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.
Comin' Out Hard
8Ball & MJG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eightball will come out hard with the gangsta lean
gold smile for the women that be jockin' the green
i'm a pimpster
not a trick on a stroll
ya gotta pimp that thang and keep a trick on hold
stay on top of the world, wit a gun in ya hand
take control of a woman and fear no man
if you got it and I don't I'll blast your ass, with the quickness
because a pimp don't play
I got to work on top of my game and think of ways to get payed
born in the Mound, down, deep in the south
with the brothers with the curls and gold teeth in they mouth
and the cheverolet impalas with the craters and vogues
fo'teef, with the yak, smokin' fat mac indo
fall up in the club with the pimps, the tone
gotta tuck in my pants, ya step to me and it's on
gotta family in Memphis, gotta gang in Texas
T-Money in the Jag and JB in the Lexus
cystiff, grip tight nine in the studio
or...
I'm comin' out hard
Chorus:
Hard out, Hard out,
Comin' out, Hard
Hard out, Hard out,
Hard,
Hard out, Hard out,
Comin' out, hard,
Hard out, Hard out
(MJG)
MJG description a brotha
and one who tends to always keep his business undercover
but still I wind up in the middle of a click
some I heard, he heard, she heard,
should I continue to listen to the rumors, the garbage
trick, I ain't for this, sucka let's start this ruffness
wait trick you missed, I hit darker, into the sleeper
now you feeling weaker
man don't slip when you think you got backup
looking for some help but ya boys just slacked up
punked out, backed out
way low headin' to the front do'
sneaking out real slow
how ya feel now?
what's wrong, what's the matter
mama never told you not to play with those rappers
MJG got loose in the 9 deuce
but for the 9 tre the pimps don't play way
I'ma stay true
some of ya'll gon' trey
some of ya'll imma lay
some of ya'll imma hate
but see I'm in it to win it
lining up for a party
just to consider it a job,for me to come out,damn,hard
Chorus
Hard out,Hard out,
Comin' out,Hard
Hard out,Hard out,
Hard,
Hard out,Hard out,
Comin' out,hard,
Hard out,Hard out
(Eightball)
I gotta come out hard as hell just like the life I lead
cool, feed on the next brotha's greed
J-Smooth cuttin' up,Lil' Hank gettin' buck
killers be shootin' up suckas with no gut
I'm scoping big bucks,looking for the payoff
living like a pimpster,checking everyday off
riding through the hood with my homies gettin' smoked out
fall up in the mall,let my hoe strol' loked out
cool,calm and collective,comin' out hard
MJG count it down
(MJG)
1, 2, 3 points I gotta get across
1,don't
2,make me
3,go off
suckas gettin' stuck up in they face
tryin' to amaze,somebody else,but they find that it
don't pay
i'm gonna keep,droppin' tracks,smokin fat-mack hay
in the ashtray,3 quarts,put away
gat on tha table cuz i'm able,imma keep it
right on the shelf,where i know that i can reach it
my mind is a weapon,cuz i'm smart from the start
MJG...
Pimps don't play from the 9 trey
Comin out hard
In Comin' Out Hard, 8Ball & MJG describe their lifestyle as pimps, gangsters and hustlers in a rather poetic way. They describe their guns and money as a way to take control of women and fear no man. Throughout the song, they boast about their riches, the women who fawn over them and their willingness to take down anyone who dares to cross them. They also describe the ways in which they separate themselves from people who aren't living life the same way they are; they're constantly on top of their game, thinking about ways to earn more money, and living life at full throttle. The chorus is a play on words that bring it all together: they're coming out hard, ready to take on the world in every way possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Eightball will come out hard with the gangsta lean
Eightball plans to come out strong with a confident, laid-back swagger
gold smile for the women that be jockin' the green
He wears a gold smile and attracts women who are attracted to wealth
i'm a pimpster
He's a pimp and runs his game like a professional
not a trick on a stroll
He's not a prostitute, he's in control of his business
ya gotta pimp that thang and keep a trick on hold
It's important to keep control over one's business and clients
stay on top of the world, wit a gun in ya hand
He remains in control and carries a weapon for protection
take control of a woman and fear no man
He's in charge of his business and his relationships, and is not afraid of anyone
it be hard for me to see a day with out cash
Money is important to him and his business operation
if you got it and I don't I'll blast your ass, with the quickness
He takes his business seriously and can be violent if necessary
because a pimp don't play
A pimp takes his business seriously and will not tolerate any nonsense
I got to work on top of my game and think of ways to get payed
He's always innovating and finding new ways to make money
born in the Mound, down, deep in the south
He's from the southern United States
with the brothers with the curls and gold teeth in they mouth
He runs with other men wearing flashy jewelry and hairstyles
and the cheverolet impalas with the craters and vogues
They drive flashy cars with custom rims and tires
fo'teef, with the yak, smokin' fat mac indo
They smoke marijuana and drink liquor
fall up in the club with the pimps, the tone
He enters clubs with other pimps and their escorts
gotta tuck in my pants, ya step to me and it's on
He's always ready for conflict and will defend himself if necessary
gotta family in Memphis, gotta gang in Texas
He has connections and networks with other people in different places
T-Money in the Jag and JB in the Lexus
His associates ride in luxury cars
cystiff, grip tight nine in the studio
He carries a firearm with him at all times, even in the recording studio.
or...
An ellipsis inserted as a poetic pause
I'm comin' out hard
He's confident in his abilities and is ready to make a big impact with his work
MJG description a brotha
MJG describes himself as a brother
and one who tends to always keep his business undercover
He operates and keeps his business private and hidden from the public eye
but still I wind up in the middle of a click
He still associates with others despite his preference for privacy
some I heard, he heard, she heard
He hears rumors and gossip from others
should I continue to listen to the rumors, the garbage
He questions whether he should continue listening to rumors
trick, I ain't for this, sucka let's start this ruffness
He's not interested in gossip and is ready to confront a troublemaker
wait trick you missed, I hit darker, into the sleeper
He's a skilled fighter and can knock someone out easily
now you feeling weaker man don't slip when you think you got backup
Don't be overconfident when you have backup
looking for some help but ya boys just slacked up
His associates didn't have his back in a time of need
punked out, backed, way low headin' to the front do'
The troublemaker ran away scared and embarrassed
sneaking out real slow how ya feel now?
He taunts the troublemaker who sneaks out without confrontation
what's wrong, what's the matter
He questions why the troublemaker is acting scared
mama never told you not to play with those rappers
He's warning him not to mess with serious people like rappers and pimps
MJG got loose in the 9 deuce
He gained success in the early 90s
but for the 9 tre the pimps don't play way
Pimps are serious business and don't play around
I'ma stay true
He remains true to himself and his business approach
some of ya'll gon' trey
Some people will try to be like him
some of ya'll imma lay
Some people will leave him alone
some of ya'll imma hate
Some people will hate him
but see I'm in it to win it
He's in the business to make money and he's serious about it
lining up for a party just to consider it a job, for me to come out, damn, hard
He approaches parties as potential business opportunities to gain success and reputation
Contributed by Layla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.