Released: April 25, 1995

Featuring: Crystal Johnson

Songwriter: Havoc Prodigy of Mobb Deep Q-Tip Freddie Washington Patrice Rushen

Producer: Havoc Q-Tip

[Verse 1: Havoc]
Word up, son, I heard they got you on the run
For a body - now it's time to stash the guns
They probably got the phones tapped so I won't speak long
Gimme a hot second, and I'mma put you on
It's all messed up, somebody snitching on the crew
And word is on the street is they got pictures of you
Homicide came to the crib last night, six deep
Asking on your whereabouts and where d'you sleep
They said they just wanna question you, but me and you know
That once they catch you, all they do is just arrest you
Then arraign you, hang you, I don't think so
It's a good thing you bounced for now, just stay low
Once in a blue, I check to see how you're doing
I know you need loot, so I send it through Western Union
They probably knock down the door
In the middle of the night, sometimes around four
Hoping to find who they looking for, but they won't succeed
All they gonna find is mad empty bags of weed
But word, son, you got the projects hotter than hell
Harder for brothers to get their thug on, but oh well
Son, they know too much, even the hoodrat chicks
"Oh, you heard who did what?" No, I don't know who did shit
So stop asking, and I know I'm not going crazy
From windows, I see lights flashing and maybe
Somebody's taking pictures - you know who that be
Police lovers, and neighborhood snitches
They put up a G, so everybody's pointing fingers
And lying, aiyyo son, the temp is rising

[Hook: Crystal Johnson]
The temperature's rising, no there's nothing surprising
The temperature's rising, huh, and ain't nothing surprising
The temperature's rising, huh, and ain't nothing surprising
The temperature's rising (There's nothing surprising)

[Verse 2: Prodigy]
What up, black? Hold your head wherever you at
On the flow from the cops with wings on your back
That snitch nigga - gave police your location
We'll chop his body up in six degrees of separation
Killer, listen, shit ain't the same without you at home
Phony niggas walk around trying to be your clone
They really fear you, when you was at home, they was pale
That's why they wanna see you either dead or in jail
By the time you hear this rhyme, you'll probably be locked up
Tried to hide, somewhere along the lines, your plans slipped up
Got caught up in a crime that you can't take back
Reminiscing how I used to pick you up in the Ac'
Years ago when we was younger
Seemed the hood took us under very deep
Wondering who snitch, it got me losing lots of sleep at night
You know my mouth is tight
I never sang to the cops 'cause that shit ain't right
Sometimes, I stroll past the scene of the crime and backtrack
Damn - why the situation go down like that?
It'll be a long time before the heat dies down
And a - couple of years 'fore we see you around
But 'til then, maintain and keep your story the same
The cops is grabbing wrong niggas, looking for someone to blame
They harassing, struggling to find the truth
There's a chance ya case'll get thrown out
'Cause they ain't got no proof
To say you're guilty, your fingerprints filthy
Deliver me the gun, I'll tie it to a brick and throw it in the river
Make sure it sinks to the bottom
Outsmart police, snuck you out the projects, we got 'em!
But still, but still, but still...

[Hook: Crystal Johnson]
The temperature's rising, no there's nothing surprising
The temperature's rising, huh, and ain't nothing surprising
The temperature's rising, huh, and ain't nothing surprising
The temperature's rising (There's nothing surprising)

The temperature's rising, and ain't nothing surprising
The temperature's rising, and ain't nothing surprising
The temperature's rising, and ain't nothing surprising
The temperature's rising, and ain't nothing surprising

(Surprising)
*repeat to fade*

Mobb Deep

Mobb Deep members Havoc and Prodigy represent the Queensbridge projects in the borough of Queens, New York. Their style is very dark, but Havoc’s sinister productions along with sharp lyricism from Prodigy on their sophomore album The Infamous and its first single “Shook Ones Pt. II” put the Mobb on the map and helped bring hardcore New York hip-hop back into the forefront while also influencing the hip-hop scene in France. Their two follow-up albums, Hell on Earth (1996) and Murda Muzik (1999) helped further solidify their status in the rap game as they received gold and platinum plaques.

The two released a number of projects as a duo as well as solo projects, and both of them released their own collaborative projects with their frequent collaborator The Alchemist.

Sadly, Prodigy passed away on June 20, 2017, in Las Vegas after being hospitalized during the Art of Rap Tour. May he rest in peace. See here for the Mass Appeal obituary.