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.
Living Legends
Eightball & MJG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Um I found out some please ladies and gentlemen
Hold your applause please can you hold your applause
I found out something very interesting
The mad producer, he's not really that mad
Uh he well Mr. Producer can you please tell us
Why you're not really that mad?
Eh eh eh yo would I be tellin you shit though?
Eh eh eh Yo word up TV you know what I'm sayin what's up for real
Gentlemen please
Yo I gotta tell you something for real
What up? What up
The niggaz got chedda dog and I did a track on Mase's album
And I ain't gonna lie
Naw naw you can't be talkin like that for real
The niggaz don't you know what I'm say they be raisin
Naw son naw
I'm sorry dog for real yo but
Man dog!
That kid Mase be doin his thing yo
What you mean he be doin his thing
I know they be doin their, what
What I don't be doin my thing
Millie Vanilli did they thing
New Kid's on the Block, RuPaul
All them bitches and everybody else did they thing
And you ain't do no tracks on them
What happened to my track? You give 'em my shit?
You gave 'em my shit?
You gave em send 'em to the fuckin' projects
You give how could you do that I'm the jolliest nigga you know son
How could you do that to me son? Damn!
These lyrics from Eightball & MJG’s song “Living Legends” refer to a conversation between the two rappers and their producer, who has just revealed that he has worked on a track for Mase’s album. The producers’ admission comes as a surprise to the rappers as they suggest that Mase’s success, and therefore the opportunity to work with him, is due to the fact that he has financial backing or “chedda dog”. The rappers are disappointed that they were not offered the same opportunity and appear to harbor feelings of jealousy towards Mase despite recognizing his success. They express further outrage towards the producer for sending their music “to the projects,” an act that they believe demonstrates a lack of respect for their craft.
The lyrics reveal the rap industry’s complex and competitive nature, where success can be attributed to factors beyond musical talent, such as financial backing or industry connections. The song highlights the struggles that artists face when trying to make it in the music industry, where hard work and skill don’t always translate into mainstream success. Additionally, the lyrics point towards a culture of mistrust and betrayal within the industry, where artists’ music can be taken advantage of, and their efforts and talents are not always recognized.
Line by Line Meaning
And welcome back from that commercial break
The singer greets the audience after a commercial break
Um I found out some please ladies and gentlemen
The singer has some news to share with the audience
Hold your applause please can you hold your applause
The singer requests the audience to not applaud yet
I found out something very interesting
The artist thinks that the news they have is noteworthy
The mad producer, he's not really that mad
The artist reveals that the producer is not actually angry
Uh he well Mr. Producer can you please tell us
The singer asks the producer to explain why he is not mad
Why you're not really that mad?
The singer wants to know what caused the producer's change in mood
Eh eh eh yo would I be tellin you shit though?
The producer responds in a non-committal manner, suggesting he might not share the reason
You can't be you know what I'm sayin
The producer implies that the artist should not expect him to reveal the reason
Eh eh eh Yo word up TV you know what I'm sayin what's up for real
The producer addresses the TV audience, signaling a change in topic
Gentlemen please
The singer asks for quiet in the room
Yo I gotta tell you something for real
The artist has something important to reveal
What up? What up
The audience responds with curiosity to the singer's statement
The niggaz got chedda dog and I did a track on Mase's album
The singer reveals that they collaborated with Mase and that the project was profitable
And I ain't gonna lie
The singer is being honest with the audience
Naw naw you can't be talkin like that for real
Another speaker disagrees with what was just said
The niggaz don't you know what I'm say they be raisin
The other speaker believes that the audience will become overly excited if told about the collaboration
Naw son naw
The first speaker disagrees with the other speaker's opinion
I'm sorry dog for real yo but
The first speaker apologizes but still disagrees
Man dog!
The first speaker is frustrated with the conversation
That kid Mase be doin his thing yo
The first speaker admires Mase's work and success
What you mean he be doin his thing
The other speaker wants clarification on what was just said
I know they be doin their, what
The first speaker is confused by the other speaker's response
Millie Vanilli did they thing
The first speaker cites Milli Vanilli as an example of a successful music act
New Kid's on the Block, RuPaul
The first speaker cites New Kids on the Block and RuPaul as other examples of successful music acts
All them bitches and everybody else did they thing
The first speaker thinks that many other people in the music industry have found success
And you ain't do no tracks on them
The first speaker thinks that the other speaker has not had the same level of success
What happened to my track? You give 'em my shit?
The first speaker is angry that the producer gave one of their tracks to Mase
You gave 'em my shit?
The first speaker wants to know if the producer gave their track to Mase
You gave em send 'em to the fuckin' projects
The first speaker thinks that the producer gave their track to a low-quality project or audience
You give how could you do that I'm the jolliest nigga you know son
The first speaker is hurt that the producer gave away their work without consulting them
How could you do that to me son? Damn!
The first speaker is expressing frustration and disappointment towards the producer
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Premro Vonzellaire Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kelli Watson
I started listening to 8ball and mjg since i was 13 and i never stopped. They are one of my favorite rappers. Team 8ball&MJG for life...
Julian Overton
Only one person is an idot so far for giving a thumbs down... I can't lie; this is the first 8Ball & MJG album I ever listened to. I produce music and listen to so much that it's impossible to listen to everything... I actually bought this album at the store back in 2004 without ever hearing it because it was still cool to buy albums back then to support music based off of hearing one or two hot singles the artist(s) put out. So glad I did. I had just bout my new dual 15's and this album brought happiness and knowledge while I was listening to it by myself and got broads naked when they were in the car.................... The moral of this story is 8Ball & MJG are the shit and I've now listened to all their albums and features and fell in love with the OG's. They don't bring that wack ass mess 2003-2009 Southern one timers brought. They bring real messages in a southern-soulful way that it should be presented. Even early Cash Money and early No Limit aren't as genuine as these guys! There's something about these cats yo! Young Buck and 3 Six Mafia is straight. But these niggas is like the grandfathers of Memphis. And by that I mean they keep it authentic to the head! No bs or dumb shit to try to fit in with whats hot at the time. They create the hot for the south like Scarface and a few more from TX do. Then the shrimp niggas come along and steal their shit and make pop rap shit to go commercial. But we real ones know what it is!
David Troubleman Jones
100 grand 901" until the wheels fall off
Adrian Weldon
I GOT A HOME BOY PUT ME ON TO LISTEN TO BALL AND G . I PROMISE I GOT EVERY CD THEY EVER CAME OUT WITH.
Judgeman music
Thanks for the upload, I always use to pump this in da hood
Bill. Burns
needed this upload, 🔥
Jerry Stacks
THE ONLY THING THAT'S MISSING ON "STREET NIGGAS" IS THAT PIMP ASS CHAD #pimpc ALL IN #all THIS ALBUM #classik 💨💨💨😈
Adrian Weldon
THE REALEST NIGGA IN THE SOUTH . NIGGA ITS 2018 IM STILL BUMPN COMING OUT HARD MR BIG ALL DAY.
MrKenz541
hotttboii sht x110%
JULIAN SUTTON
u dont want ...