The Prodigy first emerged in the underground rave scene in the early 1990s and achieved popularity and worldwide recognition with UK number one singles such as "Firestarter" and "Breathe", both singles coming from their UK and US chart topping album The Fat of the Land (1997). A third single from the album, “Smack My Bitch Up”, was also successful. They earned titles like "the premiere dance act for the alternative masses" and "the Godfathers of Rave", and remain one of the most successful electronic acts of all time. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide, and won numerous music awards during their career, including two Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Kerrang! Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards, and received two Grammy Award nominations.
The Prodigy were founded in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by keyboardist and songwriter Liam Howlett. He had taken piano lessons in his youth and gained the ability to play difficult passages in just a few run-throughs. After he decided to pursue a music career, Howlett met dancer and vocalist Keith Flint in mid-1989 at a rave at which Howlett was DJing. After Flint requested Howlett make a mix tape for him, Howlett obliged, returning a cassette several days later with a collection of his own songs on the other side. Howlett had scratched the word "Prodigy" onto the cassette, the same name as the Moog Prodigy analogue synthesiser, and Howlett's moniker. The tape was well-received by Flint and keyboardist Leeroy Thornhill who developed new dance sequences to the music and suggested to Howlett they begin a group together. They were soon joined by MC and vocalist Maxim, then known as Maxim Reality, and female dancer and vocalist Sharky, a friend of Flint's. Together they became the first line-up of the Prodigy.
On 4 March 2019, Keith Flint was found dead at his home in Essex, just weeks after playing six live dates in Australia and New Zealand. On 5 March, the band announced on Twitter that "all forthcoming concerts in 2019 would be canceled, effective immediately".
Following Flint's death, fans began using the Twitter hashtag "Firestarter4Number1" on various social media platforms to get "Firestarter" to top the British singles charts again. This was done out of respect for Keith Flint and to raise awareness of suicide among men.
On 20 August 2019, one day before his 48th birthday, Liam Howlett posted on the band's official Instagram page, saying he is "back in the studio making noise [...] brand new Prodigy tunes are gonna roll", referring to his intention to keep on releasing music under the Prodigy moniker.
Along with the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, the Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. The Prodigy, however, is not considered entirely representative of the genre as their production "often reflected the more intelligent edge of trip-hop, and rarely broke into the mindless arena of true big beat" according to AllMusic. The Prodigy are also considered alternative dance, techno, electronica, breakbeat hardcore, and rave.
Liam Howlett cited early electro as a big influence, mentioning tunes like "Clear" by American music group Cybotron and "Al Naafiysh" by Hashim. Liam Howlett also cited The Bomb Squad, Public Enemy, and Rage Against the Machine as influences.
Can't Complain
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello... hello...
Yo what up, man!?!
Who the fuck is this?
Who the fuck it sound like, man?
What the fuck you calling so early for, man!?!
What the fuck time is it!?!
... shit, my bad son.
Please, man, come get me man, before I choke this bitch, man!
Hurry up son, man it's like 90 man, let's get some hoes or something.
What up, dun!?!
Same ol' shit.
No doubt, ain't nothing new... .
Let's take a little spin, dun, word up.
Yo... open my wings to a new day spread my lungs
Get laced, jump in the whip, stash the guns
Twist the key, shifted to D then flee
Before anything, get the daily dose of choke
We got the Benzo flooded with smoke on the float
My eye's burnin' from the dope killin' my throat
Lean my seat a taste, lumbar support
On the belt doin' 90 or more
debatin' on the latest rhyme wars
Where units don't count
But your rap pay add up to large amounts
Get my thrills puttin' other nigga's skills to sleep
Catch chills off'a infamous beats
Swing the trees doin' one-handed you'ees
Blowin' on the ouwee ?cause we can't have the medicine canoein'
There go the boys to the right, no days and nights like that
Ay yo dun, hold that down and turn it around
Dirty as fuck, thugs drugs and guns, d's and fatigues
T n T hopin' out of MPV's
Surprise all'a fuck out of me
Got rubber Glocks pointed at me
Ay yo twin, what the fuck... ..
[Twin]
They had us laid out on the ground holdin' us down
With gats to back of our heads was goin' down
?It wasn't us that held up that bitch you got.
Where's the proof, man!? Let me speak to my attorney.?
I know the routine, don't try to throw me
I been gettin' knocked since 12 and my moms tried to scold me
... but all that told me to get in more shit
ay yo P', (what up) you my co-d, we both get knocked
What you did with that half'a tree? (right in my sock.)
Yo, I hope these fuckin' dicks won't find the stash spot
Dun, you know how I get down!?!
Yo I'm ready to bounce
Do the 100 yard-dash and tear ass
If my other half was alive we woulda got killt
?'cause dun woulda went for the guns and got ill
Plus I gots cracks on me, they foundt the cracks on me
Looked at'em, gave'em back to me
I could swore they was takin' us in
Then the lady in the car said, ?..that's not them.?
Picked us up, told me I could keep the drugs
They didn't give a fuck, they was only lookin' for guns
An' you ain't gotta tell us twice
We hopped in the car and slid off
On our way up-town for more of that funk
P' lit the tree back up
Got off the Tri-burrough, hit the Henry Huds'
?Fuckit, let's slide through the Rutgers.?
Roll the windows down 'cause infamous mobb bumpers...
[Prodigy]
... Skip To My Lou had the crowd jumpin'
Took a walk through the park frontin'
Didn't even have to hurt nuttin'
Man I love it, ain't nothin' like summer in New York
Hear Infamous Thoughts, then the Dream Team music starts
Damn, we young black entrepreneurs
New York Pricks and Dicks can't stop our floss
We like organized crime, the fuckin' Mobb
I'm only twenty-six playin' wit' serious cards
Dead serious cash, luxurious labs
Learn to balance fame with pain, you CAN'T COMPLAIN
[Chinky sings X]
Jus' another day livin' in the hood...
Jus' another day around the way... .
Feelin' good today... oh no we can't complain
Jus' another day... livin' in New York... .
Dealin' with the jakes and the snakes... ..
Feelin' good today... .we hit'em up 'cause we here to stay...
The lyrics of The Prodigy's song "Can't Complain" depict the gritty lifestyle of living in the hood and navigating through the streets of New York. The song starts with an intense phone conversation between two friends, discussing their plans for the day. They seem to be eager to get together and engage in potentially illicit activities, such as picking up women and using drugs. As they embark on their day, they drive around in a car, smoking drugs and contemplating their status in the rap game. They take pride in their skills and enjoy putting other rappers to shame.
The narrative takes an unexpected turn when they are suddenly confronted by the police, who accuse them of a crime they did not commit. The tension rises as they face the possibility of being arrested, but ultimately, they are let go because they were not the intended suspects. Despite this near brush with the law, they continue on their day without a care, eager to continue their reckless lifestyle.
Towards the end of the song, Prodigy reflects on his success as a young black entrepreneur while acknowledging the challenges that come with fame and wealth. He proudly states that he is playing with serious cards and enjoying both the luxuries and hardships that come with success. The chorus sung by Chinky emphasizes the resilience and determination of individuals living in difficult circumstances, reminding listeners that despite the challenges they face, they can't complain and continue pushing forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello... hello...
Greeting someone on the phone
Yo what up, man!?!
Asking how the person on the other end is doing
Who the fuck is this?
Demanding to know the caller's identity
Who the fuck it sound like, man?
Curiously asking who the caller sounds like
What the fuck you calling so early for, man!?!
Expressing annoyance at an early morning phone call
What the fuck time is it!?!
Asking about the current time
It's like 3 o'clock, man, thought you was coming to get me, man!?!
Expressing disappointment about the person not arriving as expected
... shit, my bad son.
Apologizing for the delay
Please, man, come get me man, before I choke this bitch, man!
Urgently requesting the person to come and save them from a frustrating situation
Hurry up son, man it's like 90 man, let's get some hoes or something.
Encouraging the person to hurry up because there are exciting things to do
Same ol' shit.
Describing a monotonous and repetitive routine
No doubt, ain't nothing new... .
Confirming that nothing interesting or different has happened
Let's take a little spin, dun, word up.
Proposing to go for a drive to break the monotony
Yo... open my wings to a new day spread my lungs
Expressing the desire for a fresh start and feeling free
Get laced, jump in the whip, stash the guns
Preparing to get into a car while hiding weapons
Twist the key, shifted to D then flee
Starting the car and quickly driving away
Before anything, get the daily dose of choke
Making sure to smoke some drugs before doing anything else
We got the Benzo flooded with smoke on the float
The car is filled with smoke from the drugs
My eye's burnin' from the dope killin' my throat
Experiencing the side effects of smoking drugs
Lean my seat a taste, lumbar support
Adjusting the car seat for comfort
On the belt doin' 90 or more
Driving on the highway at a high speed
Debatin' on the latest rhyme wars
Thinking about ongoing rap battles and conflicts
Where units don't count
In the context of rap, the number of sales or views doesn't matter
But your rap pay add up to large amounts
Despite low sales, the income from rapping is significant
Get my thrills puttin' other nigga's skills to sleep
Finding satisfaction in outperforming other rappers
Catch chills off'a infamous beats
Getting excited by the music produced by The Prodigy
Swing the trees doin' one-handed you'ees
Smoking marijuana while driving with one hand on the steering wheel
Blowin' on the ouwee 'cause we can't have the medicine canoein'
Continuing to smoke drugs for their calming effects
There go the boys to the right, no days and nights like that
Seeing the police on the right side, implying that their presence can ruin the fun
Ay yo dun, hold that down and turn it around
Asking the person to change the direction or avoid the police
Dirty as fuck, thugs drugs and guns, d's and fatigues
Describing a dangerous and illegal lifestyle involving criminals, drugs, and weapons
T n T hopin' out of MPV's
Expecting the arrival of other individuals in their vehicles
Surprise all'a fuck out of me
Feeling shocked by their sudden appearance
Got rubber Glocks pointed at me
Having guns aimed at them
Ay yo twin, what the fuck... ..
Expressing confusion and surprise at the situation
[Twin] They had us laid out on the ground holdin' us down
Being forcefully restrained by the police, lying on the ground
With gats to back of our heads was goin' down
Having guns pointed at the back of their heads
?It wasn't us that held up that bitch you got.
Claiming innocence in a robbery accusation
Where's the proof, man!? Let me speak to my attorney.
Demanding evidence and the opportunity to consult a lawyer
I know the routine, don't try to throw me
Being familiar with the process and refusing to be deceived
I been gettin' knocked since 12 and my moms tried to scold me
Having previous experiences with getting into trouble and facing parental disapproval
... but all that told me to get in more shit
Ignoring the warnings and continuing to engage in risky behavior
ay yo P', (what up) you my co-d, we both get knocked
Referring to the other person as a partner in crime, acknowledging their shared experiences with getting arrested
What you did with that half'a tree? (right in my sock.)
Asking what they did with the drugs they were carrying
Yo, I hope these fuckin' dicks won't find the stash spot
Expressing concern that the police might discover their hidden drugs
Dun, you know how I get down!?!
Reminding the person about their shared understanding of their risky lifestyle
Yo I'm ready to bounce
Feeling prepared to leave the scene
Do the 100 yard-dash and tear ass
Running away quickly
If my other half was alive we woulda got killt
Believing that if the other person were still alive, they would have participated in a violent encounter
?'cause dun woulda went for the guns and got ill
Referring to their deceased partner's propensity for violence and aggression
Plus I gots cracks on me, they foundt the cracks on me
Admitting to carrying drugs and confirming that the police found them
Looked at'em, gave'em back to me
The police briefly examined the drugs and returned them
I could swore they was takin' us in
Thinking that they were being arrested
Then the lady in the car said, ?..that's not them.
Realizing that the police had mistaken their identities
Picked us up, told me I could keep the drugs
Being released and allowed to keep the drugs without any consequences
They didn't give a fuck, they was only lookin' for guns
Realizing that the police were solely interested in finding weapons
An' you ain't gotta tell us twice
Being eager to leave and not needing to be convinced twice
We hopped in the car and slid off
Quickly getting into the car and driving away
On our way up-town for more of that funk
Heading to a different neighborhood to find more drugs
P' lit the tree back up
Restarting the process of smoking drugs
Got off the Tri-burrough, hit the Henry Huds'
Exiting one highway and entering another
?Fuckit, let's slide through the Rutgers.
Deciding to visit a specific area in New Jersey
Roll the windows down 'cause infamous mobb bumpers...
Lowering the car windows to enjoy the music and show off their affiliation with Infamous Mobb
Skip To My Lou had the crowd jumpin'
Referring to a specific performance or song that excited the audience
Took a walk through the park frontin'
Casually strolling through a park and showing off
Didn't even have to hurt nuttin'
Not needing to resort to violence or aggression
Man I love it, ain't nothin' like summer in New York
Expressing a fondness for the vibrant and exciting atmosphere of summer in New York City
Hear Infamous Thoughts, then the Dream Team music starts
Listening to the music produced by The Prodigy and feeling an energizing effect
Damn, we young black entrepreneurs
Proudly identifying as successful and self-made young Black businesspeople
New York Pricks and Dicks can't stop our floss
Refusing to let the negative influence of others affect their prosperity
We like organized crime, the fuckin' Mobb
Comparing themselves to a powerful crime organization, emphasizing their strength and influence
I'm only twenty-six playin' wit' serious cards
Being young but involved in high-stakes situations and making important decisions
Dead serious cash, luxurious labs
Having a significant amount of money and enjoying a lavish lifestyle
Learn to balance fame with pain, you CAN'T COMPLAIN
Understanding the need to manage both the positive and negative aspects of their lifestyle without complaining
Jus' another day livin' in the hood...
Describing the mundane routine of living in a disadvantaged neighborhood
Jus' another day around the way... .
Referring to an ordinary day in their familiar surroundings
Feelin' good today... oh no we can't complain
Expressing contentment and gratitude despite the challenges they face
Jus' another day... livin' in New York... .
Acknowledging the difficulties and experiences unique to living in New York City
Dealin' with the jakes and the snakes... ..
Navigating encounters with law enforcement and deceitful individuals
Feelin' good today... .we hit'em up 'cause we here to stay...
Feeling confident and positive about their presence and impact in their community
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARRY WHITE, ALBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@traeucity6087
This song is a movie in itself. I keep it in heavy rotation and fantasize about making an animated version of it. The dialogue between Prodigy and Twin Gambino is spectacular. Exhibit A:
"They had us laid out on the ground holdin' us down
With gats to back of our heads was goin' down
?It wasn't us that held up that bitch you got.
Where's the proof, man!? Let me speak to my attorney.?
I know the routine, don't try to throw me
I been gettin' knocked since 12 and my moms tried to scold me
... but all that told me to get in more shit
ay yo P', (what up) you my co-d, we both get knocked
What you did with that half'a tree? (right in my sock.)
Yo, I hope these fuckin' dicks won't find the stash spot
Dun, you know how I get down!?!
Yo I'm ready to bounce
Do the 100 yard-dash and tear ass
If my other half was alive we woulda got killt
?'cause dun woulda went for the guns and got ill
Plus I gots cracks on me, they foundt the cracks on me
Looked at'em, gave'em back to me
I could swore they was takin' us in
Then the lady in the car said, ?..that's not them.?
Picked us up, told me I could keep the drugs
They didn't give a fuck, they was only lookin' for guns
An' you ain't gotta tell us twice
We hopped in the car and slid off
On our way up-town for more of that funk
P' lit the tree back up
Got off the Tri-burrough, hit the Henry Huds' "
@simonforrest2522
I dont think people actually realise how dope this joint is... It doesn't get any better than this... Perfection. .R.I.P King
@johndolo9083
they do...we're here
@eklipz3467
This was my anthem backwhen the album dropped. Living right up in harlem near the Dream Team Music store on 148 in st nick. Classic times.
@bronco5828
No doubt bro 💪
@robclem6238
@@johndolo9083 played
@shawtyeatemup8660
My favorite prodigy song
@NOVMBER
Damn they should’ve done a video for this. Imagine this. Summer time in NY. The lyrics paint the visual. Nothing like it..
@ticallianstallion9328
Infamous minded
@johnfelton3477
Exactly
@johnfelton3477
Damn this dude was by far the most prolific writers in rap that ever held a Mic...