The Prodigy were getting considerable airplay on rock stations with their controversial track " Smack My Bitch Up " — and also a negative backlash for the song . The National Organization for Women ( NOW ) criticized the song and its music video . The song 's lyrics consist entirely of the repeated phrase " Change my pitch up , smack my bitch up " , which NOW stated are a " dangerous and offensive message advocating violence against women " . Howlett responded to the criticism by stating that the meaning of the song and its lyrics were being misinterpreted , and the phrase meant " doing anything intensely , like being on stage — going for extreme manic energy " . The band did not actually write the lyric , but rather , sampled it from the hip hop Ultramagnetic MCs ' track " Give the Drummer Some " which also appears on the '' Dirtchamber Sessions '' ; they had also sampled another Ultramagnetic MCs song " Critical Beatdown " on their earlier " Out of Space " single . The National Organization for Women also believed that the lyrics are in reference to administering heroin ( smack ) to another person . Several radio stations limited the song 's airplay to nighttime hours . In September 1997 , the Prodigy performed " Breathe " at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards , and won the Viewer 's Choice Award
1997 MTV Video Music Awards
1997 MTV Video Music Awards
The Prodigy