I think the line "I'm only 19 but my mind is older" says a lot about what this song is. It's a slice of life in the Queens projects seen through the eyes of a kid who grew up there seeing all kinds of crime, violence and poverty. That's combined with, as you guys said, creative bravado and clever lines about what'll happen to you if you step to them ("Rock you in your face/Stab your brain with your nosebone"). This whole album captures a very cold vibe. Classic '90s rap record.
I love the sound of 90s hip hop. The slowed down piano gives it such a sinister sound. Check out the podcast I mentioned where Havoc dissects how he produced the track: songexploder.net/mobb-deep
Love that you a checking out rap. Prodigy was 17 when he wrote this. Obviously he is rapping about the life he was seeing. I hope your not put off by the content of the lyrics. There is so much more good than bad out there
@@KVLLIYV44 I started listening to Hiphop when I got my first mixtape given to me in 1986 and been following it from then. Some of us where around before Google. Yea. I'm a old hip hop head. Peace
I love that she didn't immediately critique or down the song. She asked for clarity. I'm not Mobb Deep, Prodigy or Havoc but from all I've heard as a hip hop head and clarity I would say this. They were speaking on their way of life and environment. Being as honest as they could be of their situation and upbringing. I feel like they were saying, dont Live or try to represent this life if you don't have to but if you do life this life, you can't pretend or be half way about it. You have to be real or not. You either live the life of diamonds and guns or you live as a shook one; a coward or frail person.
@3:30 If you listen through The Infamous and Hell on Earth (their two most acclaimed albums), then you will see all of those themes mentioned are true, simultaneously. At the time, the environment they grew up and remained in, did facilitate hopelessness (New York in the 90s had a surge of crime). In addition, they do have regrets and are humans with empathy, with lines wondering about their fate or lines displaying remorse. They do have many instances of warning against their lifestyle throughout their discography; in general, the dark atmosphere in of itself is not glorifying it either. Then, somewhat ironically but understandable, they do fend off against their adversaries and are willing to walk the walk of the lifestyle they live in, because it is one derived unconditionally from their environment. They eventually (from rap) move to a better environment and did eventually stray from that lifestyle (Prodigy did go to prison in 2007 and was changed from the experience). They were aware enough to know that they needed a way out of their environment.
that’s a really interesting analysis and I suspect it’s a pretty common theme with a lot of people in their situation. You do what you feel that have to do but you still want to find a way out of that lifestyle. Thanks for your comment! 🙌
When these 2 were growing up, NYC was a warzone so you can imagine what they've seen. Over 1,000+ homicides a year every year from the late 60s to the mid 90s in NYC.
This album really captured the vibe of the environment they were living in. Crime ridden, poverty, kill or be killed... The albums production was dark and grimy and really matched the vibe of the lyrical content. Despite this particular song being super agressive alot of the songs on this album were reflective, and touched on wanting to escape that type of life & situation.. which they eventually did with the success of this album.
That's the beautiful thing about the rap industry in the 90s. It provided a path for the downtrodden and forgotten in inner cities to escape their predicament through their art they created about street life. Its like Mozart in the hood. There was a market for it. They didn't have to be talented with instruments or singing voices, they just had to make one good album that got a record deal. Rap music illustrated the ghetto like nothing else could, and immortalized it in music. And it provided an escape. And millions of dollars. So in a way black people became the author of their own destinies, and saved themselves.
mobb deep made hard core lyrics seductive ,with the poetical word scapes, smooth but menacing cadence and jazzy boom bap music which was popular at the time , Before you know it you are fully locked inside their dystopian dank vision of life, that is real artistery , they transmit that energy to you and you rap along with them and feel as dope as them.. you look beyond the darkness of the lyrics and see inside the minds of the young men of the time who could relate to this life style.....being only 19 with an old mind, suggests that he won't make it to old age, since he lives an existence of diamonds and guns where life is definately cheap, they are not goading you into the life style or forcing the life style on you..they are saying, you want to live this life, but you dont want the consequences.... this is one of the realest songs ever. ....the reviewers did the song zero justice, and missed a perfect oppurtunity to show that they were not bots reviewing a vid just because everyone else was,
appreciate the reaction guys! I too cannot relate to the lyrics but i appreciate the wordplay and the beat is crazy. some oasis reactions would be great if one on you haven't heard them. also some more Dave would be great, Dave Lesley is a great song with a brilliant message. Thanks guys!
thanks, we both know Oasis (particularly as we come from Manchester) so couldn't give an honest reaction on them. I've added Lesley to our suggestions, we have another new Dave track recorded that'll be coming in the next week or so.
It’s basically calling out people that act like they are in the street life and doing dirt but aren’t actually into that life and get nervous or “shook” when things actually get serious
Great you guys are checking out rap, but this song is definitely a lot deeper than just aimlessly talking about "Murder, he's gonna shoot you full of bullets and you'll die on the street bleeding". I think it is quite difficult to understand if you didn't grow up in a low socioeconomic status/the hood. There is some bravado in the song, yes, but if you look into it, they're not even saying that they are happy about the life they life. Multiple times ethical dilemmas are brought into whether or not what they are doing is justified or not, but this is how they have to live life in the hood, in poverty and in neighborhoods where crime is excessive. You do what you do to survive and you are either scared of the street or you become the street. "Ain't no such things as half-way crooks".
Thanks for this and yes you are right we didn’t grow up in that environment and it’s apparent that we missed a lot of the nuance in the lyrics. So it’s great to hear yours and others input so we’re able to more fully understand. We don’t claim to be experts and we can only take from it what we hear but I’ll definitely be looking more into the meaning behind this as so many have said it’s such a seminal track. Thanks again
As far as the timeline. This song wasn't a tupac diss supposedly but Tupac felt an earlier song on the same album, Survival of the Fittest, was a diss towards him.
Cmon, nobody thinking about 2Pac when listening to this man. This was 1 of their 1st songs...so of course before they had issues with 2Pac man. But the lady had a good question though.
He's telling someone else that they aren't real crooks that they are posers, if they go against his crew that they will die. That you can't trust anyone else but yourself because others come close to knowing you but they never really do etc. They are forced to live this life because they have no other option, no hope, all they can do it follow the pattern and try to survive...
@@MarriedtotheMusic2010 That is what this song is all about. He is hoping for those shook ones (not real gangsters, people that are still scared) to not be like him and his crew. They did what they had to do to survive, he's urging you not to follow in their footsteps.
This is the life in Queens Bridge in the 90's Horrible place. However so many talented rappers came from here; notorious big, 50 cents and dozen others
Shookones was before hit em up. I’m not entirely what exactly sparked the beef between Mobb Deep and PAC. They have a reply diss track to hit em up called Drop a e on em from there 1996 LP Hell on Earth
It was one of our biggest requests. As many have commented before we didn’t get this one right but how would we know without listening to it? I’m glad that people better placed than us have tried to educate us. We’re here to learn.
I don't know about that. I mean I understood the whole song and I grew up, under middle class, but in a safe neighbourhood in the Netherlands, I've never been exposed to any of that. I think you just need to know the lingo and the fact that some people are going through all of this.
It's an alley better watched from the comfort of your couch. It was a war zone under the belly of everyday life. As long as it didn't spill over into the suburbs nobody gave a f... Thousands died in every major city. Every year. When this song arrived I knew... If you're white imagine if The Walking Dead was reality. You're in Year 5 and still alive, go back and listen. Words like bravado, and catchy tune won't cross your mind. Someday history may just put all the pieces together and see how foul America was, that is if we're smart enough. America is diseased, and refuses to look at it and rush for a cure. God help us all.
I like that you mentioned how the music is melodic, but the content is dark. This album is full of soulful samples, some of the most beautiful soul and jazz music, and they managed to flip the vibe and make it work.
![Alice in Chains - Man In The Box [Live at The Moore] - Music Reaction video - Married to the Music](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/utLuBrBiLC8/mqdefault.jpg)
You still hear this being played from cars here in Queens 25 years later.
the classics live on! I guess the subject matter is probably still relevant today
I think the line "I'm only 19 but my mind is older" says a lot about what this song is. It's a slice of life in the Queens projects seen through the eyes of a kid who grew up there seeing all kinds of crime, violence and poverty. That's combined with, as you guys said, creative bravado and clever lines about what'll happen to you if you step to them ("Rock you in your face/Stab your brain with your nosebone"). This whole album captures a very cold vibe. Classic '90s rap record.
I love the sound of 90s hip hop. The slowed down piano gives it such a sinister sound. Check out the podcast I mentioned where Havoc dissects how he produced the track: songexploder.net/mobb-deep
New York was a rough place back in the days🔥 RIP PRODIGY🌹
@@MarriedtotheMusic2010the tic tic tic sound in the beginning is the actual stove being used to cook crack cocaine
That's what I call a Shook reaction 😂
This when you know the art is so real , you feel it, now it's up to what your heart pumps , Kool aid or whiskey 🥊
Facts they str8 shook
Forreal 😂😂
😂
Love that you a checking out rap. Prodigy was 17 when he wrote this. Obviously he is rapping about the life he was seeing. I hope your not put off by the content of the lyrics. There is so much more good than bad out there
Wow, that's so young! I'm not put off, I grew up listening to a lot of 90s hip hop, this just passed me by a little. Daz
Best beat havoc ever made ✨
Wtf do u knw about shit
What do you no about the 90s and hip hop without Google fuck all 💯
@@KVLLIYV44 I started listening to Hiphop when I got my first mixtape given to me in 1986 and been following it from then. Some of us where around before Google. Yea. I'm a old hip hop head. Peace
R.I.P Prodigy 1974 - 2017 one of the greatest Rappers of all time
70s Babies Did It Better
My top 5 rappers ever
Bandana P
one of the greatest beats in hip hop HISTORY
I love that she didn't immediately critique or down the song. She asked for clarity. I'm not Mobb Deep, Prodigy or Havoc but from all I've heard as a hip hop head and clarity I would say this. They were speaking on their way of life and environment. Being as honest as they could be of their situation and upbringing. I feel like they were saying, dont Live or try to represent this life if you don't have to but if you do life this life, you can't pretend or be half way about it. You have to be real or not. You either live the life of diamonds and guns or you live as a shook one; a coward or frail person.
Thanks, we very much missed the point of this one so it’s good to be educated!
@3:30 If you listen through The Infamous and Hell on Earth (their two most acclaimed albums), then you will see all of those themes mentioned are true, simultaneously. At the time, the environment they grew up and remained in, did facilitate hopelessness (New York in the 90s had a surge of crime). In addition, they do have regrets and are humans with empathy, with lines wondering about their fate or lines displaying remorse. They do have many instances of warning against their lifestyle throughout their discography; in general, the dark atmosphere in of itself is not glorifying it either. Then, somewhat ironically but understandable, they do fend off against their adversaries and are willing to walk the walk of the lifestyle they live in, because it is one derived unconditionally from their environment. They eventually (from rap) move to a better environment and did eventually stray from that lifestyle (Prodigy did go to prison in 2007 and was changed from the experience). They were aware enough to know that they needed a way out of their environment.
that’s a really interesting analysis and I suspect it’s a pretty common theme with a lot of people in their situation. You do what you feel that have to do but you still want to find a way out of that lifestyle. Thanks for your comment! 🙌
The contrast between your Zen background with the HOME and this video made me laugh.
When these 2 were growing up, NYC was a warzone so you can imagine what they've seen. Over 1,000+ homicides a year every year from the late 60s to the mid 90s in NYC.
I can’t even imagine some of the horrors they’ve seen and I hope I never do!
This album really captured the vibe of the environment they were living in. Crime ridden, poverty, kill or be killed... The albums production was dark and grimy and really matched the vibe of the lyrical content. Despite this particular song being super agressive alot of the songs on this album were reflective, and touched on wanting to escape that type of life & situation.. which they eventually did with the success of this album.
That's the beautiful thing about the rap industry in the 90s. It provided a path for the downtrodden and forgotten in inner cities to escape their predicament through their art they created about street life. Its like Mozart in the hood. There was a market for it. They didn't have to be talented with instruments or singing voices, they just had to make one good album that got a record deal. Rap music illustrated the ghetto like nothing else could, and immortalized it in music. And it provided an escape. And millions of dollars. So in a way black people became the author of their own destinies, and saved themselves.
You got it! It’s a warning they giving to others. Great reaction
This song is legendary
mobb deep made hard core lyrics seductive ,with the poetical word scapes, smooth but menacing cadence and jazzy boom bap music which was popular at the time , Before you know it you are fully locked inside their dystopian dank vision of life, that is real artistery , they transmit that energy to you and you rap along with them and feel as dope as them.. you look beyond the darkness of the lyrics and see inside the minds of the young men of the time who could relate to this life style.....being only 19 with an old mind, suggests that he won't make it to old age, since he lives an existence of diamonds and guns where life is definately cheap, they are not goading you into the life style or forcing the life style on you..they are saying, you want to live this life, but you dont want the consequences.... this is one of the realest songs ever. ....the reviewers did the song zero justice, and missed a perfect oppurtunity to show that they were not bots reviewing a vid just because everyone else was,
appreciate the reaction guys! I too cannot relate to the lyrics but i appreciate the wordplay and the beat is crazy. some oasis reactions would be great if one on you haven't heard them. also some more Dave would be great, Dave Lesley is a great song with a brilliant message. Thanks guys!
thanks, we both know Oasis (particularly as we come from Manchester) so couldn't give an honest reaction on them. I've added Lesley to our suggestions, we have another new Dave track recorded that'll be coming in the next week or so.
@@MarriedtotheMusic2010 looking forward to the new reactions! Thanks guys
Masterpiece... the realest rap that emerged from that era... theres no one colder than mobb deep.. shivers.. and all that its cuz its true
Great song! Mobb Deep is the best hip hop duo ever! 😅
I think we need to delve more deeply!
Why the fuck the funny emoji???...(😅)...🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨
I think its about the stress of living in the situation and having to constantly be on alert. 'survival of the fittest, only the strong survive'
Moment hall of fame group
Best beat in hip hop history, P’s verse still is one of the hardest verses ever.
Greatest beat of ALL TIME!!!
Check out the Song Exploder podcast link in the description where Havoc talks about how he put it all together.
About the lyrics, this is the life they used to live…
It’s basically calling out people that act like they are in the street life and doing dirt but aren’t actually into that life and get nervous or “shook” when things actually get serious
Thanks for the info. It seems like we missed that part about it but always good to get a lesson… that’s part of why we do it!
Great you guys are checking out rap, but this song is definitely a lot deeper than just aimlessly talking about "Murder, he's gonna shoot you full of bullets and you'll die on the street bleeding". I think it is quite difficult to understand if you didn't grow up in a low socioeconomic status/the hood. There is some bravado in the song, yes, but if you look into it, they're not even saying that they are happy about the life they life. Multiple times ethical dilemmas are brought into whether or not what they are doing is justified or not, but this is how they have to live life in the hood, in poverty and in neighborhoods where crime is excessive. You do what you do to survive and you are either scared of the street or you become the street. "Ain't no such things as half-way crooks".
Thanks for this and yes you are right we didn’t grow up in that environment and it’s apparent that we missed a lot of the nuance in the lyrics. So it’s great to hear yours and others input so we’re able to more fully understand. We don’t claim to be experts and we can only take from it what we hear but I’ll definitely be looking more into the meaning behind this as so many have said it’s such a seminal track. Thanks again
As far as the timeline. This song wasn't a tupac diss supposedly but Tupac felt an earlier song on the same album, Survival of the Fittest, was a diss towards him.
Thanks, We’ll have to check that one out!
He’s saying if your not part of this life stay out of it because you don’t belong we live it and your not ready for it
Thanks for the info. We definitely missed the mark with this track so good to get the real meaning!
Cmon, nobody thinking about 2Pac when listening to this man.
This was 1 of their 1st songs...so of course before they had issues with 2Pac man.
But the lady had a good question though.
This is hilarious.
Thanks we do our best 😉
He's telling someone else that they aren't real crooks that they are posers, if they go against his crew that they will die. That you can't trust anyone else but yourself because others come close to knowing you but they never really do etc. They are forced to live this life because they have no other option, no hope, all they can do it follow the pattern and try to survive...
Thanks for the breakdown. It seems that many are stuck in this life and hope for something better but with little chance to escape their reality.
@@MarriedtotheMusic2010 That is what this song is all about. He is hoping for those shook ones (not real gangsters, people that are still scared) to not be like him and his crew. They did what they had to do to survive, he's urging you not to follow in their footsteps.
That’s a lot deeper than we gave it credit for so thanks for the education.
Nas - NY state of mind
thanks, added to our requests list
Omg yall funny
🤣
This is the life in Queens Bridge in the 90's
Horrible place. However so many talented rappers came from here; notorious big, 50 cents and dozen others
Shookones was before hit em up. I’m not entirely what exactly sparked the beef between Mobb Deep and PAC. They have a reply diss track to hit em up called Drop a e on em from there 1996 LP Hell on Earth
Thanks for the info and I’ll check out that track.
A tribe called quest - Award Tour
Thanks, added to our requests list
It's definitely a warning, not to test their crew, violence is what the answer would be
Can you react to Lost Boyz - Renee please 🙏 Keep up the fun videos 👍
This is Eminem favorite rap song ever
High praise indeed!
love the reaction can you please react to dave lesley
Thanks, you’ve already requested Lesley and it’s on our list. It’s probably the most requested song we’ve had so hard to see us not doing it soon!
@@MarriedtotheMusic2010 yeah u should probably react with lyrics
we do have the lyrics alongside the video but maybe a lyric video would be easier to follow in Dave's case
It basically means if your not about that life don’t pretend you are
Check out South African OG...(Stogie T)doing Freestyle On Sway in the morning on NAS- N.Y STATE OF MIND PART2.
Thanks for the suggestions Romeo, we've added to our requests list
Immortal Technique- Dancing With The Devil Lyrics
Thanks for the suggestion, added to the list
Hahaha... they shook lmao
😬
He's saying you're either all the way in or you're not in at all, no such thing as half way crooks
Thanks for the info, we definitely missed the message on this one so it’s great to learn!
He is warning other neighborhoods and crews that they neighborhood queens bridge is dangerous
Thanks for the info
Why did you even decide to watch or listen to this. You have to have understanding of the lifestyle they lived at that time.
It was one of our biggest requests. As many have commented before we didn’t get this one right but how would we know without listening to it? I’m glad that people better placed than us have tried to educate us. We’re here to learn.
I don't know about that. I mean I understood the whole song and I grew up, under middle class, but in a safe neighbourhood in the Netherlands, I've never been exposed to any of that. I think you just need to know the lingo and the fact that some people are going through all of this.
I wasn't saying we can't understand it, I'm saying that in an instant reaction we got it wrong.
This is not a horror movie for you.😂😂😂😂
React to "Trading war Stories " by 2pac
React to biggie smalls juicy
Thanks we’ll add it to our requests list.
Listen to self conscious by prodigy
Thanks for your suggestion, added to our requests list.
Yall shook from listening to shooked ones i can see it 8n yoir face.
It's an alley better watched from the comfort of your couch. It was a war zone under the belly of everyday life. As long as it didn't spill over into the suburbs nobody gave a f... Thousands died in every major city. Every year. When this song arrived I knew... If you're white imagine if The Walking Dead was reality. You're in Year 5 and still alive, go back and listen. Words like bravado, and catchy tune won't cross your mind. Someday history may just put all the pieces together and see how foul America was, that is if we're smart enough. America is diseased, and refuses to look at it and rush for a cure. God help us all.
React 1:10
This has got to be the single cringiest reaction of all time
Thanks that’s what we were aiming for! 😁
I like that you mentioned how the music is melodic, but the content is dark.
This album is full of soulful samples, some of the most beautiful soul and jazz music, and they managed to flip the vibe and make it work.
You cant relate cause these songs weren't written for you.
Take a step out of the suburbs, then you will see this shit all around. Guns, drugs ext