8Ball & MJG is an American hip hop duo from Memphis, Tennessee. Consist of … Read Full Bio ↴8Ball & MJG is an American hip hop duo from Memphis, Tennessee. Consist of Premrose Smith (8Ball) and Marlon Jermaine Goodwin (MJG).The two rappers met at Ridgeway Middle School in 1984.

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.

Listen to Me Now
Eightball & MJG Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Verse One:

I have no face, I have no body, I have no heart I have no soul
I don't care if you're young if you're old
Here's my mission, I'm out to get them, those who be slippin
Creepin, while they be creepin, I be enterin
into them, silently, violently, that's not me
Quietly, you'll never know I'm in your blood stream

Swimming, I been injected, now you're infected
And when you find me here it will be worse than you expected
Temptation, that's how I get in, that's how I got in
Information, is what you lackin, now I'm attackin
Your mind, and body functions, don't seem to function
Somethin, ain't how it used to be and it's because of me
Killin you, cold-blooded murderer
The bible told the world I would be here and now I'm servin ya
Along with the floods mass destruction and wars
You can listen to me, but the choice is yours

Chorus: (sample from Goodie Mob's "Cell Therapy")

"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
I knew I should've had my jimmy hat strapped on
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
There's a message to my madness it's more than just a song
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
My fantasy was fulfilled, but my life is still gone
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
I'm rolling through your skin cuttin corners in your bones

Verse Two:

I got no concious, killing by the bunches, how can I see with no eyes?
The protected people I'm taking em by surprise, I despise
any type of Doctor, thinking he can stop a
Epidemic built across the nation, can't stop temptation listen
who in the hell gonna stop you when, I get in your mind then
tell you squats with a girl I'm bein, hit a broad from behind, I'm
all up in the walls of the womb, your doom is incognito
You constantly putting your life in my hands, thinking you didn't see no
evidence that made it irrelevant I'm hangin out up in the system
On the scene mean stuffed in them jeans, is how she did them
If it was up to me I'd get with you all, but I really don't pick em
How one by one she lures them in, I'm the one who tricks them
Your coffin sealin temperature chillin the silent killer
I done sucked a whole life, twice the cells of Mike's Thriller
If a victim want to be loved, gun and will travel
Anywhere with any broad, the buster now you ain't grabbin me ta

Chorus:

"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
I knew I shoulda told him to put a condom on
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
There's a message to my madness it's more than just a song man
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
My fantasy was fulfilled but my life is still gone
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"

I'm rolling through your skin cutting corners in your bones

Verse Three:

Lord tell me why was I born in the days of bloodshed
Players and neighborhoods full of the walking dead
Poison is cooked, and smoked, and shot into our veins
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous echo through our brains
Misguided, the big picture over the small picture
That's how the devil makes a man interpretate the scripture
Rotten, born dead into a sea of sinners
Young girls are pros, before they can become beginners
Booty shakers sellin sex to pay they college tuition
Jealousy, send our brothers on straight pistol missions
And in the midst of the drama mama can I save ya
Now you remember all the hell she went through tryin ta raise ya
But it's too late for that, in this predicament
You shoulda been thinking of this when you was flickin it, stickin it
But who am I? Just another man running his mouth
Giving you something to think about, my time is up, I'm out

If you ain't realized by now, the description of the topic here is AIDS
Several amounts of times I will appear on the front page
Never be thinking about the filthy hoes in which I've laid
Down deep in the dungeons next to the devil is where I stayed
Never be thinking about the backs I rode and what I weighed
Now everything that's important in your life is just a daze
Being a damn fool trying to prove you wasn't afraid
Wasn't intending to do it but yet and still at times you made
moves within the game that should never have been played
Whether you old or whether it struck you at an early age
No difference between the two, cause they both in the same stage
Curiosity killed the cat the cat was standin in front of the gauge
It seems the whole subject keeps the world within a daze
Well this is the fact,
that some of these people be thinkin they can't be fazed
Worldwide plague slowly turning into a rage
Up and down side to side heterosex and gays need to

Chorus:

"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
I knew I should've had my jimmy hat strapped on
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
There's a message to my madness, it's more than just a song man
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
My fantasy was fulfilled, but my life is still gone
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
I'm rolling through your skin cuttin corners in your bones

"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
I knew I should have told him to put a condom on
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
There's a message to my madness, it's more than just a song
"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
My fantasy was fulfilled, but my life is still gone

"Listen to me now, believe me later on"
I'm rolling through your skin cuttin corners in your bones

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eightball & MJG's song "Listen to Me Now" are a warning about the dangers of AIDS. The first verse is from the perspective of the virus itself, telling how it infiltrates the body through temptation and infects silently. The chorus includes the sample "Listen to me now, believe me later on" from Goodie Mob's song "Cell Therapy," emphasizing the urgent message. In the second verse, the virus is described as having no conscience and being relentless in its mission to take lives. The third verse reflects on the society in which the virus spreads, where drugs, prostitution, and violence are prevalent, and ignorance and fear only make the problem worse.

Through poetic language and vivid imagery, the song raises awareness about the seriousness of AIDS and the need for prevention, education, and compassion. The message is particularly important for African American communities, who have been disproportionately affected by the disease. The song also highlights the power of music to address social issues and to inspire change.

Line by Line Meaning

I have no face, I have no body, I have no heart I have no soul
I am a disease, not a person. I have no physical form, but I can destroy someone's body and soul.

I don't care if you're young if you're old
I am an equal opportunity killer. I target anyone, regardless of age.

Here's my mission, I'm out to get them, those who be slippin
My goal is to infect those who engage in risky behavior and make mistakes.

Creepin, while they be creepin, I be enterin
I sneak into people's bodies without them realizing it, while they continue with their own lives.

into them, silently, violently, that's not me
I enter silently and violently, but I am not a person who uses physical force. I am a disease that harms from within.

Quietly, you'll never know I'm in your blood stream
I infect your blood stream without any noticeable symptoms for a long time, silently damaging your body.

Swimming, I been injected, now you're infected
After being injected into your body, I spread through it like a swimmer in a pool, infecting you.

And when you find me here it will be worse than you expected
By the time you realize you are infected, it will be worse than you thought possible.

Temptation, that's how I get in, that's how I got in
I enter people's lives through temptation, whether it's unprotected sex or drug use.

Information, is what you lackin, now I'm attackin
Lack of knowledge and understanding about me is what allows me to continue attacking people.

Your mind, and body functions, don't seem to function
I damage both your physical and mental health, causing your body to deteriorate and your mind to suffer.

Killin you, cold-blooded murderer
I am a cold-blooded murderer. I kill without remorse or emotion, taking lives with complete detachment.

I done sucked a whole life, twice the cells of Mike's Thriller
I have destroyed countless lives, on a scale that even surpasses the popularity of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.'

Several amounts of times I will appear on the front page
My devastating impact on lives and communities frequently makes headlines in the news.

Booty shakers sellin sex to pay they college tuition
Some women resort to selling their bodies to make money for college, risking infection and worsening the situation.

Curiosity killed the cat the cat was standin in front of the gauge
Curiosity can be deadly, as it can lead people to take risky behavior and engage with me.

I'm rolling through your skin cuttin corners in your bones
I infect people's bodies deeply, permeating their skin and affecting their bones.

Lord tell me why was I born in the days of bloodshed
The prevalence of me in times of war and turmoil makes it seem as if I were born during those times.

Misguided, the big picture over the small picture
People sometimes ignore the small details and focus on the big picture, even when it could be detrimental to their health.

Rotten, born dead into a sea of sinners
People often engage in behavior that puts them at risk of contracting me, even from birth, continuing a cycle of infection.

But who am I? Just another man running his mouth
I am not a person, but rather a disease that is often discussed but not fully understood.

My fantasy was fulfilled, but my life is still gone
The short-term pleasure of risky behavior and temptation can lead to long-term consequences, including death.

There's a message to my madness, it's more than just a song man
This song is not just a creative expression, but a message to raise awareness about the serious impact of me on individuals and society.

I'm the one who tricks them
I manipulate and deceive people into engaging in risky behavior that puts them at risk of infection.

Worldwide plague slowly turning into a rage
My prevalence as a global disease is increasing, causing more harm and suffering worldwide.

Being a damn fool trying to prove you wasn't afraid
Engaging in risky behavior out of fear, insecurity or peer pressure is foolish and can have devastating consequences.

Up and down side to side heterosex and gays need to
No matter one's sexual orientation, everyone needs to take precautions and educate themselves about me to protect their health.

Contributed by Brody C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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