Heartless
Track Information
| Artist | Live Squad |
| Track | Heartless |
| Performers | Stretch and Majesty |
| Producer(s) | Live Squad |
| Writer(s) | Randy Walker (Stretch), Christopher Walker (Majesty) and K-Low |
| Recorded | July 1992 |
| Released | 1992 |
| Length | 4:35 |
Overview
Heartless is one of the defining recordings by Live Squad and was released by Tommy Boy Records in 1992 as part of the group's Murderahh! / Heartless double A-side single. Performed by Stretch and Majesty and produced by K-Low, the song showcased the dark, uncompromising sound that would become synonymous with Live Squad and established the trio as one of New York's most promising underground hip-hop acts during the early 1990s.
Built around atmospheric production, aggressive lyricism and intricate sample work, Heartless demonstrated the group's growing confidence as both performers and producers. The track reflected the realities of street life in Queens while introducing the production style that Stretch and Majesty would continue to refine during their later collaborations with 2Pac and the Thug Life camp.
The single was promoted extensively by Tommy Boy Records and released in several different mixes, including the original YG Mix, a Radio Edit, an Instrumental, the Full Vocal Mix (Blood Drop) and a number of promotional remixes. During an appearance on New York's legendary Raw Deal radio programme in October 1992, Live Squad premiered a new remix of the song while promoting the single alongside Tommy Boy representative Jamieson Gallo, highlighting the label's commitment to the group before their planned debut album was ultimately shelved.
Today, Heartless is widely regarded as one of Live Squad's signature recordings. Together with Murderahh!, it captures the group at a pivotal moment in their career before their association with 2Pac brought Stretch and Majesty to a much wider audience. More than three decades after its release, the song remains an essential part of Live Squad's legacy and one of the most important recordings from the Tommy Boy era.
Recording History
Billboard Magazine
18 July 1992
Following the release of Murderahh!, Live Squad returned to the studio during 1992 to complete work on their second Tommy Boy single, Heartless. Produced by the group themselves, the record continued to develop the dark, sample-driven sound that had begun to establish Stretch, Majesty and K-Low as one of New York's most promising underground hip-hop acts.
One of the earliest contemporary references to the recording appeared in Billboard magazine on 18 July 1992. In its regular Studio Action / Audio Track column, Billboard reported that Live Squad were mixing Heartless in New York, confirming that the record was nearing completion during the summer of 1992 before its commercial release on Tommy Boy Records. Today, the article remains one of the few published sources documenting the recording process while the single was still in production.
Later in 1992, Tommy Boy released Heartless as a 12-inch single backed with Murderahh!. In addition to the original version, the release featured several exclusive mixes including the Fat Bass International Mix, an instrumental version and a dub mix. These alternate versions demonstrated Live Squad's willingness to experiment with different arrangements while preserving the aggressive East Coast sound that defined their early work.
Promotion for the single continued throughout the second half of 1992. During an appearance on New York's legendary Raw Deal radio programme, Live Squad joined Tommy Boy representative Jamieson Gallo to premiere another new remix of Heartless. The broadcast introduced listeners to an alternative version of the song and highlighted Tommy Boy's continued support for the group as they prepared material for what was intended to become their debut album.
Although Heartless never achieved mainstream commercial success, the single has since become one of the most important releases in Live Squad's catalogue. It captured the group's signature sound before their association with 2Pac and the formation of Thug Life, while also showcasing the production style that Stretch and Majesty would continue to develop throughout the early 1990s. More than three decades later, Heartless remains one of the defining recordings of Live Squad's Tommy Boy period and an essential part of the group's legacy.
Release History
| Year | Release | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Heartless / Murderahh! | 12" Vinyl | Original single featuring the original version of Heartless. |
| 1992 | Heartless (Fat Bass International Mix) | 12" Vinyl | Exclusive remix released on the Tommy Boy single. |
| 1992 | Heartless (Instrumental) | 12" Vinyl | Instrumental version. |
| 1992 | Heartless (Dub) | 12" Vinyl | Dub mix. |
| 1992 | Heartless (Radio Remix) | Radio Broadcast | Premiered on Raw Deal during promotional appearances for the single. |
Samples
Samples Used
Sample information is currently being researched.
Lyrics
"In other words I'm heartless dude" --> Scarface
"In other words I'm heartless"
[repeat 2X]
[Stretch]
Now let me start this, from out the darkness, and rip apart this
Subject, nuttin but a tale 'bout the Heartless
And you'll figure that he's thinkin, "Who cares?"
But this nigga never knew the meaning of tears
Now this Little Piggy went to school and shit
And Momma Miss Piggy went to bed ("Good night!")
Now Poppa Piggy always got drunk as hell
And left the door unlocked, and now they dead, now check it (Damn!)
Runnin home from school, frontin from his good grades
Scorin mad high for kid his age
But when he got around the way he saw a lot of commotion
And usually the neighborhood, smooth as lotion
"Oh no way! They're in front of my crib
I wonder what my pops done went and did"
He felt confussion - is this illusion, or is it real?
Now find out from his heart the whole crap he feel
He was losin, had to hold him up on his feet
Then he saw two stretchers with blood on the sheets
Damn, it had to take some shit like this
to spark this, now he feels no emotions
The kid is HEARTLESS
"In other words I'm heartless dude" --> Scarface
"In other words I'm heartless"
[repeat 4X with cutting and scratching]
[Majesty]
Parents dead messed up the child's head
Hate created a monster, a ruthless monster
It's a shame, who's to blame, look what they done, UHH
Now look at this kid, the son of no one
How will he turn out, you wanna know?
Heartless, ruthless, a murder pro, UHH
[Stretch] Mind shifted, lifted another one
Damn another young gun, smoked when a nigga's done
[Majesty]
Moved across town, livin with his Aunt
A little shady shack on the top of a resteraunt
Actin a fool, made his own rules
[Stretch] Down the block there's a spot where his cousin pump rocks
[Majesty]
He put him on, things went wrong, you know the song
He got strong, word is bond
Get the rugged money love it started buggin
Fresh at the hotel, with his trigger huggin
People scared to death of him the nigga brewin in ya
[Stretch] Started gettin rich doin hits in Virginia
[Majesty]
In every precinct, there's a wanter poster
Now he's known as a damn BODY ROASTER
The nigga's heartless
"In other words I'm heartless dude" --> Scarface
"In other words I'm heartless"
[repeat 4X with cutting and scratching]
[Stretch] Heartless, meanin of the wicked, with a one way ticket
If you stick it then your mouth be gonna lick it
[Majesty]
For no reason at all he'll put to you rest,
So you better wear your vest for the ones they call HEARTLESS
Or better yet stay home, cause they ain't
Aimin at your chest boy, they aimin at your DOME
Trouble's on they mind, so they don't think
Drop a body flee the scene, quicker than a blink
I guess it's strain on they brain they feelin no remorse
You see what happens to your life when you're born in New York?
[Stretch] You're misused and bruised, within illusion
[Majesty]
Don't wanna blame yourself but you choosed it
Pressure on the mind overloads then you snap black
Then you start buggin (UH) trippin (UH)
Flippin like a flapjack
Murder rate raises, wanna trade places
Read the papers, turn the pages
HEARTLESS
"In other words I'm heartless dude" --> Scarface
"In other words I'm heartless"
[repeat with cutting and scratching till end]