Survival of the Fittest (song)

For other songs of that title, see Survival of the fittest (disambiguation).

"Survival of the Fittest"
Grayscale photo of Havoc and Prodigy of Mobb Deep with Mobb Deep logo at bottom left corner and "Survival of the Fittest" text at top right corner.
Single by Mobb Deep
from the album The Infamous
ReleasedMay 29, 1995
Recorded1994
StudioBattery Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length3:43
LabelLoud, RCA, BMG
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Havoc
Mobb Deep singles chronology
"Shook Ones, Part II"
(1995) 		"Survival of the Fittest"
(1995) 		"Temperature's Rising"
(1995)
Music video
"Survival of the Fittest" on YouTube

"Survival of the Fittest" is a song by American hip hop duo Mobb Deep from their second studio album, The Infamous (1995). It was released as the second single from the aforementioned album on May 29, 1995, by Loud Records. The song was produced by Havoc, using a sample of the 1976 song "Skylark" by The Barry Harris Trio and Al Cohn.

The single had mainstream success, it peaked at no. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and hit the Top 10 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The song received acclaim from music critics and is widely considered a classic of 1990s New York hip hop, along with the lead single from the album, "Shook Ones, Part II".

Recording

"Survival of the Fittest"
A sample of the first verse, performed by Prodigy. Stereogum highlighted the song's "elongated, dying piano tones".[1] The main sample used in the song, slowed down piano riff from "Skylark" by The Barry Harris Trio and Al Cohn, remained unknown for nearly two decades.[2]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Survival of the Fittest" was produced by Havoc at his apartment in Queensbridge, where the duo worked on the album,[3] recorded at Battery Studios, and mixed at Unique Recording Studios.[4] The instrumental for the song is based on a sample from the 1976 song "Skylark" by The Barry Harris Trio and Al Cohn.[5][2] According to Prodigy, Havoc didn't like the beat at first and wanted to delete it. Prodigy asked him to play the beat to their friends and they convinced him to keep it. The lyrics for the song were written in one day. According to Schott Free, Loud's executive producer and A&R, Q-Tip helped program the drums for the song. In the interview with Complex magazine Schott Free said the drums "[intensify] the entire record" and "[add] so much" on top of the original beat, which he described as "ill", "gloomy", and "street". The original instrumental also featured a sample of a James Brown song, but it was removed after the label couldn't come to an agreement with publishers.[3]

Speaking about his verse on "Survival of the Fittest", Havoc explained, "We were just straight hood. It wasn't no pretty boy shit. It was like, 'Yo, let's throw on our Timbs.' It didn't get more harder than that."[3]

Release and promotion

"Survival of the Fittest" was released as the second single from The Infamous on May 29, 1995.[6] On July 8 Loud Records arranged a paintball competition to promote the single. Loud Records' artists Cella Dwellas and Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Loud Records' staff joined Mobb Deep in the competition.[7][8]

A music video for "Survival of the Fittest" was also released. It was directed by Musa "Choice" Moore[9] and shot in Queensbridge.[10] The video features cameos from Ty Nitty, Nas and Puff Daddy.[11]

In 2015, Mobb Deep released a remix of "Survival of the Fittest" in collaboration with ESPN.[12] It was used in the network's NBA Countdown show.[13]

Critical reception

"Survival of the Fittest" received acclaim by contemporary music critics. Vibe magazine's Elliott Wilson noted that the song "[features] Mobb Deep's usual combination of deep lyrics, sinister keyboard chords, earth-shattering bass, and crisp drum tracks".[14] Writing for Los Angeles Times, Heidi Siegmund praised the song, calling it "a mosaic of slow, stealthy beats that rarely lets in any melodic light" and commending the duo's "dark poetic talents".[15]

Legacy

"Survival of the Fittest" is widely considered a classic of 1990s New York hip hop.[16][17][18][19][20][21] Consequence of Sound stated that it's "as gritty as New York hip-hop could get".[22] HipHopDX called it "one of the most melancholy, rigid Hip Hop songs of all-time".[23]

According to Pitchfork, the line "There's a war going on outside no man is safe from" became the album's most famous and often quoted lyrics.[24] Complex named it one of the 100 best opening lines in hip hop history and wrote, "Prodigy's opening bars on "Survival of the Fittest" convey the high-wire balancing act that is life in America's most dangerous neighborhoods with a single phrase".[25]

"Survival of the Fittest" was featured in the soundtrack for the 2002 film 8 Mile and the 2006 video game Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.[26][27]

Track listing

Side A
  1. "Survival of the Fittest" [LP Version] – 3:43
  2. "Survival of the Fittest" [Remix] – 4:20
Side B
  1. "Survival of the Fittest" [Extended Version] – 5:19
  2. "Survival of the Fittest" [Remix Instrumental] – 5:20
  3. "Survival of the Fittest" [Acappella] – 4:17

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the single's liner notes.[4]

  • Mobb Deep – producer, executive producer, mixing
  • Crystal Johnson – vocals (remix)
  • Tim Latham – recording
  • Tony Smalios – mixing
  • Leon Zervos – mastering
  • Chi Modu – photography
  • Merge One – art direction
  • Sandra "Peachie" Bynum – management
  • Tami Cobbs – management
  • Matt Life – A&R direction, executive producer
  • Schott Free – A&R direction, executive producer
  • Stretch Armstrong – A&R direction

Charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[28] 69
US Hot Rap Singles[29] 10
US Hot R&B Singles[30] 60

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (April 24, 2015). "The Infamous Turns 20". Stereogum. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Caldwell, Brandon (October 21, 2014). "The Sample That Made Mobb Deep's 'Survival Of The Fittest' A Classic". Vibe. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Ahmed, Insanul; Callahan-Bever, Noah; Kondo, Toshitaka (April 26, 2011). "The Making of Mobb Deep's 'The Infamous'". Complex. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Mobb Deep (1995). Survival of the Fittest (liner notes). New York City: Loud Records. 07863-64355-1.
  5. ^ "The Sample For Mobb Deep's 'Survival Of The Fittest' Has Finally Been Found". Uproxx. October 21, 2014. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  6. ^ "Survival of the Fittest - Mobb Deep | Release Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  7. ^ Nelson, Havelock (August 12, 1995). "Mobb Deep Gets Splattered By DJs In 'Infamous' Paintball Competition". Billboard. p. 19.
  8. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1467. ISBN 9780857125958.
  9. ^ Russell, Deborah (April 15, 1995). "Christian Video Outlets On A Roll". Billboard. p. 35.
  10. ^ Kimble, Julian. "New York City Rappers Who Deserve Streets Named After Them". Complex. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  11. ^ Ahmed, Insanul. "All In the Video: Diddy's 10 Best Cameos". Complex. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  12. ^ Baker, Soren (May 27, 2015). "Mobb Deep "Survival of the Fittest EP" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist & Stream". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  13. ^ Walsh, Peter. "Listen to Mobb Deep, "Survival of the Fittest (ESPN Remix)"". XXL. Archived from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  14. ^ Wilson, Elliott (June–July 1995). "Revolutions: Mobb Deep – The Infamous". Vibe. Vol. 3, no. 5. p. 127.
  15. ^ Siegmund, Heidi (May 14, 1995). "Record Rack: Mobb Deep – The Infamous". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  16. ^ Mayorga, Dean (March 17, 2014). "Prodigy Revisits "Survival Of The Fittest;" Talks Mobb Deep Evolution". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  17. ^ Frere-Jones, Sasha (February 8, 2004). "STYLE; The Sound". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  18. ^ Fernando, S. H. Jr. (May 1999). "Home Style". Vibe. Vol. 7, no. 4. p. 89.
  19. ^ Augustin, Camille (May 13, 2015). "Mobb Deep To Remix 'Survival Of The Fittest' For 'NBA Countdwon'". Vibe. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  20. ^ Fleischer, Adam. "Exclusive: Mobb Deep And ESPN Will Remix This Classic Track For The NBA Playoffs". MTV. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  21. ^ Walsh, Peter. "Mobb Deep Is Releasing a "Survival Of The Fittest" Remix for the NBA Playoffs". XXL. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  22. ^ Maider, Ted (May 29, 2010). "Dusting 'Em Off: Mobb Deep – The Infamous". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  23. ^ Grant, Andre (July 20, 2015). "Mobb Deep's Misconception". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  24. ^ Greene, Jayson. "Mobb Deep: The Infamous / The Infamous Mobb Deep Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  25. ^ "The 100 Best Opening Lines in Rap History". Complex. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  26. ^ More Music from 8 Mile. AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  27. ^ Cortez, Kevin (March 6, 2014). "Is a Sequel to "Marc Eckō's Getting Up" in the Works?". Mass Appeal. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  28. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. July 8, 1995. p. 88. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  29. ^ "Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. June 24, 1995. p. 27.
  30. ^ "Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. June 24, 1995. p. 24.
  31. ^ "British single certifications – Mobb Deep – Survival Of The Fittest". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.