The two shared a passion for hip-hop, which hadn't yet made a strong impact in the South, and formed their own rap duo, 8Ball & MJG. They made their recording debut in 1991 with a three-track single, Listen to the Lyrics, released on cassette and 12" vinyl by On the Strength Records, an independent label. (These early recordings for On the Strength would later be reissued in 1997 as Lyrics of a Pimp and also in 2000 as Memphis Under World.) 8Ball & MJG subsequently signed a deal with Suave Records (aka Suave House), a Houston, TX-based label run by Tony Draper. 8Ball & MJG's debut full-length, Comin' Out Hard (1993), produced partly by MJG, was the inaugural release by Suave, which would grow to become one of the premier Southern rap labels of the decade. Now considered a milestone, Comin' Out Hard was among the first Southern rap albums to get widespread recognition, opening the door for other pioneers such as Three 6 Mafia, Master P, and Cash Money Records.
8Ball & MJG recorded a few additional albums for Tony Draper throughout the remainder of the decade -- On the Outside Looking In (1994), On Top of the World (1995), In Our Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1999) -- and did much to foster the growth of Suave, regularly being featured as guests on the label's other releases. Plus, 8Ball and MJG each branched out for solo projects, Lost (1998) and No More Glory (1997), respectively, both released by Suave. In 2000, 8Ball & MJG left Suave and switched to JCOR Entertainment, a short-lived rap label founded by Jay Faires, for the release of Space Age 4 Eva. The album, which notably featured production by Swizz Beatz and DJ Quik, was a departure for 8Ball & MJG, who heretofore had worked more or less exclusively with regional producers. The album spawned a pair of minor hits, "Pimp Hard" and "Buck Bounce," the duo's first to first to get national, opposed to regional, airplay. In 2001, JCOR released a pair of 8Ball albums -- The Slab, a various-artists compilation, and Almost Famous, a proper solo album -- but the label then ran into trouble and went out of business, leaving 8Ball & MJG without a recording contract.
After a couple years in limbo, Bad Boy Records, helmed by Diddy, picked up 8Ball & MJG and released Living Legends (2004), the duo's most star-studded album to date. "You Don't Want Drama," the lead single, became 8Ball & MJG's biggest hit ever, reaching number 30 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, while Living Legends itself likewise became the duo's best-selling, debuting at number three on the Top 200 album chart and topping 500,000 in sales. 8Ball & MJG's second Bad Boy album, Ridin High (2007), was less successful, though, despite debuting well at number eight and spawning a strong lead single, "Relax and Take Notes."
Ball & MJG are now signed to T.I.s Grand Hustle lable.
MJG has released 2 solo Albums in 2008 titled Pimp Tight & This Might Be The Day.
Intro
MJG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ball and G, that's the answer
Living legends, many are called but few are chosen
You know their names, legends of the south
8 Ball, Fat Boy, MJG, pimpin'
Bad Boy nigga, show them whachu got
In MJG's song "Intro," he paints a vivid picture of the harsh reality and struggles of the streets. The lyrics describe the daily lives of young black men in his city, who are forced to carry guns to protect themselves and their families from violence. MJG gives voice to the frustration and hopelessness that many people feel in these circumstances. He confronts societal issues around education, religion, and status, and points out the paradoxes that exist within these systems.
MJG uses vivid language to describe the poverty and violence of his surroundings. He notes the dangers of living on the streets and highlights the high number of deaths that occur in this environment. He points out that while many people are trying to make ends meet, they are not held to the same standards as the wealthy. MJG also calls out the hypocrisy of organized religion and the education system, which often fail to provide real solutions to the problems faced by people on the streets.
The last lines of the song invite listeners to think critically about their own lives and actions. MJG encourages them to look in the mirror and evaluate whether they are contributing to the cycle of poverty and violence, or whether they are taking steps to create a better future for themselves and their communities.
Line by Line Meaning
The streets of my city be gritty
The streets in my city are tough and challenging.
Young niggaz pack plenty, and ain't never show no pity
Young boys carry guns and show no mercy.
Many die on streets of concrete, blasted from the heat
Many people die on the harsh streets from gun violence.
From under the seat, niggaz just tryin' to make ends meat
People carry guns and use them as a means of survival.
Trying to eat, day to day livin' with no religion
People struggle to make ends meet and are not religious.
Luxury cars, and this money got my full attention
Money and material possessions are highly valued.
School teachers and the preachers don't know what to teach us
Educators and religious leaders are out of touch with the realities of the community.
They don't get a second look without them ghetto features
People with a lower socioeconomic status are often overlooked and undervalued.
Created so the non pigmentated rated
Media content is created for and often caters to a white audience.
Pornographic caught they children learn the words and say it
Pornography has a negative influence on children, who learn and mimic explicit language.
Save the monsters, but don't nobody know the lord
Society focuses on promoting and rehabilitating criminals, but neglects spirituality.
Status depends on the baddest shit you can afford
One's social status is determined by their ability to purchase expensive and often harmful items.
And look at me I'm in the middle of the confusion
The artist is caught in the midst of societal chaos and disorder.
Crime in my blood and I need a transfusion
The artist comes from a background associated with crime and seeks to break free from that cycle.
Take it how you want to take it
The artist is open to interpretation.
I gotta twist and break it
The artist will manipulate the message to convey his own perspective.
Make it shine to distinguish from the ones who fake it
The artist aims to make his message stand out and differentiate from disingenuous content.
And if it comes out raw, and uncontrollable
The artist's message may be intense and unfiltered.
Money's foldable, fuck a hip-hop quoteable
Money can be made and spent, and the artist disdains clichéd lyrics about wealth and success.
Nobody felt what I was feeling when I wrote this shit
The artist's emotions and experiences are unique and maybe difficult for others to understand.
Broke this shit, but that ain't new so I can cope with this
The artist has faced challenges before and can handle hardship.
Hope it get better for those who don't get a chance
The artist hopes for a brighter future for those who may have fewer opportunities.
To advance, and dig the shit I be saying
The artist hopes for people to progress and appreciate his message.
You know what might make what I say a little clearer
The artist offers a suggestion to help his message be better understood.
If mothafuckers judge the one they see in the mirror
People should reflect on and assess their own actions and behavior before criticizing others.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shondrae Crawford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind