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.
Whatchu Gonna Do
8Ball & MJG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I took my throwback
Now my soldiers posted up
Hangin' like a coat rack
Gun in the bushes and
Work in the stash spot
Overtime, al night
Try'na make a fat knock
Like I'm carryin' a loaf of bread
Been around the world
But I still love local head
Got the shit to make 'em jump
It's hyper like a pimp rally
Give 'em just a piece it make 'em
Mime me like a skip daddy
Glock, Chevy parked in the yard
Wit' the double pipes
If I catch ya try'na steal it
I'ma get double life
I ain't wanna do it, I ain't even really hate son
That's a damn shame but tomorrow, I'ma make ???
Black Hummer waitin' for me in front of the jail house
Comin' for the boys who thought that I wouldn't bail out
Top notch citizen, on top of his shit again
Pimp type, M-J-G, another hit again
[Hook]
This some grown man shit, pussy ass nigga!
How you wanna do it, we can just get to it
(Watchu wanna do, how you wanna do it?)
(Pussy ass nigga, we can just get to it, bitch)
This some grown man shit, pussy ass nigga!
How you wanna do it, we can just get to it
(Watchu wanna do, how you wanna do it?)
(Pussy ass nigga, we can just get to it)
Boys ask me all the time
Am I tired of the grind
Hell naw nigga, gettin' richer
That's all on my mind
Twist the pine, smoke a pound
Grabbin' chickens, buy a ticket
Delta airlines, pimp, I got some down ass bitches
Broads wit' them credit cards
Make her listen, let her charge
Flat TVs and some tiles for my momma car
Eighty-thousand dollars, I'mma fuckin' ghetto superstar
Work come soft, never hard, that's a different charge
Tre-8 never jam if I gotta blam blam!
If you not a regular, I'm taxin' you like Uncle Sam
Rubber gloves, blue magic and some Downy sheets
Plenty plastic wrap and a vacuum pack machine
My uncle, "Old School" don't need nothin' but a triple-beam
A dollar and a plate, he like to hit it while he mix it
I be rollin' up blunts in the den, countin' bread
Thirty dollars till my heart stop beatin' and I'm dead
[Hook]
Unh
Sweet Jones is the pimp of the year
Wrist full of frozen fireworks
Six in my ear, fly hoes and chains and
Swangin' on them thangs bitch
No I ain't no lame, got cocaine
It ain't no thang bitch, for you to drive down holl'n for ten
Guaranteed when ya test it you'll come and get 'em again
I heard a nigga say his name was Pimp see on that "Boss'n Up" movie
But that nigga ain't me
Too many clones in the streets and on the microphone
Pussy ass niggaz need to leave my legacy alone
Cause I'm a motherfuckin' king in that Texas
Don't hesitate to put that thang on them plexers
Cause it ain't no thang to lay yo' lump off in yo' lap boy
Hit his figure wit' the trigger, scratch off in the toy
Fuck me, not a change nigga fuck you
You want a war? It's whateva you bitches wanna do
[Hook till fade]
The song "Whatchu Gonna Do" by 8Ball & MJG is a hardcore rap that communicates their life in the streets of Memphis. Throughout the lyrics, they paint a vivid picture of the lengths they go to earn money and protect their status in the underworld. In the first verse, they describe their surroundings and how they've stashed their guns and drugs. They also mention the pride they have in their earnings and reputation. The chorus repeats that this is "grown man shit" and anyone trying to challenge them better be prepared for the consequences. The second verse is focused on the lavish lifestyle they lead as a result of their criminal enterprise. They mention their luxury vehicles, down-ass bitches, and expensive purchases.
The third verse explodes in a burst of aggressive braggadocio. The duo solidifies their place with the top of the food chain by declaring themselves kings of Memphis. They are not afraid to use violence to protect their reputation, shown by the line "Cause it ain't no thang to lay yo' lump off in yo' lap boy." The repeated lines of "Pussy ass nigga!" make it clear that they are not to be trifled with.
Overall, "Whatchu Gonna Do" is an intense track delivered with conviction by 8Ball & MJG. Their lyrics are a mirror to the violent realities of life in the streets, and they make it clear that they will protect themselves by any means necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
Roach spraid on the block
The area is infested with roaches.
Then I took my throwback
I put on my old-school clothes.
Now my soldiers posted up
My crew is standing around.
Hangin' like a coat rack
They're hanging around doing nothing.
Gun in the bushes and
A gun is hidden in the bushes.
Work in the stash spot
Drugs are hidden in a secret location.
Overtime, al night
Working hard all night.
Try'na make a fat knock
Trying to make a lot of money.
Swell in my pocket
I have a lot of money in my pocket.
Like I'm carryin' a loaf of bread
My pocket has a bulge like a loaf of bread.
Been around the world
I have traveled a lot.
But I still love local head
I still love getting local girls.
Got the shit to make 'em jump
I have what it takes to impress them.
It's hyper like a pimp rally
It's exciting, like a pimp rally.
Give 'em just a piece it make 'em
Give them a taste and they'll be hooked.
Mime me like a skip daddy
They mimic my style.
Glock, Chevy parked in the yard
My gun and car are parked in the yard.
Wit' the double pipes
The car has dual exhaust pipes.
If I catch ya try'na steal it
If I catch you trying to steal it.
I'ma get double life
I will give you harsh punishment.
I ain't wanna do it, I ain't even really hate son
I didn't want to do it, I didn't even really hate him.
That's a damn shame but tomorrow, I'ma make ???
Tomorrow, I'll make everything right.
Black Hummer waitin' for me in front of the jail house
A black Hummer is waiting for me outside the jail.
Comin' for the boys who thought that I wouldn't bail out
Going to pick up the people who thought I couldn't make bail.
Top notch citizen, on top of his shit again
I'm a responsible person, on top of things again.
Pimp type, M-J-G, another hit again
I'm a pimp and MJG, and we made another hit song.
This some grown man shit, pussy ass nigga!
This is for mature adults.
How you wanna do it, we can just get to it
Let's just do it however you want.
(Watchu wanna do, how you wanna do it?)
What do you want to do, and how do you want to do it?
(Pussy ass nigga, we can just get to it, bitch)
Stop being a coward, and let's just do it already.
Boys ask me all the time
People ask me all the time.
Am I tired of the grind
Am I tired of the hard work and hustle.
Hell naw nigga, gettin' richer
No way; I'm getting wealthier.
That's all on my mind
It's my top priority.
Twist the pine, smoke a pound
Roll a blunt and smoke a lot of weed.
Grabbin' chickens, buy a ticket
Picking up women and buying plane tickets.
Delta airlines, pimp, I got some down ass bitches
I fly Delta because I'm a pimp and have some loyal women.
Broads wit' them credit cards
Women with credit cards.
Make her listen, let her charge
Make her listen and pay for things.
Flat TVs and some tiles for my momma car
Buying flat screens and tiles for my mom's car.
Eighty-thousand dollars, I'mma fuckin' ghetto superstar
I'm a wealthy ghetto superstar.
Work come soft, never hard, that's a different charge
I sell soft drugs to avoid harsher penalties.
Tre-8 never jam if I gotta blam blam!
My gun will never jam if I have to use it.
If you not a regular, I'm taxin' you like Uncle Sam
If you're not a regular customer, I'm charging you extra.
Rubber gloves, blue magic and some Downy sheets
Wearing gloves and using various products to handle drugs.
Plenty plastic wrap and a vacuum pack machine
Using plastic wrap and a special machine to package drugs.
My uncle, "Old School" don't need nothin' but a triple-beam
My uncle uses a triple-beam scale to weigh drugs.
A dollar and a plate, he like to hit it while he mix it
He likes to have sex while he's mixing drugs.
I be rollin' up blunts in the den, countin' bread
I'm rolling up blunts and counting money in the living room.
Thirty dollars till my heart stop beatin' and I'm dead
I will hustle until I die.
Sweet Jones is the pimp of the year
Sweet Jones is the top pimp of the year.
Wrist full of frozen fireworks
I'm wearing expensive jewelry.
Six in my ear, fly hoes and chains and
I have six earrings and attractive women.
Swangin' on them thangs bitch
Riding around in my car.
No I ain't no lame, got cocaine
I'm not a loser, and I have cocaine.
It ain't no thang bitch, for you to drive down holl'n for ten
It's nothing for you to come and buy drugs from me.
Guaranteed when ya test it you'll come and get 'em again
If you try my drugs, you'll come back for more.
I heard a nigga say his name was Pimp see on that "Boss'n Up" movie
I heard someone claim to be a pimp in a movie.
But that nigga ain't me
But that person is not me.
Too many clones in the streets and on the microphone
There are too many imitators in the music and streets.
Pussy ass niggaz need to leave my legacy alone
Cowards should stop copying my style and legacy.
Cause I'm a motherfuckin' king in that Texas
I'm a king in Texas.
Don't hesitate to put that thang on them plexers
I won't hesitate to use my gun on my enemies.
Cause it ain't no thang to lay yo' lump off in yo' lap boy
Because I have no problem killing you.
Hit his figure wit' the trigger, scratch off in the toy
I'll shoot him and then drive away quickly.
Fuck me, not a change nigga fuck you
If you're not with me, you're against me.
You want a war? It's whateva you bitches wanna do
If you want a fight, I'm ready to go.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHAD L. BUTLER, MARLON J. GOODWIN, PREMRO VONZELLAIRE SMITH, TRACEY SEWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind