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.
Illuminati
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, yo, oh shit man, what up dunn?
Yo where've you been at man?
Yo we need you man
You gotta put out that knowledge
Kick that street knowledge G
Please man, you got that drugs
I need my fix of that dope
Prodigy:
Now the latest gun drive, jelly beans
GMT peyote, I know you feel me
P's song is a natural tripping me
My rhymes is so vivid, you start to see things
Way different, America's fake
I was fast asleep, but now I'm wid awake
I was under the spell of Kangol and reserved notes
Religion and fashion, I used to be flashy
Till I had a total recall, forgot what I've already knew
It took me 33 years for me to see the truth
Ever so clear I was too young
I couldn't articulate myself the right way son
But now let me break it down, pass it all around
This is not a theory, the conspiracy is real
They wanna put me in a straightjacket in a padded room
And tell the world is 12 monkeys so they can be confused
Illuminati want my mind, soul and my body
Secret Society trying to keep their eye on me
But I'm a stay incogni' in places they can't find me
Make my moves strategically
Prodigy:
They say life is like Chess
But fuck that I'm tired of playing games with you kids
Ain't no time for playing, check the rhymes it's insane
I write it for the streets, for the hood inspiration
Inspire every party to map where it's poverty
I started with a Mobb but now I got an army
With soldiers and troopers
The TV and the radio scared the death of us
So we hit the YouTube up
Now I got millions of views
Now watch how many rappers follow what P do
Now I'm too hoody to conform to the program
I'm too much of a rebel for me to try to fit in
Nigga! It don't matter on the color of your skin
Right now you either positive or you negative
I got friends in high places, multiple races
And coaches on my side, all you got is paper
The Prodigy’s “Illuminati” is a song that reflects on the artist's view of the Illuminati and the conspiracy theories surrounding them. The song begins with a voiceover of a fan urging Prodigy to share his knowledge on the Illuminati, drugs, and conspiracy theories. Prodigy goes on to share his view of the Illuminati and how they are trying to control every aspect of society, including our minds, souls, and bodies. He speaks about being under the spell of Kangol and reserved notes, religion, and fashion, which he used to be flashy about. However, he has since become aware of the conspiracy and is now too hoody to conform to the program.
Prodigy then notes that life is like chess, and he is tired of playing games with kids. He emphasizes that there is no time for playing games and that his rhymes are insane, writing them for the streets and for hood inspiration. He notes that the television and the radio are scared of people like him and his fans and how they use YouTube as a means to connect with their fans. He talks about his high-profile friends, coaches, and soldiers who are on his side, while all the Illuminati has is paper.
Overall, “Illuminati” is a song about Prodigy’s views on the Illuminati and the conspiracy theories surrounding them. He shows that he is aware of their efforts to control society and that he is actively fighting against them with his music and message.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the latest gun drive, jelly beans
Talking about the latest trends among gangsters--guns and drugs like jelly beans.
GMT peyote, I know you feel me
Referring to the psychedelic drug peyote and suggesting that the listener can relate.
P's song is a natural tripping me
Suggesting that his music is like a natural high that can cause you to see things differently.
My rhymes is so vivid, you start to see things
Claiming that his lyrics are so powerful that they can alter your perception of reality.
Way different, America's fake
Expressing the idea that America is not what it seems.
I was fast asleep, but now I'm wid awake
Suggesting that he was once ignorant but is now enlightened.
I was under the spell of Kangol and reserved notes
Referring to the allure of fashion and materialism that he was once caught up in.
Religion and fashion, I used to be flashy
Further elaborating on his previous obsession with fashion and material things.
Till I had a total recall, forgot what I've already knew
Suddenly realizing the true nature of reality and the falsehoods he once believed.
It took me 33 years for me to see the truth
Claiming that it took him a long time to reach his current level of understanding.
Ever so clear I was too young
Admitting that his lack of life experience once hindered his ability to articulate his thoughts accurately.
This is not a theory, the conspiracy is real
Insisting that there is a real conspiracy occurring.
They wanna put me in a straightjacket in a padded room
Feeling like society wants to silence him and discredit his ideas.
And tell the world is 12 monkeys so they can be confused
Suggesting that they fabricate stories to create confusion and misinformation.
Illuminati want my mind, soul and my body
Claiming that the Illuminati, a secret organization, wants to control him entirely.
Secret Society trying to keep their eye on me
Feeling like he is constantly being monitored by these organizations.
But I'm a stay incogni' in places they can't find me
Vowing to stay hidden from them in unknown places.
Make my moves strategically
Implying that he will be carefully calculating his actions and not acting impulsively.
They say life is like Chess
Using the game of Chess as a metaphor for life.
But fuck that I'm tired of playing games with you kids
Expressing frustration with the idea of playing games.
Ain't no time for playing, check the rhymes it's insane
There is no time for games, his lyrics are too important and impactful.
I write it for the streets, for the hood inspiration
Claiming that his music is meant for people in the streets and the hood to find inspiration from.
Inspire every party to map where it's poverty
Inspiring people to take action and address poverty in their communities.
I started with a Mobb but now I got an army
Started with a group, but now he has followers and supporters everywhere.
With soldiers and troopers
Describing his dedicated and loyal followers as fighters and warriors.
The TV and the radio scared the death of us
Suggesting that mainstream media has a negative influence on people.
So we hit the YouTube up
Turning to alternative and independent forms of media instead.
Now I got millions of views
Becoming successful on these alternative media platforms.
Now watch how many rappers follow what P do
Influencing other rappers to follow in his footsteps.
Now I'm too hoody to conform to the program
Claiming that he is too deeply ingrained in hood culture to conform to societal norms.
I'm too much of a rebel for me to try to fit in
Preferring to be a rebel against societal norms rather than trying to fit in.
Nigga! It don't matter on the color of your skin
Implying that race is not an important factor in this movement.
Right now you either positive or you negative
Splitting people into two categories--positive or negative--based on their actions and beliefs.
I got friends in high places, multiple races
Having friends and supporters from many different backgrounds and social statuses.
And coaches on my side, all you got is paper
Having mentors and supporters on his side who believe in him, while his haters only have money to back them up.
Contributed by Sydney W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PaperChaserDotCom
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DataLog
Do you know who is talking at the beginning?
Stephen Scurlock
Rest in power. The agenda is even clearer today. Babylon on full display.
Life Is Strange Stay Awkward And Awesome
Classic
SeekerOfTruth
12 years later and his words are slowly turning into reality. He warned us.
PURGE2--{u}--NITE
Definitely. Add tragedy khadafi to that list. There were a handful back then warning ⚠️ US 🗽🗿✊👊
Ghosty -_K
Biblical prophecy
Ali Frazier
Yes he did
Alex Muriuki
@JoeJoe MoreChrist a
yungpogo the g
@P'rameses1985 they def ended him for sure