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, βSmack My Bitch Upβ, 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.
Hyperspeed
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Target... Target... Target...
Roger that scan I've got a contact and locked on
Something's going on at the jack slinger
Target... Target... Target...
Target... Target... Target...
Let's jet out, we'll cruise at hyperspeed
And that's all we need β check it out!
Hyper, hyp-, hyper, hyper
Hyper, hyp-, hyper, hyper
Hyper, hyp-, hyper, hyper
Hyp-, hyp-, hyp-, hyper, hyper, hyper, hyper
Hyp-, hyp-, hyp-, hyp-, hyper, hyper, hyper
Hyp-, hyp-, hyp-, hyp-, hyper, hyper, hyper
Hyp-, hyp-, hyp-, hyp-, hyper, hyper, hyper
Let's jet out, we'll cruise at hyperspeed
I got the beat, I got the beat
And that's all we need β check it out!
Hyper, hyp-, hyp-, hyper, hyper
Hyper, hyp-, hyp-,hyper, hyper
Hyper, hyp-, hyp-, hyper, hyper
The Prodigy's song Hyperspeed is a high-energy, adrenaline-filled ride that speaks of racing towards a target at a speed that is nine times faster than the sound. The lyrics convey the rush of excitement that comes with moving this fast, with the singer detecting and locking onto a "contact" at a location called the "Jack Slinger." The repeated use of the word "target" creates a sense of urgency and anticipation, adding to the thrilling tone of the song. The beat of the song reflects this rush, with the repetition of "Hyper, hyp-" repeated over and over, emphasizing the frenzied pace.
The song speaks to the thrill of seeking something out, moving towards it with determination and drive. It celebrates the rush of being alive, of pushing limits and clocking in at hyperspeed. Through the high-energy beat and relentless rhythm, the song creates a sense of speed, of movement towards adventure and excitement.
Line by Line Meaning
Moving out nine times the speed of sound
We're moving incredibly quickly, nine times faster than sound itself.
Target... Target... Target...
We are searching for our objective or goal.
Roger that scan I've got a contact and locked on
I am detecting and tracking an object that matches our target description.
Something's going on at the jack slinger
There is activity or excitement happening at the place we are heading to.
Let's jet out, we'll cruise at hyperspeed
Let's depart and travel at an extremely fast pace beyond normal speed.
I got the beat, I got the beat
I have the rhythm or flow of the music under control.
And that's all we need β check it out!
We only require the beat, nothing more. Listen carefully!
Hyper, hyp-, hyper, hyper
We are becoming increasingly excited and energetic!
Hyp-, hyp-, hyp-, hyper, hyper, hyper, hyper
We are experiencing an intense build-up of energy, leading to a climax!
Hyper, hyp-, hyp-, hyper, hyper
Our energy levels are peaking, resulting in a hyper and intense state.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAPTAIN ROCK, LIAM HOWLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cozwizza
After all these years, I still get goosebumps everytime I hear this.... the absolut definition of breakbeat!!!
@birdlipbandit
Plus one for still get the goosebumps
@letsallgetalong5499
Epic init
@sarahruss212
Unfuckingreal 2021 "music" could never compete with this masterpiece
@niewaznebambo5705
Same here !!!!!!! Cheeeers
@markakablairranglyoshandol3452
Word
@irintik
ΠΠΎ ΡΠΈΡ ΠΏΠΎΡ Π½Π΅ ΠΌΠΎΠ³Ρ ΡΠΏΠΎΠΊΠΎΠΉΠ½ΠΎ ΡΠΈΠ΄Π΅ΡΡ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄ ΡΡΡ ΠΏΠ΅ΡΠ½Ρ.. Π¨Π΅Π΄Π΅Π²Ρ ΠΎΡ Prodigy
@peterjohnson7696
Liam Howlett is a production genius.
One of the most inventive user of samples there's ever been
@serenechaosuk4682
1:10 - THIS is where The Prodigy Experience really starts ! GENIUS ! Could anyone other than Liam Howlett come up with music that is so raw, fast, aggressive and noisy, yet so harmonic, intensely atmospherically clinical and generally infectious ?!?
@etalex7074
Atari Teenage Riot can as well