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Casey Turney

ENG-1201-B50

11/04/21

Analyzing Visual Texts

“I’m from the jungle, to feel success you got to struggle. To get to where I’m at I had

to hustle, that’s why I’m humble.” Young MA’s Quiet Storm explores the hardships of life

and the overcoming of struggles. Whereas Mobb Deep's Quiet Storm presents how one must

survive by any means necessary in this cold world. The two songs may appear very similar to

one another. However, they contrast in meanings. With both artists being from New York as

well as both music videos being filmed in New York, life was not so easy for these artists.

Young M.A was born and raised in Brookly, New York. She was raised by her single

mother and older brother while her father was incarcerated. While growing up she fell in love

with music at the age of 9. It all started with a karaoke machine where she would make demo

tapes as a child. As she grew older and progressed with her music it soon came crashing down

when her brother was murdered. Those who murdered her brother were gang affiliated and

friends of his. The star fell into a state of depression, began acting out, faced charges, and

eventually took music more seriously when seeing a need for change. From this point on the

rest was history, dropping her two mixtapes, M.A the Mixtape and SleepWalkin, gaining

attention all over New York. All of the hype then led to the release of her most well-known

song, a year later, “Ooouuu.”

Prodigy from Mobb Deep is from the Queensbridge houses of New York City. At the

age of three, he was diagnosed with sickle cell. This would often discourage himself from
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having hope and would result in his disbelief in God. Growing up he was a self-destructive

individual because he felt such a loss of power in virtue of his serious condition. He had faced

mental, physical, and spiritual pain for so long. With such heartbreak and desperation, he

eventually found the outlet of poetry. He then met his future music partner, Havoc, through

the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan in which the two attended. They later began

making music, soon after choosing the name Mobb Deep. From this point forward, the two

were identified as one of the greatest duos of rap.

The original “Quiet Storm” music video was by Mobb Deep in 1999. This video was a

symbol of hiding in plain sight, doing what is needed to survive. Prodigy is on every verse

while Havoc is on the hook of the song. Prodigy states how he used to be scared of the

simplest things. As he has come of age he wasn’t even scared of death. From the thoughts of

living without fear, to surviving whatever comes your way. Prodigy really gives the audience

a sense of adrenaline, darkness, and excitement.

About 16 years later, Young MA releases the 38 million viewed hit song “Quiet

Storm.” She brings a new meaning to the song, achieving all goals in mind no matter how big

the challenge. Young MA mentions how it was hard for her to make it in the rap game as a

female, on top of that, a gay female. The song goes on and presents how one must go through

the hardships of life to get to where they want to go. Nothing comes without a sacrifice. The

audience can be anyone. She ends the song with “I’m here now, so you stuck with me”

because she is not leaving her position after making it this far.

Between the two songs, there is no right or wrong, nor good or bad. Both songs give a

differentiating meaning to “Quiet Storm.” Young MA was 24 when she released the song

while Prodigy was 25. The contrast between the two could be “they grew up in different time
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eras.” They also had different circumstances in life. Prodigy was on the verge of death since

three, and Young MA was on her own throughout life. On the other hand, both songs could be

called similar. Both have the message of always striving whether its for achieving a goal or to

simply survive and not back down. Both artists have faced their own demons and storms in

the real world, all that was left was to show others what’s on their mind in the form of a

record. The contrasts and comparisons in the songs is up to the audience, what one may hear

can be different form the next individual who hears both songs.

Works Cited

“Mobb Deep – Quiet Storm (Official Video).” YouTube, uploaded by Mobb Deep, uploaded 28

February. 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAPEjqGbxdE

“Young M.A – “Quiet Storm” (Official Video).” YouTube, uploaded by Young MA, uploaded

13 October. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p6cdupczSc

“YOUNG M.A| Before They Were Famous | OOOUUU, PettyWap | Biography.” YouTube,

uploaded by BeforeTheyWereFamous, uploaded 1 October. 2018,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXvGljWbusE

“The Therapist: Prodigy of Mobb Deep.” YouTube, uploaded by Noisey, uploaded 3 August.

2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xYT41G-DSg&t=508s