Survival of the Fittest by Mobb Deep Lyrics Meaning – Urban Philosophy From the Streets
Lyrics
Sendin’ this one out, to my man Killa B
No doubt indeed, without weed
Know what I’m sayin’?
That old real shit
There’s a war goin’ on outside no man is safe from
You could run but you can’t hide forever
From these streets that we done took
You walkin’ witcha head down scared to look
You shook ’cause ain’t no such things as halfway crooks
They never around when the beef cooks in my part of town
It’s similar to Vietnam
Now we all grown up and old, and beyond the cops’ control
They better have the riot gear ready
Tryin’ to bag me and get rocked steady
By the MAC one-double, I touch you
And leave you with not much to go home wit’
My skin is thick, ’cause I be up in the mix of action
If I’m not at home, puffin’ la, relaxin’
New York got a nigga depressed
So I wear a slug-proof underneath my Guess
God bless my soul, before I put my foot down and begin to stroll
Into the drama I built, and all unfinished beef
You will soon be killed, put us together
It’s like mixin’ vodka and milk
I’m goin’ out blastin’, takin’ my enemies with me
And if not, they scarred, so they will never forget me
Lord, forgive me the Hennessy got me not knowin’ how to act
I’m fallin’ and I can’t turn back
Or maybe it’s the words from my man Killa Black
That I can’t say so it’s left a untold fact, until my death
My goal’s to stay alive
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
Yo, yo
We livin’ this ’til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(We still livin’ it)
We livin’ this ’til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(Thug life, we still livin’ it)
We livin’ this ’til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(We still livin’ it)
We livin’ this ’til the day that we die
(We livin’ this ’til the day that we die)
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(Survival of the fit only the strong)
I’m trapped, in between two worlds, tryna get dough
Ya know when the dough get low the jewels go, but never that
As long as fiends smoke crack
I’ll be on the block hustlin’, countin’ my stacks
No doubt, watchin’ my back and proceed with caution
Five-oh lurkin’, no time to get lost in the system
Niggas usin’ fake names to get out quick
My brother did it and got bagged with two ounces
I live a world where squads hit the block hard
Ask my man Twin when he got bagged, that fucked me up, God
But shit happens for a reason
You find out who’s your true peoples when you’re upstate bleedin’
You can’t find a shorty to troop your bid witchu
Hit wit a two to four is difficult
Wild on the streets I try to maintain
Tight with my loot, ’cause hoes like to run game
Some niggas like to trick but I ain’t wit that trickin’ shit
I’m like a Jew, savin’ dough so I can big whip
Pushin’ a Lex, now I’m set, ready to jet
No matter how much loot I get I’m stayin’ in the projects, forever
Jakes on the blocks we out-clever
If beef, we never separate and pull together
When worse comes to worse and my peoples come first
Try to react and get them motherfuckin’ feelings hurt
My crew’s all about loot
Fuck lookin’ cute, I’m strictly Timb’ boots and army certified suits
Puffin Ls, laid back, enjoyin’ the smell
In the Bridge gettin’ down it ain’t hard to tell
You better realize
We livin’ this ’til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(We still livin’ it)
We livin’ this ’til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(Thug life, we still livin’ it)
We livin’ this ’til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(We still livin’ it)
We livin’ this ’til the day that we die
Survival of the fit only the strong survive
(Thug life, we still livin’ it) (the strong survive)
Open your eyes and get wise
Look alive
In ’95, word up
Hypnotic thug life
Get that ass paralyzed
Know what I’m sayin’?
Mobb Deep and all that
Emerging from the gritty soundscape of 1990s hip-hop, Mobb Deep’s ‘Survival of the Fittest’ resonates as more than just a track; it’s a manifesto of the urban jungle. The raw beats and relentless narrative of the song encapsulate a survivalist’s view of urban life, revealing an inner-city world where only the strongest can endure. At its core, ‘Survival of the Fittest’ is a chilling account of the hardships faced by those growing up amidst the concrete labyrinth of New York’s Queensbridge.
The song’s dark, brooding atmosphere is a vessel for a tapestry of themes: resilience, loyalty, the trials by fire of street life, and a testament to the human spirit’s durability. Prodigy and Havoc, the duo that form Mobb Deep, don’t just narrate; they prophesy, teaching through their lyrics the rules of the survival game where life is the ultimate stake.
A Landscape of Peril: The Urban War Zone
Mobb Deep’s portrayal of New York is not one of bright lights and dreams, but rather a battleground—a war zone where ‘no man is safe from.’ The parallel to Vietnam is stark, implying that the hazards of the streets are no less formidable than those of actual combat. This war doesn’t deal with soldiers but with ordinary individuals whose daily survival is a testament to human resilience.
‘You could run but you can’t hide forever,’ a line that pierces the illusion of safety and encapsulates a reality where permanence is an illusion and instability the only certainty. It’s a merciless environment that they have ‘took’—claimed—but not without the constant risk of violence and betrayal. ‘Ain’t no such things as halfway crooks’ underlines the idea that in this world, indecision or weakness can cost you everything.
Resilience As Armor: The Thick Skin Anthem
The lyric ‘My skin is thick, ’cause I be up in the mix of action’ signifies more than physical toughness—it represents a psychological fortress constructed to weather the storm of the streets. It’s about remaining stoic and vigilant in the face of danger, about puffing ‘la’ (marijuana) to momentarily escape the oppressive feel of the city that ‘got a nigga depressed.’
This notion of thick skin goes beyond individual fortitude. It encompasses a cultural armor, the collective resilience that comes from a community constantly under siege. There is a strong undercurrent of defiance in these lines, indicating that whatever the struggle, surrender is not an option. This resilience is their rite of passage, their way of ‘puffin’ la, relaxin” amidst chaos.
Survival Tactics: The Economy of The Hustle
Prodigy’s verses illustrate the hustle’s economy, an integral aspect of street survival where the ‘dough get low,’ symbolizing the fluid nature of wealth and the lengths one must go to sustain it. The endless cycle of hustling reflects a system where the ‘hustlin’,’ the ‘countin’ my stacks,’ and the ‘watchin’ my back’ are all dances of the same ritual.
This verse also dissects the emotional toll of the streets. They highlight how incarceration (‘upstate bleedin”) can unveil ‘true peoples’ and disrupt relationships. The survival spoken of is then not only physical but emotional and social, involving the navigation of a network beset by uncertainty and treachery.
The Code of the Concrete Jungle: Beyond the Law’s Reach
The lines ‘Jakes on the blocks we out-clever/If beef, we never separate and pull together’ reveal a code of conduct that governs street life—an unwritten yet understood set of rules about loyalty and cunning that supersedes legal governance. This code presupposes a distrust of the formal justice system and the necessity to rely on personal bonds and street smarts.
The collective mentality, ‘we never separate and pull together,’ resonates as a creed for survival, a binding commitment among members to stand united against external pressures. It is this unity, more than any individual strength, that ensures their endurance—a social pact borne from the fires of shared adversity.
A Reflection of Vulnerability: The Song’s Hidden Heart
Despite the tough exterior presented by the lyrics, there’s an introspective vulnerability in the lines ‘Lord, forgive me the Hennessy got me not knowin’ how to act/I’m fallin’ and I can’t turn back.’ It’s a moment of inward-looking, the poet’s acknowledgment of personal demons and the struggle for moral clarity.
This surprising moment of reflection exposes the depth of ‘Survival of the Fittest.’ It’s not just a narrative of external struggles but a confession of internal battles—a nuanced exploration of the human condition. Even in the darkest verses, there glows a faint light of self-awareness, a reminder of the soul that perseveres beneath the survivor’s facade.
