They first appeared on the rap scene with their 1993 album Comin' Out Hard. The album was successful commercially as well as critically and established the group as a prominent act in the then emerging Southern Rap scene. Their subsequent albums in the 1990s including 1994's On the Outside Looking In, and 1995's On Top of the World cemented their status as some of the South's best rappers. On Top of the World was particularly succeessful, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 200 and being certified Gold. After those albums both 8Ball & MJG released solo albums, first MJG's No More Glory in 1997 and then 8Ball's Lost in 1998. They reunited in 1999 to release their fourth album as a group, titled In Our Lifetime, Vol. 1
For their later releases they signed with Bad Boy Records. Their first album for Bad Boy Records, Living Legends, was certified Gold by the RIAA. Their second album on Bad Boy Records was titled Ridin High and was released in March 2007.
Commercially one of the high points of 8Ball & MJG's career was their being featured on Three 6 Mafia's hit song "Stay Fly" in 2005. That song peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, which is the biggest hit of Three 6 Mafia's career and the biggest hit for 8Ball & MJG. The song was a collaboration between two of the most successful rap groups from the state of Tennessee, where Three 6 Mafia also hail from.
Today 8Ball and MJG also head their own record labels. 8Ball heads 8 Ways Entertainment (distributed by Koch Entertainment), while MJG heads MJG Muzik. On their label are the young, up and coming Memphis duo, Da Volunteers, who are widely known throughout the Southern United States for their 2006 single, "What's Yo Favorite Color?", which glorifies their neighborhood of Orange Mound.
In September 2007, 8Ball and MJG signed deals in Sacramento, CA with Real Talk Entertainment 8Ball released a group album with E.D.I of the Outlawz entitled Doin' It Big on April 1, 2008 and MJG released a solo album entitled Pimp Tight on April 29, 2008.
In June 2008 the group announced that they have officially signed onto T.I.'s record label Grand Hustle.
Album Intro
8Ball & MJG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ball and G, that's the answer
Living legends, many are called but few are chosen
You know their names, legends of the south
8 Ball, Fat Boy, MJG, pimpin'
Bad Boy nigga, show them whachu got
The lyrics of the song "Intro" by 8Ball & MJG are quite straightforward and simple, yet they carry a powerful message. The opening line "To be or not to be, that is the question" is a direct reference to one of the most famous quotes in literature, spoken by Hamlet in Shakespeare's play of the same name. This line is used to convey the idea of the importance of making a choice and taking action. The next line "Ball and G, that's the answer" is the answer to the said question, implying that being one's self is the answer.
The second verse "Living legends, many are called but few are chosen" speaks to the idea that not everybody can be great or famous. It takes a special kind of skill and talent to stand out and be recognized as a legend. The following line "You know their names, legends of the south" serves as an introduction to the artists, 8Ball & MJG, who have undoubtedly made a name for themselves in the southern hip-hop scene. The song ends with the couplet "Bad Boy nigga, show them whachu got", which is a call to action, urging listeners to take pride in themselves and put their best foot forward.
Line by Line Meaning
To be or not to be, that is the question
Existence or non-existence, a dilemma to ponder
Ball and G, that's the answer
8 Ball and MJG, the solution
Living legends, many are called but few are chosen
Renowned figures who are few and far between
You know their names, legends of the south
Famous personas from the southern region
8 Ball, Fat Boy, MJG, pimpin'
Mentality of leisure, with 8 Ball, Fat Boy, and MJG at the forefront
Bad Boy nigga, show them whachu got
A rebellious person, displaying their abilities without hesitation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shondrae Crawford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind