Havoc (of Mobb Deep) is a music producer/rapper. In the latest installment of Vevo Footnotes, he took viewers behind the scenes of Mobb Deep’s official music video for the classic rap single, “Shook Ones, Pt. II,” from the “The Infamous” album. The exclusive content is part of Vevo’s celebration to honor the historic 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop.
Mobb Deep – The Making of “Shook Ones, Pt. II” (Vevo Footnotes)
During the episode, Havoc describes creating “Shook Ones, Pt. II” inside the apartment of his childhood home in Queensbridge. He notes the pressure Mobb Deep had to make a hit after releasing a failed album the previous year. He recalls that the song gained a lot of traction and everyone in their crew was excited to shoot the music video in their neighborhood.
However, during the shoot, Havoc got into a fight with someone from his block who was upset about not getting enough shine in the video and discusses almost being electrocuted. He also reveals his favorite scene when they are wearing the Hennessy jerseys that Prodigy got made. Later, Havoc explained that they filmed in Queensbridge to give the visual a grimy and authentic feel and that if he was able to reshoot the music video in 2023, he wouldn’t change a thing.
Below is a complete outline of “Shook Ones, Pt II” I Vevo Footnotes:
00:15 – I recall Prodigy super focused and calmly excited to have worked on ’The Infamous’ album. He played the “Shook Ones, Pt. II” demo months before its release, and I knew instantly it’d be a hit. – Kiki (The Prodigy Estate)
00:27 – The writing and recording process for “Shook Ones, Pt. II” started in the apartment where I grew up in Queensbridge. I made the beat there and we finished it up at a major recording studio. I produced it all myself, and then me and Prodigy came up with the hook and lyrics. – Havoc
01:04 – There wasn’t any specific conversation about the song, but the assignment was clear: we needed to redeem ourselves after releasing a failed album a year before. – Havoc
01:33 – Everyone on set was hyped because the record had gained so much traction. The label, the around-the-way crew Prodigy and myself – we were all excited to shoot a visual for the record. – Havoc
02:04 – One shocking moment was when me and a guy from my block got into an argument because he felt he wasn’t getting enough shine in the video. We started fighting and we both fell into a puddle of water, and one of the movie lights fell in it with us. We could have gotten electrocuted to death. That was wild. – Havoc
02:33 – The whole video was shot in Queensbridge, which gave it more of a grimy edge and authentic feel. My favorite scene is when we have the whole crew behind us, and Prodigy and myself have on the Hennessy jerseys. I loved those shirts. Prodigy got them made. – Havoc
03:04 – It’s a timeless record. No matter how old it is, “Shook Ones, Pt. II” is always going to be a banger. – Havoc
3:29 – The most challenging part of making the video was staying awake because we shot non-stop from early that morning to 7 AM the next day. – Havoc
3:49 – It was unlike anything ever heard – the hardcore drums/beat, passion behind the lyrics, and “fashion-forward” drive of them both were captivating. To this day, it’s one of the most memorable hip-hop songs of the ’90s. – Kiki (The Prodigy Estate)
04:13 – If we were to make this video in 2023, I don’t think I’d change a thing. The way it is has contributed to its longevity and timelessness. – Havoc
ABOUT VEVO
Vevo is the world’s leading music video network, connecting an ever-growing global audience to high-quality music video content for more than a decade. Founded by Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment in 2009, Vevo offers fans worldwide a vast array of premium content to choose from, showcasing official music videos alongside a constantly developing lineup of live performances and innovative original programming. From top superstars to rising new talents, Vevo brings incomparable cross-promotional support to artists across the musical spectrum, at every stage of their careers.
Vevo has consistently evolved over the past decade to lead within today’s ever-changing media landscape, embracing partnerships with a number of leading distribution platforms to deliver extraordinary content within ad-supported environments. With more than 25B views across television, desktop, and mobile devices each month, Vevo brings music videos to the world – when, where, and how fans want them.
Mobb Deep – “The Infamous” album
We recommend adding Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones, Pt. II” single to your favorite hip-hop playlist. Also, let us know how you feel in the comment section below. Mel Blanc’s famous catchphrase, That’s All Folks! Thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment – the hot spot for new music and entertainment news. Always remember that (P) Positive, (E) Energy, (A) Always, (C) Creates, (E) Elevation (P.E.A.C.E). Contact us on social media via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, and let us know what’s going on. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter, purchase our merchandise, and become a Patron of Bong Mines Entertainment. Disclaimer: This post contains Apple Music affiliate links. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through links on our site. That little compensation will be used towards keeping this website up and running.