"Mass Destruction" is the normal battle theme of Persona 3. The song has rap vocals sung by Lotus Juice, with other portions of the song being sung by Yumi Kawamura and lyrics written by Reiko Tanaka. There are nine different versions of the track that have been made for Persona 3’s various rereleases and expanded media:
- "Mass Destruction," found on the Persona 3 Original Soundtrack. It is the normal battle theme of Persona 3, The Journey in Persona 3 FES and the male protagonist’s route in Persona 3 Portable.
- "Mass Destruction -P3fes version-", found on the Persona 3 FES Original Soundtrack. It is the normal battle theme of The Answer in Persona 3 FES.
- "Mass Destruction -Reincarnation-", found on the Burn My Dread -Reincarnation: Persona 3- remix album. A variant with added lines is on the Persona Music Live Band album.
- "Mass Destruction -Persona 3 The Movie #2," found on the Persona 3 The Movie #2 Midsummer Knight's Dream soundtrack CD.
- "Mass Destruction -ATLUS Kitajoh Version-", found on Persona 20th Anniversary All Time Best Album's third disc, which is a mashup of "Burn My Dread," “Mass Destruction,” and “Mass Destruction -P3fes version-“.
- "Mass Destruction - "P3" + "P3F" ver.", a combined version of “Mass Destruction” and “Mass Destruction -P3fes version-“ found on the soundtrack of Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight, which Makoto Yuki dances to in the game.
- "Mass Destruction - Tetsuya Kobayashi Remix," found on the soundtrack of Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight, a remix done by Tetsuya Kobayashi which Ken Amada dances to.
- "Mass Destruction -Reload-," a remix of the original song which serves as the normal battle theme for Persona 3 Reload as it plays when there is no player advantage in battle. It is replaced by It's Going Down Now when the player ambushes the enemy.
- "Mass Destruction -P3fes Reload-", found on the Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis Original Soundtrack.
The original Persona 3 variant of the song is also featured in Persona 4 Arena as the mirror match theme for Aigis, Akihiko Sanada, and Mitsuru Kirijo. In Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, all male Persona 3 characters feature the former variant as their mirror match theme, while Aigis has the FES variant for her mirror match theme. In Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, the original Persona 3 variant plays when SEES rescues the Investigation Team in the P4 Story.
The song is featured in Persona 5 / Royal, being played when wearing the Gekkoukan High uniform in battle.
This song was available as a battle theme in Persona 5 Strikers as free DLC.
Lyrics
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah
(Yes, the battleground's right here)
(It's a man's world)
(Come on)
(Gotta get ready for this right here)
(Hey, yo)
Fear's awake, anger beats loud, face reality
Never beat charity
The enemy you're fighting covers all society (damn right)
Mommy's not here, gotta fight (all night)
Right here, Shadow, 10 o'clock, direction
Seize the moment, destroy the nation
Your rhyme is slow-motion, give me motivation
Freaked out now, and dead on arrival (what?)
Round up around, spit out, all over
Rhyme like a rolling stone
Comin' a crowd
Watch out, they move, they diss you loud
Guess what this sound, it bombs whole ground
(So round up)
Don't ease your pace, 'cause enemy's brutal
Moment of truth, there ain't no truce
You're the only one, one world, one love
But the battle goes on, Shadows of mass destruction
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah
(Yes, the battleground's right here)
(It's a man's world)
(Come on)
(Gotta get ready for this right here)
(Hey, yo)
Fear's awake, anger beats loud, face reality
Never beat charity
The enemy you're fighting covers all society (damn right)
Mommy's not here, gotta fight (all night)
Right here, Shadow, 10 o'clock, direction
Seize the moment, destroy the nation
Your rhyme is slow-motion, give me motivation
Freaked out now, and dead on arrival (what?)
Round up around, spit out, all over
Rhyme like a rolling stone
Comin' a crowd
Watch out, they move, they diss you loud
Guess what this sound, it bombs whole ground
(So round up)
Don't ease your pace, 'cause enemy's brutal
Moment of truth, there ain't no truce
You're the only one, one world, one love
But the battle goes on, Shadows of mass destruction
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah
(Yes, the battleground's right here)
(It's a man's world)
(Come on)
(Gotta get ready for this right here)
(Hey, yo)
Fear's awake, anger beats loud, face reality
Never beat charity
The enemy you're fighting covers all society (damn right)
Mommy's not here, gotta fight (all night)
Right here, Shadow, 10 o'clock, direction
Seize the moment, destroy the nation
Your rhyme is slow-motion, give me motivation
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah!
(Oh... hey yo. You better get ready for this right now)
(This is a battle scene...)
(You can't stop it!)
(Uh, get ready)
(Take it hot, right now)
I thought told y'all to sit down or get down
I'm about'a hit ground
When I'm in the box, my hits way out of this bounds
Nobody's topping me
(You know it, damn right)
Most of y'alls loving me
(Doing it all night)
Keeping my friends close, and my foes closer
Things getting messy, but I never lick the nose up
As I get older, see things slower
My enemies looking like kids, and I'm the grown up
(Forget it)
I'm the next masterpiece made
A new generation came up with the beast "Ace"
But I'm the mister nice guy
See me I'm a wise guy
Not a mafioso, but I hustle like Mike
Lay low if you're feelin' me
I take these beats, freaks go crazy with me
So put 'em up in these break with me
So shake with the man, L to the J's, now follow me
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Ooh yeah
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I don't care anymore, enough of fake smiles
Buckwild I go, tried it on but it didn't fit me so
Found a better pair of shoes to walk
Even in defeat, hold my pride, never gonna talk
Better yet, my mouth is tight like James Bond
You thought you saw me, but next second I'm gone
I don't want no throne
I'm a freelancer
Do for benjamins, but I'm not a gangster
(Show me what you got)
If you got at all, 'cuz I fight not only verbally
Volatile man I am, gotta game that I play
I thought you might like the way
I destruct everywhere I lay my hands
I'm sick to the bone
From the top of the dome to the tip of my toe
I call the shots, the frontman calls the drop
Going no where if you wanna take my spot
(Break down)
Right off the bat
I pop my armory, too smooth to see,
I sting like bee
Like Muhamad Ali,
Champion of Champions will not defeat
Came up to beat
The enemy at large
But tonight let us take a break, back to kids and go-carts
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Once again, I'm back in the lab
Cleaning my knives, ready for stabs
I never committed a crime I had to
Out of necessity, I done couple
I plead guilty to lord in the chapel
Forgiveness given cuz I don't look for trouble
Instead it finds me
And what I do is fight back
Never look back the past, 'cuz it hurts to think back
I pray to God, 'cuz I'm still paranoid today
(Can't lean back)
Now its over
Survival of the fittest time for me to take over
I was lenient, but games over
Mass destruction is now our slogan
Just won't do things in slow-mo
Fast life, fast money, kinda like promo
(Break down)
Still get it going on
I am the next ruler of the python
Don't be scared of biting, I'm not a Tyson
Right on! I'm the hurricane in the ocean
About to land disturbing the peace, it's a war zone
You best took it serious when you heard the tone.
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Ooh yeah
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah!
(Fears awake, anger beats louder)
(Round up them, spit out, roll over)
(Moment of truth, there ain't no truce)
(Oh boy!)
(But the battle goes on, Shadows of mass destruction...)
(Remix!)
I don't care anymore, enough of fake smiles
Buckwild I go, tried it on but it didn't fit me so
Found a better pair of shoes to walk
Even in defeat, I hold my pride never gonna talk
Better yet, my mouth is tight like James Bond
You thought you saw me, but next second I'm gone
I don't want no throne
I'm a freelancer
Do for benjamins, but I'm not a gangster
(Show me what you got)
If you got at all, 'cuz I fight not only verbally
Volatile man I am, gotta game that I play
I thought you might like the way
I destruct everywhere I lay my hands
I'm sick to the bone
From the top of the dome to the tip of my toe
I call the shots, the frontman calls the drop
Going no where if you wanna take my spot
Like that!
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah!
(Survival of the fittest)
(Cannot lose now!)
(Gotta take over!)
(Still paranoid to death)
(Once again...)
See me running running running far away
Shadow's expressions opaque
So time to eat them cook like steak, filet
Oh babe I've got a whole crew with me who can relate
To this mass destruction
(Just go crazy)
This ain't no default, fresh, no decay
Making my own rules, no delay
Paving my own way
This ain't no children's play
Living this moment, don't need a replay
Burning my dread, many days I was dead wrong
Too many shadows kept on pushing, I was drawn
Into the potholes they try to brain-wash me down
To the bottom, but ain't nobody can chain my brain
Do or die? I done did it done did it
No limit till death comes to visit
So wicked this life but I live it
If I must mass destruct, I can in a minute
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah!
(Uh-huh, yeah)
(This is how I roll...)
(Y'all feel me right here?)
MASS DESTRUCTION!
Ooh yeah
Dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
(repeat x4)
Fear's awake, anger beats loud, face reality
Never beat charity
The enemy you're fighting covers all society
(Damn right)
Mommy's not here, gotta fight
(All night)
Right here, Shadow 10 o'clock direction
Seize the moment to destroy the nation
Your rhyme is slow motion, give me motivation
Freaked out now, dead on arrival
Round up around, spit out
All over
Rhyme like a rolling stone
Comin' a crowd
Watch out, they move, they diss you loud
Guess what this sound, it bombs whole ground
(So round up)
Don't ease your pace, 'cuz enemy's brutal
Moment of truth, There ain't no truce
You're the only one, one world, one love
But the battle goes on, Shadows of mass destruction!
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah!
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah!
Dreamless dorm -
Ticking clock,
I walk away -
from the soundless room
Windless night -
Moonlight melts,
My ghostly shadow -
to the lukewarm gloom
Nightly dance...
of bleeding swords...
Reminds me that...
I still live...
Fear's awake, anger beats loud, face reality
Never beat charity
The enemy you're fighting covers all society
(Damn right)
Mommy's not here, gotta fight
(All night)
Right here, Shadow 10 o'clock direction
Seize the moment, destroy the nation
Your rhyme is slow motion, give me motivation
Freaked out now, and dead on arrival
Round up around, spit out
All over
Rhyme like a rolling stone
Comin' a crowd
Watch out, they move, they diss you loud
Guess what this sound, it bombs whole ground
(So round up)
Don't ease your pace, 'cuz enemy's brutal
Moment of truth, There ain't no truce
You're the only one, one world, one love
But the battle goes on, Shadows of mass destruction
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
I thought told y'all to sit down or get down
I'm about'a hit ground
When I'm in the box, my hits way out of this bounds
Nobody's topping me
(You know it, damn right)
Most of y'alls loving me
(Doing it all night)
Keeping my friends close, and my foes closer
Things getting messy, but I never lift the nose up
As I get older
See things slower
My enemies looking like kids, and I'm the grown up
(Forget it)
I'm the next masterpiece made
A new generation team, a wicked beast "Ace"
But I'm the mister nice guy
See? I'm a wise guy
Not a mafioso, but I hustle like Mike
Lay low if you're feelin' me
I take these beats, freaks go crazy with me
So put 'em up in this base with me
So shake with the man, L to the J's, now follow me
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah
Fear's awake, anger beats loud, face reality
Never be charity
The enemy you're fighting covers whole society (damn right)
Mommy's not here, gotta fight (all night)
Right here, Shadow, 10 o'clock, direction
Seize the moment, they destroy the nation
Your rhyme's slow-motion, give me motivation
Freaked out now, dead on arrival (what?)
Round up around, spit out, all over
Rhyme like a rolling stone
Come in a crowd
Watch out, the moon, they diss you loud
Guess what this sound, it bombs whole ground
(So round up)
Don't ease your pace, 'cause enemy's brutal
Moment of truth, there ain't no truce
You're the only one, one world, one love
But the battle goes on, Shadows of Mass Destruction
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, da-dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, da-dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, da-dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, da-dada-dada
Fears cut deeper than the gun wounds
It can put your fate/destiny into the tomb
Hardest thing to do is changing who you are now
To who you wanna be soon
First enemy's inside us already
Whoever make it out's may be ready for the battle, it's pitiless
You better be ready
Not only winning but the losing
Know it brings experiences for a bigger win later
Persevere for the greater good
Imagine you later would, may be annihilator
Taking down the agitators, the violators
The leader of the dark
Until we reach final layer, so
Who we up against? vicious and brutal
Moment of truth, there ain't no truce
You're the only one, one world, one love
But the battle goes on, Shadows of Mass Destruction
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, da-dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, da-dada-dada
Ooh yeah
About to take down these enemies
They better run when they see me, me
(Baby, baby)
Feel the wrath the energies
We hold this heat from the best team
(Ooh yeah)
It's a takeover
Can't run away from the boss, game's over
(Baby, baby)
Should've thought twice before you messed with me
Take the best of me, rest is history
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
(Baby, baby, baby)
Yeah!
I thought told y'all to sit down or get down
I'm about'a hit ground
When I'm in the box, my hits way out of this bounds
Nobody's topping me
(You know it, damn right)
Most of y'alls loving me
(Doing it all night)
Keeping my friends close, and my foes closer
Things getting messy, but I never lick the nose up
As I get older, see things slower
My enemies looking like kids, and I'm the grown up
I'm the next masterpiece made
A new generation came up with the beast "Ace"
But I'm the mister nice guy
See me I'm a wise guy
Not a mafioso, but I hustle like Mike
Lay low if you're feelin' me
I take these beats, freaks go crazy with me
So put 'em up in these break with me
So shake with the man, L to the J's, now follow me
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada
I'm ready whenever you are, but stop me
'Cuz I tend to go too far, watch me
Nobody's dropping me
(Until my last breath)
So you're better off mind your biz
I'm in my league on my own that's how I play
(It's a nice place here)
I really like it when I get to erase them
You've been talking quite from afar
Stop hating superstar, you're on Mars
Loved by many, and hated by some
Yo, appreciate greatness, what I become
When it's all said and done
You know you gonna miss me
Regret what you said when I'm gone
Climbed up the fence and you took offense
Stop being trash and start making sense
I'm the one, only one, you already know what it is
The Shadows of Mass Destruction
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Baby, baby
Da-dada-dada, dada-dada
Ooh yeah
About to take down these enemies
They better run when they see me, me
(Baby, baby)
Feel the wrath the energies
We hold this heat from the best team
(Ooh yeah)
It's a takeover
Can't run away from the boss, game's over
(Baby, baby)
Should've thought twice before you messed with me
Take the best of me, rest is history
Trivia
- In episode 15 of Persona 4 The Animation, the original version of "Mass Destruction" begins playing when Yu Narukami is revealed as the king.
- An arrangement of this song appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate along with various other tracks from the Persona series. It is one of two tracks from the Persona series (with the other being Rivers in the Desert) to be altered for its usage in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate without being fully remixed, with the one change being the lyric "(Damn right)" being changed to "(All night)," a lyric reused from the next line in the song.
- Mass Destruction -Reload- and Mass Destruction -P3fes Reload- feature a reference to take over