1. First(as by number of plays on last f… Read Full Bio ↴There are 3 known 8 Balls.
1. First(as by number of plays on last fm)
Eightball (Premro Smith) and MJG (Marlon Jermaine Goodwin) grew up in the rough Orange Mound area of Memphis and met at Ridgeway Junior High in 1984. They shared a passion for hip-hop, which hadn't yet made a strong impact in the South, and soon formed a partnership.
Eightball & MJG may have never made a significant impact nationally during their rise to fame in the 1990s, yet they indeed made an incredible impact throughout the South, where the Memphis-bred duo pioneered what countless Dirty South rappers would emulate years later. The two began on the Southern underground circuit, where they peddled tapes in Memphis, Houston, and Atlanta. After a few years of this, Eightball & MJG helped to launch Suave House Records in 1993 and attracted a pair of national distribution deals. The label released Eightball & MJG's debut full-length, Comin' Out Hard (1993), a cult classic produced entirely by the duo and popularized by the song "Armed Robbery." By the end of the '90s, just as the Dirty South movement broke nationally, the duo issued their final Suave House album, In Our Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1999), and declared themselves Southern rap pioneers. Few argued, as the two, and particularly Eightball, made countless cameo appearances for an array of fellow Southern rappers, earning the duo respect for their work ethic and diplomacy as well as their mature perspective and street-smart wits. In later years, Eightball & MJG finally began flirting with crossover success, ultimately signing to P Diddy's Bad Boy label in 2002.
8 Ball is currently located in Memphis, TN, where he has started his own imprint, called 8 Ways Entertainment. MJG has followed suite and started up MJG Music. Both are home to a bevy of up and comers from the Memphis area.
2. Second
8 Ball, a band from Dublin, Ireland.
A 7-piece act (having released their debut album to widespread acclaim in the autumn) that've gained a reputation for their live shows. Truly a band of multi-instrumentalists, as they are constantly changing instruments and sharing vocal duties. 8ball have an ever expanding backline which now includes drums, bass, electric guitars, acoustics, pianos, old synths, turntables, laptops, customised software, melodicas, harmonicas, kids toys and 6 vocals...
3. Third
A Rapper from Indonesia, known has many song disses to Indonesian popular artist such Agnes Monica and Kangen Band.
Hard Times
8 Ball Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
Hard times (hard), hard times (Hard)
You never know how much you miss a person, until they gone
Like to hear it? Hear it go, I'm rehearsing, gotta sing my song
I know I've done some wrong, but I can't get right
'Cause life is like a big fight
I'm stickin'-and-movin', tryin' to get my shit right
My family's been houndin' me, friends they done turned against me
Kinda like they hearts was on a full tank, but now they empty
And they say I've changed, but like twins I'm just the same
It's because of my job, mo' money mo' prob in this dirty game
This industry fucked up
That's right I said it, and it's fake as ever
Keep real niggaz around me, stay "Spaced Age for Eva"
Po-ppa never went and jumped the broom, never got that one degree
But if you looked down from heaven, you'd still be proud of me
Your son was DUI, but my momma made it by
I didn't shed no tears when you left me
But the rest of the family cried
Trials and tribulations, ruined my concentration
Losin' my patience, hard times for goodness sake'n
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
Hard times (hard), hard times (Hard)
As this Valium slowly starts to kick in
Them subconscious, subliminal thoughts, start tickin'
This whole world around me, diseased, and crumblin'
Babies doin' dope cause daddy did it right in front of them
Everybody want to blame music for they bad kids
Sittin' up in the court talkin' 'bout Eminem made me do what I did
My own hard times rolled in like the fog
Try to think of others, but I can't get past my own thoughts
My momma, in 1967, pickin' cotton
While other blacks was gettin' liberated, boycottin'
My old man was a player, ain't no hidin' that
He started tootin' then he graduated to smokin' crack
I never saw him, never needed to see that muh'fucker
He left me and my mother stuck down here in this fuckin' gutter
I tattoed it on my arm so I can't forget it
It's in my mind and my heart so I'm forever with it
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
Hard times (hard), hard times (Hard)
A drum machine, the old fo'-track, and a pack of new tapes
In the middle of, 1988, in a corner cafe
We made beats, and hung with old heads, and stayed out late at night
Do talent shows, fo'-way split the dough, that was our way of life
My momma stayed, home full time so she could raise me
Knowin' without a, household father, things could get crazy
Sometimes I listened, sometimes I thought I knew it all
But nevertheless, momma was with me through it all
I graduated out of nothin', not out of school, it was like
Tweleve, thirteen, fourteen years I'm thinkin' cool
I might as well, be focusin' on me tryin' to get paid
Usin' these rhymes I've been writin' since in the seventh grade
Our team played, and had physical sex with minimum wage
It was just like a piece of pussy
It fucked me long as I stayed
But still I prayed, Lord I'm tryin' now please help me out the water
It can't get no harder
Help me to get back up and get my shit tomorrow
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
Hard times (hard), hard times (Hard)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard, times)
Hard times (hard), hard times (Hard)
The song "Hard Times" by 8 Ball begins with the repetition of the phrase, "I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The rapper talks about his personal struggles and how he is dealing with them. He misses someone who is no longer around and feels he has done wrong but can't seem to get things right. He describes life as a big fight and is just trying to find a way to get things back on track. He talks about how people have turned against him, but he is still sticking and moving, trying to make it through these hard times.
The song also comes to a point where 8 Ball talks about the problems in the world surrounding him and how they are affecting him. He mentions how drug use has affected a lot of families and how people want to blame music for bad behavior in children. He recounts the story of his parents, where his mom worked hard to raise him as a single mother while his father was addicted to drugs. He talks about his journey from being a nobody to finding success in the music industry. But even with that success, the hard times still exist, and he must strive to get through them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm tryin' to make it through these hard times (Hard times)
The artist is struggling to overcome difficult situations in life
You never know how much you miss a person, until they gone
One realizes the value of someone only after they are gone
Like to hear it? Hear it go, I'm rehearsing, gotta sing my song
The artist is passionate about music and is practicing his song
I know I've done some wrong, but I can't get right, 'cause life is like a big fight
The artist has made mistakes in the past, but he is still struggling to move ahead in life
I'm stickin'-and-movin', tryin' to get my shit right
The artist is trying hard to rectify his mistakes
My family's been houndin' me, friends they done turned against me, Kinda like they hearts was on a full tank, but now they empty
The artist is going through a tough phase where family and friends are not supporting him enough
And they say I've changed, but like twins I'm just the same
People think the artist has changed, but he still considers himself unchanged
This industry fucked up, That's right I said it, and it's fake as ever
The music industry is screwed up, according to the artist, and it is fake
Keep real niggaz around me, stay "Spaced Age for Eva"
The artist values genuine people and wants them to always be around him
Trials and tribulations, ruined my concentration, Losin' my patience, hard times for goodness sake'n
The artist is dealing with a lot of hardships that are affecting his mental state
As this Valium slowly starts to kick in, Them subconscious, subliminal thoughts, start tickin'
The artist is getting drowsy due to medication and his thoughts are clouded
This whole world around me, diseased, and crumblin'
The artist sees the world as disintegrating and diseased
Babies doin' dope cause daddy did it right in front of them
Children are doing drugs because their parents are doing drugs
Everybody want to blame music for they bad kids, Sittin' up in the court talkin' 'bout Eminem made me do what I did
People often use music as a scapegoat rather than taking responsibility for their actions
My momma, in 1967, pickin' cotton
The artist's mother picked cotton in 1967, signifying a tough life
My old man was a player, ain't no hidin' that, He started tootin' then he graduated to smokin' crack
The artist's father was a philanderer and drug addict
I tattoed it on my arm so I can't forget it, It's in my mind and my heart so I'm forever with it
The artist has tattooed a personal memory on his arm to never forget it
In the middle of, 1988, in a corner cafe
The artist recalls a specific date and time when making music with friends
My momma stayed, home full time so she could raise me, Knowin' without a, household father, things could get crazy
The artist's mother raised him all by herself as there was no father figure, and she understood the challenges that would bring
I graduated out of nothin', not out of school, it was like, Tweleve, thirteen, fourteen years I'm thinkin' cool
The artist has achieved success in life without significant education
Our team played, and had physical sex with minimum wage, It was just like a piece of pussy, It fucked me long as I stayed
The artist is frustrated with the exploitation by the music industry
But still I prayed, Lord I'm tryin' now please help me out the water
The artist is seeking help to get out of his difficult situation
It can't get no harder, Help me to get back up and get my shit tomorrow
The artist is hoping for a better tomorrow and is seeking help to get back up
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN LYDON, JOHN MCGEOGH, ALAN DIAS, BRUCE NEAL SMITH, LU EDMONDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind