth
They have sex with women and treat them poorly
Carve niggas up, show niggas what it's all about
They are violent and will hurt others for fun
It's us, the best of Queens, handguns to minks
They are the best and have both guns and nice clothing
Top fashion, we flash and bang
They dress well and show off their wealth
Niggas think they Flash Gordon, we snatch the link
They will steal from those who think they are tough
Cause we mafioso and you the average dick
They are part of the mafia and the others are just average
Kid, we send messages through bottles
They have a secret way of communicating with each other
Crash your face with the Mo, have glass all in your nostrils
They will hurt their enemies and leave them bloody
And run through why y'all niggas like the shits
Prodigy is confused as to why people like to act tough
Kick niggaz with the boots, dukes we get biz, you's a
They are not afraid to fight and will hurt others if necessary
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERT JOHNSON, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind