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.
Hands In The Air
8Ball & MJG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Okay; comin' from the top of my
Dome when I'm droppin' my
Own type of style, and
Ain't nobody stoppin' my
Rise to the very top
Hit 'em up wit' all I got
Superstar; no I'm not
Everybody want a piece
Dirty like a pair 'a cleats
Niggers run their mouth a lot
Like bitches and parakeets
(Whoa) How you love that pimpin'
(Whoa) I'm so cold wit' it
(Whoa) Make all the boys wanna do it just because I did it
I'm like a legend or
Some kind of prophecy
Sent here to set you free
Dress, player, follow me
Into another world
Deep inside your own soul
This shit here way bigger than tattoos and cornrolls
This not 'bout makin' dough
Not 'bout no fakin' yo
Not 'bout who's rich 'o po'
Not 'bout who niggaz know
This here 'bout you and me
This here 'bout poetry
This here 'bout who we be
If you in here with me
Keep your ears wide open
This is all grill no jokin'
Throw your motherfuckin' hands up in the air
If you feel me throw your hands up in the air
Better keep your ears open
This is all grill no boastin'
Throw your hands up in the motherfuckin' air
If you feel me throw your hands up in the air
The motherfuckin' aair
(Eightball)
Nigga you don't know me
Why you niggaz wanna beef?
All in my grill like
You the papparazzi
Boy I was fulla game
Way before this rap thang
Real 'fore the money came
That's why I will never change
Me - ain't nobody like
Even though they try to be
Niggaz think they are but they ain't fuckin' with me lyric'ly
(Yo) I was born wit' it
Din't nobody teach it to me
Over hot beef
Tell you 'bout what the streets did to me
(Yo) Chose me to be a
Prophet and lead my people
Murder non-believers
With lyrics that are lethal
I hit 'em heavy with it
Yo I stay ready wit' it
Come try to test me wit' it
Regret you ever did
Call who a pimp and
I got my own back
You got them baby paper?
I got them grown stacks
But this ain't 'bout no bread
Not 'bout what niggaz said
Not 'bout what hoes believe
If you in here with me
(Eightball)
Yeah I gotta come again
Just to let you know the deal
Eight ways to company
Beats come from doin' real (yeah)
We the niggaz should not nobody be fuckin' wit'
Slayer riders Chopper city
Had you bitches doubled quick
This ain't 'bout who rap the best
This ain't 'bout who got the most
This is not no gangsta rap
This ain't 'bout no pimps and hoes
This here ain't no country shit
Ain't no way to label this
Memphis where I come from
Orange mile veteran
What I represent - whoever live in poverty
Hard working niggaz that
Try to hustle honestly
And I represent who
Lookin' good and feelin' nice
Niggaz on there drinkin' 'dro
Fresh clothes; full of ice
(Yeah) We gon' keep this slummin' comin' with the dirtiest
(Yeah) If you from the gutter then I know you heard of this
This ain't bout where you from
This ain't bout where you be
This here 'bout feelin' free
If you in here with me
(Eightball)
Go 'head and put 'em up
Put your hands where I can see 'em
Put your hands where I can see 'em
Go 'head and put 'em up
Put your hands where I can see 'em
Put your hands where I can see 'em
(Unknown voice talking)
Yeah, eight ways, doo-rilla
Code line
Slab two is goin' down baby
This your boy Milwaukee
Stop prayin'
In the song, "Hands In The Air" by 8Ball and MJG, the rap artist Eightball is declaring his own unique style and how he feels unstoppable. He talks about how he is a superstar but not like anyone else, with green weed and a black glock. Eightball addresses that everyone wants to be part of his success, but they are dirty like a pair of cleats, and they run their mouths like bitches and parakeets. He shares his persona as a legend or prophecy sent to set everyone free, into another world deep inside our own soul, with a message that is more significant than tattoos and cornrows. As he raps, "This here 'bout poetry. This here 'bout who we be."
He calls on people to throw their hands up in the air if they feel him, but with a message that it's not about boasting, makin' dough, or any other superficial thing. The song is about coming together and creating, bonding over a mission to be original, and it doesn't matter if you're from the gutter or not. Whether you're looking good or feeling nice, what matters is feeling free and supporting each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Okay; comin' from the top of my
Starting strong with my own unique style
Dome when I'm droppin' my
As I'm unleashing my talent
Own type of style, and
Individualistic way of expressing myself
Ain't nobody stoppin' my
Nothing can prevent me
Rise to the very top
Climbing high up the success ladder
Hit 'em up wit' all I got
Giving my all to my craft
Superstar; no I'm not
I'm not a big shot celebrity
Green weed; black glock
I have weed and a gun
Everybody want a piece
Everyone wants a share of what I have
Dirty like a pair 'a cleats
I'm not pristine or polished
Niggers run their mouth a lot
People talk too much
Like bitches and parakeets
The chatter is similar to female dogs and birds
(Whoa) How you love that pimpin'
Wow, you like my pimping skills?
(Whoa) I'm so cold wit' it
I'm really skilled at this
(Whoa) Make all the boys wanna do it just because I did it
My actions are so good, others want to emulate them
I'm like a legend or
People see me as an icon
Some kind of prophecy
I'm like a prediction come true
Sent here to set you free
I have a purpose to liberate people
Dress, player, follow me
Listen and learn from me
Into another world
A new realm
Deep inside your own soul
Finding oneself
This shit here way bigger than tattoos and cornrolls
This is more significant than just appearances
This not 'bout makin' dough
This isn't about making money
Not 'bout no fakin' yo
I'm not going to pretend
Not 'bout who's rich 'o po'
This isn't about who is wealthy or poor
Not 'bout who niggaz know
This isn't about who you're connected to
This here 'bout you and me
This is about us as individuals
This here 'bout poetry
This is about the artistic form of expression
This here 'bout who we be
This is about our true selves
If you in here with me
If you understand and relate to me
Keep your ears wide open
Listen closely
This is all grill no jokin'
I'm being serious
Throw your motherfuckin' hands up in the air
Raise your hands high
If you feel me throw your hands up in the air
Raise your hands if you relate to me
Better keep your ears open
Stay alert and informed
This is all grill no boastin'
I'm not bragging
The motherfuckin' aair
The atmosphere of this place
Nigga you don't know me
You're not familiar with me
Why you niggaz wanna beef?
Why do you want to have a confrontation?
All in my grill like
Up in my business
You the papparazzi
Like a pushy member of the media
Boy I was fulla game
I was skilled and knowledgeable
Way before this rap thang
Even before the music industry
Real 'fore the money came
I was authentic before fame and fortune
That's why I will never change
I'll always be true to myself
Me - ain't nobody like
There's no one else quite like me
Even though they try to be
Others try to imitate me
Niggaz think they are but they ain't fuckin' with me lyric'ly
Others believe they can compete with me in terms of lyrical ability, but they cannot
(Yo) I was born wit' it
I was naturally talented
Din't nobody teach it to me
I didn't learn it from anyone
Over hot beef
Amidst conflict
Tell you 'bout what the streets did to me
I can speak of the hardships experienced in the streets
(Yo) Chose me to be a
I was selected to become a
Prophet and lead my people
A leader to guide the community
Murder non-believers
Discredit those who don't believe
With lyrics that are lethal
Using powerful words
I hit 'em heavy with it
I deliver them with great force
Yo I stay ready wit' it
I'm always prepared
Come try to test me wit' it
If you want to challenge me
Regret you ever did
You'll be sorry
Call who a pimp and
Refer to me as a pimp and
I got my own back
I can handle things on my own
You got them baby paper?
Do you have a small amount of cash?
I got them grown stacks
I have a lot of money
But this ain't 'bout no bread
This isn't about money
Not 'bout what niggaz said
Not about rumors
Not 'bout what hoes believe
Not what women gossip about
If you in here with me
This is about our shared experience
Yeah I gotta come again
I have to reiterate
Just to let you know the deal
To inform you
Eight ways to company
Referring to his group 8Ball & MJG
Beats come from doin' real (yeah)
Their authenticity is reflected in their music
We the niggaz should not nobody be fuckin' wit'
No one can mess with them
Slayer riders Chopper city
They are associated with these biker groups
Had you bitches doubled quick
Their words/actions had an immediate effect
This ain't 'bout who rap the best
It's not a competition
This ain't 'bout who got the most
It's not about material possessions
This is not no gangsta rap
It's not your typical violent rap genre
This ain't 'bout no pimps and hoes
It's not glorifying prostitution or pimping
This here ain't no country shit
It's not a rural/southern style
Ain't no way to label this
It's hard to categorize
Memphis where I come from
Their hometown is a notable factor
Orange mile veteran
Their years of experience in Orange Mound, a neighborhood in Memphis
What I represent - whoever live in poverty
He represents those living in poverty
Hard working niggaz that
He represents the working class
Try to hustle honestly
Trying to make a living through hard work
And I represent who
He also represents those
Lookin' good and feelin' nice
Those who feel confident and attractive
Niggaz on there drinkin' 'dro
People who are smoking marijuana and drinking
Fresh clothes; full of ice
Dressed in fashionable clothes and adorned with jewelry
(Yeah) We gon' keep this slummin' comin' with the dirtiest
They will continue to make gritty music
(Yeah) If you from the gutter then I know you heard of this
If you come from similar circumstances, you'll be familiar with their work
This ain't bout where you from
It doesn't matter where you're from
This ain't bout where you be
It's not about your current situation
This here 'bout feelin' free
This is about feeling unrestricted and liberated
If you in here with me
If you connect with my message
Go 'head and put 'em up
Raise your hands
Put your hands where I can see 'em
Elevate your hands so they're visible
The motherfuckin' aair
The atmosphere
Stop prayin'
Stop worrying/fearing and take action
Contributed by Jake H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bigman1210
8 ball is a living legend.......very underrated!!!!
@stevejackson5288
(P)
@andreyfedulov5618
@@seattlestormz24 че я же нашёл эту песню
@sylwiamich1746
0
@realzaggin6575
@@sylwiamich1746 nobody asked for your forename
@can8980
Yil 1998 ekmegimizdeyiz.
@lsdelicious8844
That San Andreas drift video
@gminor6288
thats what I know it from!!!
@woulzenable
same.
@LukasZajicek95
Lol same here. A lot of years ago..