Shook Ones part II

Infobox Single |
Name = Shook Ones part II


Artist = Mobb Deep
from Album = The Infamous
Released = February 27 1995
Recorded = 1994
Format = CD single
Genre = East Coast hip hop
Length = 5:26
Label = Loud, RCA, BMG
Writer = Havoc, Prodigy
Producer = Havoc, Prodigy
Last single = "Shook Ones"
(1994)
This single = "Shook Ones part II"
(1995)
Next single = "Survival Of The Fittest"
(1995)"Shook Ones part II" is the first single from Mobb Deep's 1995 album "The Infamous". The song was hailed as an instant classic and, in many ways, was the pinnacle of Mobb Deep's critical acclaim. In 2006 it was included on the album "".

The song is a sequel to the group's 1994 promotional single "Shook Ones", with similar lyrics of verse 2, but less profanity. This song is featured on the b-side as "Shook Ones part I". Shook Ones part II was released censoring the parts where they say the word "nigga" only, most likely because to promote radio play, and no uncensored version of the song exists, but "nigga" and other profanities are uncensored in "part 1" and the other songs in the album though. “Part I” was also included on the international version of the group’s album "Hell on Earth".

Overview

Content

The song is told from the perspective of inner-city youths engaged in territorial warfare and struggling for financial gains. It does not, however, offer any apologies for its grim tone, nor does it offer any solutions to the problems it discusses. This factor plays a key role in its impact, as the intentions of the song, with its threatening perspective, is left up to the listener to interpret. Because of this, the song is one of the more thought-provoking, and complex hardcore rap songs to emerge in the aftermath of Death Row's dominance in mid-1990s Hip hop. The song samples "Kitty With the Bent Frame," released in 1972 by Quincy Jones and also "Dirty Feet," released in 1979 by Daly Wilson Big Band.

Pop culture references

*"Shook Ones Pt. II" was also included in the motion picture "8 Mile", and the instrumental for the song is used at the end of the movie in the climactic freestyle battle based on Mobb Deep's influence on Detroit hip hop in 1995. At one point during the battle incorporating the song's instrumental, Eminem's character references the song by changing the line, "Scared to death and scared to look, they shook/’Cause ain't no such things as halfway crooks", to, "This guy don't wanna battle, he's shook/’Cause ain't no such things as halfway crooks/He's scared to death, he's scared to look...". He subsequently wins the battle when his opponent "chokes", unable to return the insult and looks, ironically, visably shaken ("shook").
*The song was also on the soundtrack.
*It is featured on the radio station The Liberty Jam.
*This song has been sampled by Mariah Carey in her single "The Roof," Sublime in its song "April 29, 1992 (Miami)," and the Canadian R&B singer Keshia Chanté in her 2003 single "Shook (The Answer)."
*Emcee Mims also sampled it in his single "This Is Why I'm Hot."
*Emcee Krumbsnatcha samples it in his single "Closer to God."
*The starting lines of the song are also referenced in the start of Atmosphere's "Always Coming Back Home to You."
*The late Big L also references it in one of his more famous singles, "Ebonics."
*The song was covered by Everlast over a slightly modified version of the instrumental. The Fat Joe song "The Crack Attack," produced by DJ Premier, samples a line from "Shook Ones Pt. II" to form the chorus.
*The beat of the song was used for "Wachuwannado", a song by Krayzie Bone and The Game. It was breifly used in the G-Unit diss song 300 Bars and Runnin,by The Game.
*British Emcee Akala samples it in his track 'This Is London' on 2004's The War Mixtape.

Remixes

* The song has been remixed numerous times, including a mash-up by MF Doom combining his beat to "Saffron" with the lyrics and vocals of Shook Ones Pt. II.

Track listing

#"Shook Ones part II" (LP version) — 4:27
#"Shook Ones part II" (instrumental) — 4:41
#"Shook Ones part II" (a cappella) — 3:49
#"Shook Ones part I" (original Version) — 4:13
#"Shook Ones part I" (instrumental) — 4:13