Memphis born and raised rappers 8Ball and MJG have been making albums since 1993 when they came out with their first album ‘Comin’ Out Hard’. After releasing many albums and mixtapes both together and as solo artists this remarkable rap duo are all set to drop some more of that ‘Space Age’ music when their new album ‘Ten Toes Down’ is released in May 2010.
Can you tell us how you both met and became 8Ball and MJG?
8Ball: We met in junior high school we found out that we lived a few blocks from each other and we’ve been friends ever since. Rapping started out as just a hobby it was just one of those things that everybody did at school. I guess somewhere a long the way we got good at it because all of our friends did it but people gravitated towards what we did. Then we started making records as 8Ball and MJG and we just went along with the flow and things started to happen.
You were both born and raised in Memphis home of artists like Three 6 Mafia, Indo G and Playa Fly to name a few but you signed to Suave House Records which was based in Houston. How did that come about?
8Ball: Tony Draper who owned Suave House Records knew some of the same people who we knew in Memphis. We all became friends moved to Houston and we made ‘Coming out hard’ and that was like the beginning of it. That’s basically how it went down, he was looking for a rap group and we we’re looking for whatever we could do at the time. It was a great opportunity for us to move to another city and make our music.
MJG: Yeah that was the beginning right there.
At that time when you moved to Houston and you were signed to Suave House do you think your music fitted the sound coming out of Houston at that time more than the sound that was coming out of Memphis?
MJG: It was really still influenced of what was coming out of Memphis because we were doing a lot of the production and stuff ourselves. When we added another producer onto the team he was also from Memphis. So our sound was still Memphis influenced but us being in Houston it probably did play into it somewhere.
You where one of the first groups to use Pen and Pixel artwork what was it like working with them? Those covers were really stood out they were bold and bright did they come up with concepts or did you work together?
8Ball: It was a combination of both, we’d come up with a certain portion of the idea. They would ask and see if we liked it, should I take this away or add this you know? So really it was a combination of both it was their creativity and our idea.
You’ve been releasing music since 1993 when you first put out ‘Comin out hard’ besides your latest project what has been your favourite album you’ve released and why?
MJG: Right now I would say ‘Comin’ out hard’ not because of the songs on it, or the music or whatever just because of the time that it was and the things that were going on at that time.
8Ball: I love them all! (Laughs) But I would say ‘Comin out hard’ right now because I agree with what MJG said. Every album we ever done was kind of a journey through our minds and what was going on in our lives at that time. I think ‘Comin out hard’ brings back a lot of good memories you know?
One of my favourite tracks is ‘Space age Pimpin’ from the ‘On top of the world’ album will there be any joints like that on the new album ‘Ten Toes Down’?
8Ball: Yeah definitely it’s going to sound like 2010 though it’s brand new 8Ball and MJG. We’ve got a song called ‘So fine’ and it’s kind of on the level of ‘Space age pimpin’ to me.
Let’s talk about the new album ‘Ten Toes Down’ what can we expect to hear from both of you on this joint?
MJG: You’ll be able to hear the 8Ball and MJG sound but just keeping it in the space age you know? We’ve been keeping it space age for a long time and basically it’s us doing us but with new ideas and a new twist but still not getting too far outside of 8Ball and MJG.
This album will be released through Grand Hustle how did this deal come about?
8Ball: We’re not signed to Grand Hustle we’re doing like a joint venture business deal with them, it’s a partnership. It came about through T.I who is a big fan of our music and over the years we’ve worked and been around each other a few times. Our managers came together and now you’ve got 8Ball, MJG and Grand Hustle! (Laughs) That’s basically it!
Can you tell us about the single ‘Ten Toes Down’
MJG: That track was produced by Drumma Boy he’s a producer from Memphis by the way of ATL. It’s a like a real gritty, grimy kind of song. The title ‘Ten toes down, means we’ve been feet on the ground, planted in what we’ve been doing ever since we began to do it.
There’s also a video to that track where can people out side of the US go and watch that?
8Ball: Yeah we shot a video for that track it’s on World Star Hip Hop or You Tube right now so make sure you take a look at it.
The album is set to be released in May what producers and other artists have you hooked up with?
MJG: We’ve definitely got a lot of Drumma Boy production on there; he did ‘Ten toes down’ and a lot of great songs on the album. We got Frank Nitty out of ATL he did the new single ‘DJ bring it back’ with Young Dro on it.
8Ball: He also did the joint ‘Smokin’ chokin’ locin’ with Snoop Dogg. Of course we’ve got T.I the King on there. There’s a lot of great music on there.
MJG: Yeah a lot of great 8Ball and MJG!
I bet! I can’t wait to hear the album. As 8Ball and MJG you’ve released about 10 albums but you’ve also do solo projects is this something that you’ll continue to do, I mean 8Ball you did an album with E.D.I from The Outlawz would you do another album collaborating with another artist?
8Ball: Yeah definitely that’s the business doing that and being able to do stuff like working with another artist. That’s what’s good about being independent.
You’ve been dropping albums since 1993 how do you feel about how the game has changed since then, do you feel it’s got better or worse?
MJG: I think we both feel that it is what it is you know? I don’t think it’s got worse, I think that it’s grown and evolved into what it is now. In a way I think it’s got better because there are a lot more regions with different styles and a lot of artists coming out from different places all over the world now which makes it better.
Yeah there are many different artists coming out from all over the world and networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace do help with promotion. Has using these sites helped you to realise that you have fans all over the world?
8Ball: Definitely people can talk to you now from all over the world! On a certain level it’s a lot bigger because you couldn’t get on the internet back when we started and talk to somebody in Germany if you were in Jackson, Mississippi. Before it was only people in Jackson Mississippi who would hear your music you know what I mean? Right now a kid with a laptop from Memphis Tennessee can talk to a kid with a laptop in the UK, Japan or anywhere in the world! That’s the beauty of these sites.
Have you ever toured outside the USA?
8Ball: No we’ve never toured outside the US.
MJG: (Laughs) we want to though we’d love to come out there….So hey! Are we invited out there?
I would love to invite you out here but I don’t think the UK is ready for 8Ball and MJG yet! That southern sound hasn’t really taken off here but I still continue to support and push it! Guys what are your hopes for this album when it drops?
8Ball: The UK needs to look out for 8Ball and MJG ‘Ten toes down’ dropping May 4th 2010 everybody in UK needs to go and get a copy of it when it comes out!!
MJG: Yeah everybody in the UK go get a copy and support us. We hope that everybody who has been supporting us all this time enjoys the album and we appreciate it.
I’d like to thank you both for taking the time out to do your first UK interview!
MJG: Thank you we appreciate it!
8Ball: Thank you!
Interview by Jai Boo
