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.
Cruzin'
8Ball & MJG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grippin' the grain
As I'm cruisin' the streets
(Cruisin' the streets girl)
It's 112 on the dot
Your on the phone talkin' dirty to me
(She talkin' dirty to me)
I wanna know, where you really wanna go
All dem niggas playin around
Believe me I'm the one though
So baby take your clothes off
And bring your body next to me
(Yeh)
Oh baby
How long would it take a nigga like mjg
To get the girl back to the hotel
I'ma stop and get some rubbers and some cigarellos
You can meet me I'ma be in room 112
You done did enough talkin' on da telephone
Right now, I'm really tryna put my hands on it
So if you in it, got away
You can come through I know you didn't really plan on it
Your boy gotta come and pick you up
Show you off, ride to da hot spot
When don't, tryna act, special when you
Ridin' I'm my drop-top
Listen, what I, need you to do is
Hold this bag while I break dis blunt down
We gonna half to park in a minute
Cause da cops get hot right around bout sun down
I'm not gonna have your wear dem jeans
Tight fit lookin' motha fuckin' right with da low-ridas
Mjg fin sprinkle in some super incrediable
Bitch I'm so fly
I got my hand on the wood grain
I'm in da caddilac feelin' like a grade a pimp man
You niggas tryin' hard as hell
You never do it like I did it
Its a mother fuckin' pimp thing
Laid back, in the lac
Grippin the grain
As I'm cruisin the streets
(stop layin' back cruisin' the streets)
It's 112 on the dot
Your on the phone talkin' dirty to me
(your talkin' dirty to me)
I wanna know, where you really wanna go
Cause I'm sittin' in front of your condo
All dem niggas playin' around
Believe I'm the one though
So baby take your clothes off
And bring your body next to me
(shawty bring it next to me)
Can I get your to, come here girl
Let me say something sweet in ya ear girl
I see you movin' your butt to da beat girl
Wanna dip and come see my world
Big ball the one with da
Extra keys to the condo up-town
Nigga come through when he really want to
That's how me and lil' ma get down
Sometime we hit da town
Wit da radio up and da window down
Get a sweet at the w, get a bag of bush
And just smoke it out
And I don't expect every mothafucka in here
To know what I'm talkin' bout
These niggas ain't got no game,
A lot these niggas just talkin' loud
And I know I'm not the best lookin' nigga
But I'm only so far from the worst lookin' nigga
When it come to the dirty, me and my nigga
We's one of the first in the picture
Three strikes I'm a fee from a nigga
J, mj put your peace sign in the air
Wanna go to a place where they don't hate
Listen to your boy, let me take you there
Laid back, in the lac
Grippin' the grain
As I'm cruisin' the streets
(cruisin' the streets)
It's 112 on the dot
Your on the phone talkin' dirty to me
(shawty talkin' dirty to me)
I wanna know, where you really wanna go
Cause I'm sittin in front of your condo
All dem niggas playin' around
Believe I'm the one though
So baby take your clothes off
And bring your body next to me
(hey, hey, hey)
I like it when you call my name
I like it when we play dat game
What game is dat girl
That freaky deeky game
It ain't no shame when I bang
Go 'head and grab dat thang
That grown man thang
Stop gigglin' and playn mayne
You know what I'm sayin mayne
See you's a freaky dame
Can I call a couple my friends
So we can run a train
I'm sayin I think I can
Now bang it up out the frame
But baby boy damn
Wit my hands on my side man
I'm a d-boy from da hood (yeah)
Smoking on a big bag of cause (yeah)
Workin' all day in a trap house (yeah)
See da police then we push (yeah)
And when a playa ride through da streets, (yeah)
I'm always lookin' for a freak (yeah)
They call me the juice man gigalo (yeah)
Take it out skeet skeet skeet (yeah)
I hit her up on black berries
She see that he left her daddy
She know that its time
To shake her man and meet me at da hotely
See he an old head
Throw some more bread
Keep her fed
But I'm the one she call
When she need that ass tapped
Laid back, in the lac
Grippin' the grain
As I'm cruisin' the streets
(cruisin the streets)
It's 112 on the dot
Your on the phone talkin' dirty to me
(shawty talkin dirty to me)
I wanna know, where you really wanna go
Cause I'm sittin in front of your condo
All dem niggas playin' around
Believe I'm the one though
So baby take your clothes off
And bring your body next to me
(shawty bring it next to me)
The song "Cruzin" by 8Ball & MJG is a classic example of Southern rap from their 1999 album "In Our Lifetime, Vol. 1." The song is a true representation of the cultural influence that broke new Southern rap out of a region that was accustomed to hard-core and gangsta rap. The lyrics describe a leisurely ride through the streets while talking dirty on the phone with a lover. The rapper is confident and in control, cruising in his Cadillac, past the jealous guys and taking the girl to his hotel. Throughout the song, the lyrics suggest the pleasures of relaxation and pleasure, with references to pot-smoking and casual hookups.
The song represents the pioneering sound of the South's "Dirty South" movement, which would go on to influence the West Coast's "Hyphy music" scene as well. 8Ball & MJG were one of the first groups from Memphis to achieve national recognition, and their work has been cited as one of the inspirations for later groups such as OutKast and UGK. The song "Cruzin" embodies the spirit of Southern swag, complete with references to the wood-grain steering wheel of a Cadillac, lowriders, cigarettes, and "trapping out the trap house." It's a laid-back, confident song that captures the vibe of cruising the streets of the South.
Line by Line Meaning
Laid back, in the lac
Relaxed and comfortable in my Cadillac
Grippin' the grain
Holding onto the steering wheel tightly
As I'm cruisin' the streets
Driving around leisurely and enjoying the scenery
It's 112 on the dot
The time is exactly 1:12
Your on the phone talkin' dirty to me
You are saying suggestive things to me over the phone
I wanna know, where you really wanna go
I am curious about your desires and intentions
Cause I'm sittin' in front of your condo
I am parked outside of your home
All dem niggas playin around
Other guys are trying to compete with me
Believe me I'm the one though
But I am the best option for you
So baby take your clothes off
Please undress for me
And bring your body next to me
Come closer to me and be intimate
How long would it take a nigga like mjg
I wonder how much time it would take me to seduce you
To get the girl back to the hotel
To convince you to come back to my hotel room
I'ma stop and get some rubbers and some cigarellos
I am going to buy condoms and cigarettes
You done did enough talkin' on da telephone
We have talked on the phone enough
Right now, I'm really tryna put my hands on it
I am eager to touch and feel you
So if you in it, got away
If you are free and available
You can come through I know you didn't really plan on it
You can come to me even if it was not your original intention
Your boy gotta come and pick you up
Your male companion will have to come get you
Show you off, ride to da hot spot
He will want to show you off and take you to the popular places
When don't, tryna act, special when you
But you should not try to act like you are better than me
Ridin' I'm my drop-top
While we ride in my convertible car
Listen, what I, need you to do is
I need you to help me with something
Hold this bag while I break dis blunt down
Hold this bag of marijuana while I prepare it to smoke
We gonna half to park in a minute
We will need to find a place to park soon
Cause da cops get hot right around bout sun down
Because the police start patrolling more frequently around sunset
I'm not gonna have your wear dem jeans
I do not want you to wear those tight jeans
Tight fit lookin' motha fuckin' right with da low-ridas
Those tight jeans look very attractive and complemented by the low-riding cars
Mjg fin sprinkle in some super incrediable
My friend MJG is adding some incredible enhancements
Bitch I'm so fly
I feel really cool and attractive
I got my hand on the wood grain
I am holding onto the woody surface of the car's interior
I'm in da caddilac feelin' like a grade a pimp man
I am driving my Cadillac and feeling like the top pimp
You niggas tryin' hard as hell
Other guys are struggling to keep up with me
You never do it like I did it
You can never match my level of success
Its a mother fuckin' pimp thing
Being a pimp is a lifestyle
Can I get your to, come here girl
Can I ask you to come closer, girl
Let me say something sweet in ya ear girl
I want to whisper sweet nothings into your ear
I see you movin' your butt to da beat girl
I notice you dancing seductively to the music
Wanna dip and come see my world
Do you want to come with me and explore my life
Big ball the one with da
I am the most successful and wealthy person here
Extra keys to the condo up-town
I have access to an exclusive condo in the upscale area
Nigga come through when he really want to
I only come around when I have a genuine interest
That's how me and lil' ma get down
This is how I behave with my female companion
Sometime we hit da town
Sometimes we go out on the town
Wit da radio up and da window down
Listening to loud music with the car windows open
Get a sweet at the w, get a bag of bush
We will buy pastries and marijuana
And just smoke it out
And then smoke the marijuana
And I don't expect every mothafucka in here
I do not assume that everyone knows what I mean
To know what I'm talkin' bout
To understand my reference
These niggas ain't got no game,
Other guys are not skilled in this lifestyle
A lot these niggas just talkin' loud
They are just making noise without any substance
And I know I'm not the best lookin' nigga
I am aware that I am not the most attractive person
But I'm only so far from the worst lookin' nigga
But I am still better-looking than many others
When it come to the dirty, me and my nigga
But when it comes to my lifestyle, I set the standards
We's one of the first in the picture
We were some of the earliest to embrace this way of life
Three strikes I'm a fee from a nigga
If I make three mistakes, I will be killed
J, mj put your peace sign in the air
My friends J and MJG are signaling peace
Wanna go to a place where they don't hate
We want to go somewhere where we will not be discriminated against
Listen to your boy, let me take you there
Just follow my lead and I will take care of you
I like it when you call my name
It pleases me when you say my name
I like it when we play dat game
I enjoy our romantic games
What game is dat girl
What specific game are you referring to, girl
That freaky deeky game
That sexually suggestive game
It ain't no shame when I bang
There is no shame in having sex
Go 'head and grab dat thang
Just reach down and touch it
That grown man thang
That mature type of pleasure
Stop gigglin' and playin' mayne
Please stop giggling and be serious
You know what I'm sayin' mayne
You understand what I mean, right
See you's a freaky dame
You are a sexually adventurous woman
Can I call a couple my friends
Can I invite some of my male friends over
So we can run a train
So that we can all have sex with you in succession
I'm sayin I think I can
I feel like I am capable of pleasing you
Now bang it up out the frame
Now let's have really intense sex
But baby boy damn
But wow, damn, baby boy
Wit my hands on my side man
With my hands firmly at my hips
I'm a d-boy from da hood
I am a drug dealer from the neighborhood
Smoking on a big bag of cause
I am smoking a lot of good-quality marijuana
Workin' all day in a trap house
I am spending the whole day in a drug house
See da police then we push
If we see the police, we run away
And when a playa ride through da streets,
And when I am driving around in my car,
I'm always lookin' for a freak
I am always searching for a sexually adventurous woman
They call me the juice man gigalo
They refer to me as a man who is good with women
Take it out skeet skeet skeet
Let's have sex and experience intense pleasure
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network
Written by: MARVIN SCANDRICK, Darnell Carlton, Jordan Houston, Marlon Goodwin, Paul Beauregard, Premo Smith, Tracey Sewell, Vasco Whiteside
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind