1. Rap artist - See 8Ball
<… Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists with this name:
1. Rap artist - See 8Ball
2. USA Hard rock/Heavy Metal band EightBall was born in 2017 in Cookeville, Tennessee. Fronted by founder and vocalist David Bush (ex-Lust along with Chuck Gee & Greg Burnette (Guitarists), Val Batts (Bass), Tayvieon Graham (Drums) make up the band Eightball. Released Eightball in 2017, Back to Rock 'n' Roll in 2019 and Love Struck in 2020.
3. For the sleaze band, see here - Eightball Voodoo
4. Hardcore band from Antwerp, Belgium. Also known as 'Eightball Antwerp Crew'.
The Artist Pays The Price
Eightball Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus]
The artist pays the price so you won't have to pay
(Around the world in a day)
If only we would listen to what they have to say
We all go through changes to get to where we're going
We have to learn a life of sacrifice (yeah, yeah, yeah) To keep on growin'
Yeah,
Life is for learnin
Remember this
And learn from life
Think about the players in the past who died in sacrifice
Some died in wars for a country that oppressed them
Some died preachin' prayin' for God to bless them
I am one of the blessed, born to bring the world poetry
Hip-hop, musically' expressing what's inside of me
Some find me entertaining. Some find me marketable.
A potential Black millionaire so that makes me target-able.
Low-life's and fork-tongued devils get easy access.
Flashin' me faces, making empty promises.
Soggy niggas sign contracts and make deals,
Rappin' bout who they killed,
Talking bout they keeping it real.
Hardcore homicidal, kingpins of the century
Need to quit rappin' and leave this shit to the real M-C's.
But ain't no chance
Opposing forces got the upper hand.
Do as they command to keep them from suffering.
[Chorus]
See, I don't know everything
But my opinion I will voice
As long as I can choose
I'll choose the right or the wrong choice.
Addicted to Hip-hop beats
And hoes that can't stay out the streets.
Tryin' to make a dollar
Without a nigga havin' to rob and cheat.
Got me hustling
twenty-four-seven,
Three-sixty-five
Coast to coast
Mic-checkin'
Keeping the party alive
Engrave my name in the minds of those
Who bob to this
Slang and rob to this
Jack and rob to this
Herbs and meditation made a pill when I put it down
But individual perception will change each phrase around
Different towns
Ain't none of this shit like Orange Mound
Players unified, digging on my mellow sound
Exec's
Get big ole fat checks
For makin' deals
While soldiers like me in the fields
Down there getting killed
When this is all over
If I could do it again, I do it twice
Before and after me, the artist will always pay the price
[Chorus]
The industry
Full of broke niggas tryin' to make a comeback
Rappin' bout that bullshit
Over them weak-ass tracks
Judging me
When around the globe, ain't nothing the same
Think how the world would be if none of this hit had ever changed
Ain't like it used to be when hip-hop belonged to you and me
Shit got sugar coated' modified for tv
Niggas like me, don't give a fuck about commercial air time
Forced underground, ain't nothing commercial bout my rhymes
Rather be broke or slinging dope than hold my tongue back
Niggas who put on acts get they ass beat up and jacked
I'm not a killer' just a poet tryin to survive, nigga
Given the choice to ride or die, I chose to ride, nigga
I'm paying the price for all the real M-C's after me
Be a artist, not a slave for the industry
I'm paying the price for all the real M-C's after me
Be a artist, not a slave for the industry
[Chorus]
Full of them trees
On them Hennesy's
Fuckin' with them G's
In Eightball's song The Artist Pays The Price, the chorus repeats a message of the price of being an artist that listeners might not understand. It suggests that artists must endure their struggles to make their music, so listeners won’t have to live through those things. The verses discuss the sacrifices of the past to make way for the future of the hip-hop industry. Eightball begins by stating that he was born to bring poetry to the world through his music. He is a black man, and his success makes him a target in society. He mentions the common topic in hip-hop, lyrics about killing people, which he believes are not true to the artists. He believes that this content is not suitable for the genre and is only marketable to make artists rich.
Eightball continues by saying that music, especially hip-hop, is a journey in which he has learned to appreciate life and learn from experiences. He is addicted to the beat of the music and the passion it drives within him. The rapper adds, he has to hustle, coast to coast, to make his music, but it’s worth it. The artist celebrates his craft and those that connect with his message. He calls out the industry for its commercialization of hip-hop, which is now more suited for TV, whereas it used to belong to him and his black community. It almost seems the industry is trying to silence him, but he will choose to die rather than being a slave to it.
Line by Line Meaning
The artist pays the price so you won't have to pay
People do not realize how much an artist sacrifices to entertain the medley.
If only we would listen to what they have to say
We need to start listening to the artists and the messages that they convey through their music.
We all go through changes to get to where we're going
Life presents us with obstacles but we must change in order to progress.
We have to learn a life of sacrifice (yeah, yeah, yeah) To keep on growin'
Sacrifices need to be made in life to attain growth and success.
Think about the players in the past who died in sacrifice
Think of the people who gave up their lives for what they believed in such as soldiers and activists.
Some died in wars for a country that oppressed them
Some people gave up their lives while fighting for a country that did not treat them with equality and fairness.
But individual perception will change each phrase around
Everyone might interpret a message in a song differently based on their personal experiences and beliefs.
Think how the world would be if none of this hit had ever changed
The world would not be as diverse and expressive if music did not evolve and change with time.
Rather be broke or slinging dope than hold my tongue back
I would rather be poor or deal drugs than to be suppressed and not speak my truth through music.
Be a artist, not a slave for the industry
Artists should prioritize their own creative vision instead of being controlled by the music industry.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN P GAYE, PREMRO VONZELLAIRE SMITH, RODNEY ELLIS, STEVEN R ARRINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind