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.
Tell Me Why
8Ball & MJG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What'chu talkin' 'bout, what'chu think you doin'?
Why you walkin' out, where you think you goin'?
You actin like you didn't, you knew what I was doin'
3 o'clock in the mornin', you knew where I was goin'
Straight to my spot, a loft in the city
Stopped and picked up somethin pretty on the freeway suckin' titties
You in the bed sleepin'', I said that I was workin'
The cars and the clothes, whatever that you asked me
I was takin' care of you, I thought that you was happy
Out of town, fuckin' 'round, all-star, Superbowl
A-T-L, Magic City, tippin' big dick hoes
Panties on the back seat, I don't know whose shit that is
Condoms and phone numbers, I don't know whose shit that is
F'real, you know when I realized that I was wrong
When I wrote the words to this song
[Chorus]
Just tell me why baby, did I ever did I ever did I ever let you go baby
Cause I love you cause I love you cause I really love you so baby
Baby, woo, it's the very last time that I'll let you down
I won't make the same mistakes again
Yeah, since way back I was a mag-a-net for pretty women
And brought up in the city where they exercise their pimpin'
I fight temptation daily, I could be in Paris chillin'
With somethin' young, eager talent, they ready and willin'
I get a lot of phone numbers but don't really call 'em
Unless I hit 'em just to let 'em know I'm out here ballin'
I know you picture me, laid up with these other women
Most of the time I'm not, occasionally I get 'em
Who was that woman lookin' at me up in Wal Mart
Lock in the sexual fantasy, her drawers hot
But back to the subject, the chemistry I really loved it
Mental, emotional, couldn't put nothin' above it
But every unturned stone you had to touch it
Rolled 'em over, look what you found, now you disgusted
But before I leave, look me in my eye
Don't cry, never lie
[Chorus]
You and me, full of that, sticky weed and cog-nac
You like how I lick it then, put the dick up in your back
There you go, talkin' 'bout, what you know, who done said
That they saw me trickin' some-where with one of yo' friends
Did you see me do it no, do you know that shit fo' sho'
Who you gon' believe me, or them ol' meddlin' hoes
Damn, I think of all the shit I put you through
This a lonely game and, sometimes I be missin' you
I got a tank of gas to burn up, turn up the radio
Baby hit your girls, go tell 'em c'mon get ready to go
We headed fo', somewhere, tucked in and very low key
No interruptions, no cell phones, no tee-vee
Just you and me, sippin' up on some Hennessy
Makin' sure that we finish the whole, cup to the end it be
Meant to be chemistry between us and even though
You saw the bitches in my Beamer
[Chorus]
In 8Ball & MJG's song Tell Me Why, the singer tries to make sense of his actions and the reasons behind his relationship's collapse. At the start of the song, he's defensive when his partner confronts him about his whereabouts late at night. He justifies his behavior by suggesting he was working and taking care of her, but his partner is clearly hurting inside. The singer then reflects on his infidelity, detailing his nights out in Atlanta, visiting strip clubs and hooking up with other women.
The second verse delves into the singer's upbringing and his relationship with temptation. He explains that he's often approached by women but rarely contacts them unless he needs to let them know he's "out here ballin'." Despite this, his partner seems to believe he cheats with her friends, a claim he denies. He also mentions the chemistry he shared with his partner, but their actions ultimately hurt each other. In the last verse, he acknowledges the pain he's caused and prepares for a quiet night with his partner, just the two of them. He wishes the relationship had worked out and ponders what could have been done differently.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah,
Introducing the song with an affirmative sound.
What'chu talkin' 'bout, what'chu think you doin'?
Asking why the other person is behaving a certain way.
Why you walkin' out, where you think you goin'?
Questioning why the person is leaving.
You actin like you didn't, you knew what I was doin'
Pointing that the other person knew what the artist was doing.
3 o'clock in the mornin', you knew where I was goin'
Stating a specific time the other person knew where the artist was going.
Straight to my spot, a loft in the city
Describing the place the singer went to.
Stopped and picked up somethin pretty on the freeway suckin' titties
Admitting to picking up a woman while driving.
You in the bed sleepin', I said that I was workin'
Lying to the other person about going to work.
You smile when you see me but inside you was hurtin'
Noticing the other person was hurting even though they smiled.
The cars and the clothes, whatever that you asked me
Saying that the artist provided the other person with material things they wanted.
I was takin' care of you, I thought that you was happy
Believing that providing material things made the other person happy.
Out of town, fuckin' 'round, all-star, Superbowl
Admitting to being unfaithful while away.
A-T-L, Magic City, tippin' big dick hoes
Naming a specific Gentlemen's Club in Atlanta where the singer spent time.
Panties on the back seat, I don't know whose shit that is
Admitting to having women's underwear in the car.
Condoms and phone numbers, I don't know whose shit that is
Admitting to having condoms and phone numbers of other women.
F'real, you know when I realized that I was wrong
Acknowledging that the artist understands they were wrong.
When I wrote the words to this song
Saying that writing this song showed the artist's realization.
[Chorus]
Starting the chorus.
Just tell me why baby, did I ever did I ever did I ever let you go baby
Asking why the other person left the singer.
Cause I love you cause I love you cause I really love you so baby
Expressing love for the other person.
Baby, woo, it's the very last time that I'll let you down
Saying that this will be the last time the artist will disappoint the other person.
I won't make the same mistakes again
Promising to learn from past mistakes and not repeat them.
Yeah, since way back I was a mag-a-net for pretty women
Admitting to being attracted to many women since the past.
And brought up in the city where they exercise their pimpin'
Noting growing up in an environment where men pursue women as if they were pimps.
I fight temptation daily, I could be in Paris chillin'
Acknowledging that the singer faces temptation but also notes it could be in a completely different setting.
With somethin' young, eager talent, they ready and willin'
Implying the type of women he finds attractive and available.
I get a lot of phone numbers but don't really call 'em
Admitting to receiving many phone numbers but not following through with them.
Unless I hit 'em just to let 'em know I'm out here ballin'
Saying that the artist contacts women just to show off his status.
I know you picture me, laid up with these other women
Accepting that the other person may think that he is with other women.
Most of the time I'm not, occasionally I get 'em
Saying that most of the time he is not with other women, but occasionally he may be.
Who was that woman lookin' at me up in Wal Mart
Recalling a specific moment of a woman showing interest in him.
Lock in the sexual fantasy, her drawers hot
Being explicit about what he was thinking at the time when the woman showed interest.
But back to the subject, the chemistry I really loved it
Returning to the relationship he had with the other person and acknowledging a positive aspect of it.
Mental, emotional, couldn't put nothin' above it
Saying that he valued the mental and emotional connection he had with the other person.
But every unturned stone you had to touch it
Implying that the other person was nosing around and searching for negatives.
Rolled 'em over, look what you found, now you disgusted
Saying that as the other person searched, they found things that made them unhappy or angry.
But before I leave, look me in my eye
Requesting the other person to look him in the eye before he leaves.
Don't cry, never lie
Asking the other person not to cry and promising to never lie to them again.
[Chorus]
Starting the chorus again.
You and me, full of that, sticky weed and cog-nac
Reminiscing about spending time together and getting high.
You like how I lick it then, put the dick up in your back
Being explicit about sexual experiences with the other person.
There you go, talkin' 'bout, what you know, who done said
Accusing the other person of listening to rumors.
That they saw me trickin' some-where with one of yo' friends
Saying that the rumor is about the singer cheating with one of the other person's friends.
Did you see me do it no, do you know that shit fo' sho'
Asking if the other person actually saw the alleged cheating.
Who you gon' believe me, or them ol' meddlin' hoes
Pointing out that the other person has a choice to believe the rumors or the artist.
Damn, I think of all the shit I put you through
Recognizing all the difficulties and pain the other person went through because of the artist.
This a lonely game and, sometimes I be missin' you
Acknowledging that the singer misses the other person sometimes despite the game he plays.
I got a tank of gas to burn up, turn up the radio
Saying that the artist has a full tank of gas and is ready to drive.
Baby hit your girls, go tell 'em c'mon get ready to go
Asking the other person to call her friends and get ready to go somewhere.
We headed fo', somewhere, tucked in and very low key
Describing the destination as somewhere that is discreet and private.
No interruptions, no cell phones, no tee-vee
Saying that the destination will have no disruptions such as phones or TV.
Just you and me, sippin' up on some Hennessy
Stating that it will just be the artist and the other person drinking Hennessy.
Makin' sure that we finish the whole, cup to the end it be
Saying that they will drink all of their Hennessy.
Meant to be chemistry between us and even though
Saying that there is a unique chemistry between the singer and the other person.
You saw the bitches in my Beamer
Referencing the women seen in the singer's car.
[Chorus]
Ending the chorus for the last time.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOO HEWERDINE, DARDEN CRAIG SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eric Chapel
Still bumbin 2020 who with me?
Keith Ruffin
ANOTHER BANGER THESE CATS COLDER THAN THE MORGUE
fherna201
Such an underrated song! No phonies or fakes listening to this song.
Flight Productions
man ive been looking for this song this is some real shit ive meet ball and g sevral times smoke with them boys and all!!! they they real deal!!! thanks for posting this track!!!!
Monnique Arnold
2021 - still bangin'!!! 🎶🎵🎙
Ronnie Jones / R2J
Had this soundtrack and it was slamming.
DeeJay1773
Love this song gives feeling and makes me think of my dad we used to listen to it together :/
MrTerry010
Damn I love this chorus.
justin case
been waitin for this song to hit tha tube for a couple years......THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!!
jadujen
love this chorus ;) beautiful