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.
Let's Ride
MJG Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be playa about the situation but this is not the time nigga
This is not the time nigga its time to ride its time to ride
Sometimes you have to keep it calm play it low
Bite your bottom lip to keep from clickin' on a hoe
In the streets what the fuck don't nobody play
From Memphis to the Bay niggas diein' all day
Bitches that be thick be settin' up them tricks
Gettin' licks rules don't apply to gettin' rich
Start a business sell a ki pimp a bitch
Make that switch real niggas flip shit
And farm the shit with a bad ass yellow bitch
Eight-Ball translation three and a half
You not affiliated nigga if you have to ask
Rich kid a queens nigga a green nigga
When I say green nigga all about his cream nigga
I suggest invest in a tank and a vest
'Cause me and all my niggas gone ride
One time for my real niggas (let's ride)
Two times for the game its all in your brain
Man if I had a buck for everytime I've fucked up
I would be the big willy nigga with my feet up
But I'm in the field killin' for a meal
Around fake hoes talkin' about they keep it real
Money murder all in my eyes real niggas ride and they don't ask why
I'm a real ass nigga who I be MJ
Livin' to handle business every god damn day
Now who in the fuck be talkin' shit behind my back
Lookin' to find a hundred and thirty ways to get jacked
Tie you in the sack proceed to pack you off too young
Yea you brought some pain I brought the rain and I stun to feel
I wonder will these fake ass bitches become real
Hell naw don't forget bout the spliff and I tell ya'll
Should I spell ya'll fake ass bustas before I see ya
And I can tell by the scent in the air I don't want to meet ya
And I don't care if its the motherfuckin' holidays
I ain't gone preach just pose and look up at me like
A big 'ol pimp ass I'll beat 'cha
Nigga I smash down to take care of killers who spit trash
Small pounds no limit soldiers we kick cash
At the drop of ball D-I-M-E P-I-M-P
Tight pass nigga for real trick don't tell me
One time for my real niggas (let's ride)
Two times for the game its all in your brain
Man if I had a buck for everytime I've fucked up
I would be the big willy nigga with my feet up
But I'm in the field killin' for a meal
Around fake hoes talkin' about they keep it real
Money murder all in my eyes real niggas ride and they don't ask why
Preacher man could you pray for me 'cause I'm about to sin
My homicidal poetry killin' again and again
T-Mix gave me the gun when he sat and made the track
A mental picture forms when I fire up a batch
Of sticky green love controllin' what I'm speakin'
Sprayin' niggas leavin' niggas layin' up leakin'
For weeks and weepin' from my grim reapin' realiwin'
Mj wake 'em up from sleepin'
I'm creepin' peepin' in your windows
Smokin' regular now you gonna leave us behind
We two steps ahead of the competition
We leave 'em wishin' upon the moon
We here with T-Mix creatin' a boom to move the room
Its that pimp shit that hardcore shit that shit you run from
See I ain't got time for this superstlye shit I know where I come from
Ghetto hood ass nigga hard nine if you ever want to meet
Me in person I ain't hard to find
One time for my real niggas (let's ride)
Two times for the game its all in your brain
Man if I had a buck for everytime I've fucked up
I would be the big willy nigga with my feet up
But I'm in the field killin' for a meal
Around fake hoes talkin' about they keep it real
Money murder all in my eyes real niggas ride and they don't ask why
In MJG's song "Let's Ride", the lyrics speak to the harsh realities of the streets and the need for action when things go wrong. The opening lines speak of the importance of composure in everyday situations, but that when it comes to certain things, it's time to ride. The verses go on to describe the violence and corruption that plagues the streets, with drugs, trickery, and murder being commonplace. Despite this, real niggas ride without questioning why. The chorus repeats that sentiment, with the game being all in your brain and money and murder being all in your eyes.
The lyrics of "Let's Ride" are a representation of the reality of life on the streets, where violence and corruption are constant threats. MJG speaks to the need to always be prepared to ride, to take action in the face of danger. The verses delve deeper into the issues of drugs, prostitution, and money-making schemes that can lead to a life of crime. The chorus serves to reinforce the idea that those who are true to the street life will always ride, no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
You know sometimes you have to use a little composure
Sometimes you have to keep it calm play it low
Be playa about the situation but this is not the time nigga
Bite your bottom lip to keep from clickin' on a hoe
This is not the time nigga its time to ride its time to ride
In the streets what the fuck don't nobody play
From Memphis to the Bay niggas diein' all day
Over yea shipped with coke and candy cut up into bricks
Bitches that be thick be settin' up them tricks
Gettin' licks rules don't apply to gettin' rich
Make that switch real niggas flip shit
Start a business sell a ki pimp a bitch
You not affiliated nigga if you have to ask
Rich kid a queens nigga a green nigga
When I say green nigga all about his cream nigga
Eight-Ball translation three and a half
I suggest invest in a tank and a vest
Cause me and all my niggas gone ride
One time for my real niggas (let's ride)
Real niggas flip shit
Two times for the game its all in your brain
And farm the shit with a bad ass yellow bitch
Man if I had a buck for everytime I've fucked up
I would be the big willy nigga with my feet up
I'm a real ass nigga who I be MJ
Livin' to handle business every god damn day
Tie you in the sack proceed to pack you off too young
Yea you brought some pain I brought the rain and I stun to feel
Hell naw don't forget bout the spliff and I tell ya'll
Should I spell ya'll fake ass bustas before I see ya
And I can tell by the scent in the air I don't want to meet ya
And I don't care if its the motherfuckin' holidays
I ain't gone preach just pose and look up at me like
A big 'ol pimp ass I'll beat 'cha
Nigga I smash down to take care of killers who spit trash
Small pounds no limit soldiers we kick cash
At the drop of ball D-I-M-E P-I-M-P
Tight pass nigga for real trick don't tell me
Preacher man could you pray for me 'cause I'm about to sin
My homicidal poetry killin' again and again
T-Mix gave me the gun when he sat and made the track
A mental picture forms when I fire up a batch
We here with T-Mix creatin' a boom to move the room
Its that pimp shit that hardcore shit that shit you run from
See I ain't got time for this superstlye shit I know where I come from
Ghetto hood ass nigga hard nine if you ever want to meet
Me in person I ain't hard to find
We two steps ahead of the competition
Money murder all in my eyes real niggas ride and they don't ask why
Around fake hoes talkin' about they keep it real
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: MARLON GOODWIN, TRISTIAN JONES, PREMRO SMITH, Jones Goodwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind