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.
Diamond
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We going diamond, ten million sold
We break records (records) and move units, that's how we do it
(Do it do it) Making millions and billions from movies and music
World touring, shows, performing
The deals, the budgets, accounts, enormous
We got it (got it) you fronting, you need it, you want it
The Mobb, and Bars, and Hooks, we coming
We some Queens bridge niggas that ain't all about rap
We own streets, run websites, log on
To the one and only, InfamousStores.com
We load up the tour buses, to get these checks
We independent, we don't need your respect
We "Infamous Minded" you've been blinded
It's Bars & Hooks nigga, we, goin, diamond!
[Chorus: Prodigy]
Yeah, what more do why y'all want from us?
We spill our hearts out and it still ain't enough
Years we got crumbs, doing the supplying
We independent now, we, going diamond!
Yeah, what more could you ask for?
We the team, we deserve everything and more
All the blood and sweat for our dead we stopped crying
Swallowed it, survived it, we, going diamond!
[Prodigy]
You might catch me stepping out the Lamborghini
With ashy legs, my chain swinging
I grab my piece, so that shit won't damage the paint
Chest naked holding a drink
We got these hoes by the brain, we black rap moguls
We the most popping, we the illest niggas rhyming
Let's go team for team, you don't want that
We make niggas quit rap, we so violent
The only thing that calm us down is more dollars
We need NBA cash, the yachts, the labs
The Porsche, Ferrari, the Hummer, you mad?
AK-90, the sigs, the macs
Grenades, silencers, sterlings that blast
To Linden, the sweeper to murder yo' ass
You doubted my niggas (word) now we up
Yeah, you must of been wilding, we, going, diamond!
[Chorus: 2nd half + 1st half reversed]
We goin' kill 'em with this here, and ship ten million
This year, look on the charts it's there
At the number one spot, locked of course
By these ghetto street pharmacist entrepreneurs
Who would of thought? The car I always wanted get bought
Sitting on ten times twos, rolling by you
It gets bigger, I remember being broke
So the plan now is to get richer
Ain't goin' be no scuffling my nigga, I ain't goin' fight ya
I'ma pay the piper to snipe ya, it's real like that
Going diamond make you feel like that
Cause I done been through the bullshit, dealt with the bullshit
Now I'm lamping, mansion, and a few whips
Ain't nothing but a thug thing, this the club theme
Bars & Hooks to H.N.I.C. we climbing
Finally we shining, we, goin, diamond!
[Chorus]
Fuck why y'all niggas man
We goin diamond, we going diamond,
Know what I'm saying Move these units, do these shows,
And hold this money hold the cash
We going diamond, going diamond
We going diamond, diamond diamond diamond
We going diamond, we going diamond
We going diamond, we going diamond
We.. goin.. diamond!
The Prodigy's song Diamond boasts about the group's success in the music industry. They proudly proclaim that they aren't settling for platinum or gold, but rather aim to go diamond, meaning the group wants to sell over ten million records. The song paints a picture of a lavish lifestyle that comes with success, showcasing the cars, mansions, and other material possessions that they've acquired through their music. The lyrics also touch on their independence, both from major record labels and from societal norms that try to bring them down. Bars & Hooks and Mobb refer to hip-hop groups who want to make it big in the industry. The song is all about empowerment and achieving success through hard work, dedication, and persistence.
Line by Line Meaning
We ain't going platinum (nope) we ain't goin gold
We will not settle for just going platinum or gold; we strive to reach diamond status by selling ten million records.
We break records (records) and move units, that's how we do it
Our strategy for success is to break records and sell as many units as possible.
Making millions and billions from movies and music
We earn millions and even billions of dollars from not just our music but also our movies.
World touring, shows, performing
We tour worldwide and perform at shows.
Delorean, and Mr. Bars, how about that?
We are proud to have Delorean and Mr. Bars on our team.
We some Queens bridge niggas that ain't all about rap
We are people from Queens bridge, and our interests extend beyond just rap.
We own streets, run websites, log on
We dominate the streets and run websites that we log on to.
We independent, we don't need your respect
We are independent and do not require anyone's respect to achieve success.
We load up the tour buses, to get these checks
We fill up our tour buses with the purpose of earning more money.
It's Bars & Hooks nigga, we, goin, diamond!
Our group Bars & Hooks is going to reach diamond status.
We spill our hearts out and it still ain't enough
Despite putting all our emotions into our music, it does not feel like enough.
Years we got crumbs, doing the supplying
For years, we received minimal compensation despite doing all the work.
All the blood and sweat for our dead we stopped crying
We have gone through so much pain, but we have learned to cope with it and keep moving forward.
Swallowed it, survived it, we, going diamond!
We have swallowed all the hardships and are destined to reach diamond status.
We black rap moguls
We are successful black music entrepreneurs.
We make niggas quit rap, we so violent
Our music and success can be so intimidating that it has forced some people to leave the rap industry.
You doubted my niggas (word) now we up
Those who doubted us before now see how successful we have become.
This year, look on the charts it's there
Our record will be at the top of the charts this year.
Who would of thought? The car I always wanted get bought
It's amazing to think that I am now able to afford the car I dreamed of owning.
So the plan now is to get richer
Our goal is to continue to get richer.
Going diamond make you feel like that
Reaching diamond status feels incredibly satisfying.
Finally we shining, we, goin, diamond!
We have finally reached the point of shining, and we are determined to reach diamond status.
We going diamond, we going diamond, Know what I'm saying
We are excited that we are going to reach diamond status and want everyone to know.
We going diamond, diamond diamond diamond
We are on our way to becoming diamond sellers!
We.. goin.. diamond!
Our mission is to achieve diamond status and we are determined to make it happen.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: B. FREEMAN, MARLON J GOODWIN, LA MARQUIS JEFFERSON, CRAIG LOVE, SAMMIE NORRIS, JAMES PHILLIPS, J. SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@franciscatraboux2987
I'm so upset the industry did not celebrate his life just like the other artists. Prodigy was very talented. Havoc is also extremely talented. I followed all their songs. Im a huge fan for life. RIP Prodigy.
@FelicityGemini
I'm side eyeing all music conglomerate sweaping prdigy's death under the rug
@obinnaekeh42
P was too underground and real for the industry. Like my nigga Bumpy Knuckles says " it's a industry shakedown"
@DU0ZA
Fuck all d industry shit!!!! P rapped NY d hardest!!!!!!
@KevinJones-kw7uf
It's the deal p signed that dictated that he was too real for the industry..shit him and pac honestly
@mackvelly8899
Still playing H.N.I.C to this day along with some of the other gems in P's catalog !!! R.I.P Prodigy. It's almost been 3 years since he left the earth.
@DU0ZA
C'mon, this whole album is classic, i dont care what anyone say....much luv P~~~~
@blackice9666
U Better Talk Dat Shitt Big Facts!!! Still here in 2021 my all time fav this n HNIC2 baby!
@Jamiegallagher03
@Black Ice restores my faith in humanity when people are coming back to these tunes in 2021 🔥
@trentyates418
This album is dope from start to finish.