Shook Ones (Part II)

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"Shook Ones (Part II)"
"Shook Ones (Part II)" cover.jpg
Single by Mobb Deep
from the album The Infamous
ReleasedFebruary 7, 1995
Recorded1994
Genre
Length5:26
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Havoc
Mobb Deep singles chronology
"Hit It from the Back"
(1993) 		"Shook Ones (Part II)"
(1995) 		"Survival of the Fittest"
(1995)

"Shook Ones (Part II)" is the lead single from Mobb Deep's 1995 album The Infamous.... The song is a sequel to the group's 1994 promotional single "Shook Ones", with similar lyrics, but less profanity. The original song is featured on the b-side of some releases of "Shook Ones, Part II" and was also included on the international version of the group's album Hell on Earth. The narrative is told from the perspective of inner-city youths engaged in territorial warfare and struggling for financial gains. The phrase "shook one" refers to someone who acts tough and hardcore but when faced with murder and crime, they are scared and run away.

The song contains a pitched down sample of "Jessica" by Herbie Hancock and "Kitty with the Bent Frame" by Quincy Jones. The drum break is sampled from "Dirty Feet" by Daly-Wilson Big Band.[1] The Herbie Hancock sample was slowed down and the pitch was altered to create the beat in the song.[2]

In 1997, the song was sampled by Mariah Carey in her single "The Roof (Back in Time)". For its single remix, Mobb Deep recorded additional raps and also appeared in the music video.

The song was featured in the 2002 film 8 Mile. It is the song being played in the opening seen when main character B-Rabbit, portrayed by rapper Eminem, is preparing for his battle. An instrumental version of the song is played as the beat for the final battle of the film as well.

In 2010 Pitchfork Media included the song at number 25 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.[3] Rolling Stone magazine placed the song on its list of The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time.[4] while Complex ranked "Shook Ones (Part II)" at #23 on their list of the 25 most violent rap songs of all time.[5]

Track listing[]

  1. "Shook Ones (Part II)" (LP version) — 5:26
  2. "Shook Ones (Part II)" (instrumental) — 4:41
  3. "Shook Ones (Part II)" (A Cappella) — 3:49
  4. "Shook Ones (Part I)" (original Version) — 4:13
  5. "Shook Ones (Part I)" (instrumental) — 4:13

References[]

  1. ^ "Who sampled? Shook Ones Pt.II". Who Sampled.
  2. ^ "How Mobb Deep's Prodigy Saved 'Shook Ones,' Hip-Hop's Most Mysterious Masterpiece (Video)". The Wrap.
  3. ^ "The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s: 50-21 - Page 3". Pitchfork.
  4. ^ "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. December 5, 2012.
  5. ^ "The 25 Most Violent Rap Songs of All Time". Complex.
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