Customer Reviews

Ridin High

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I agree with the reviewer who wrote that Puffy and Bad Boy are to blame for this album. Man, long gone are the days when Eightball and MJG had their own style, both lyrically and musically. Ever since they signed with Bad Boy all that changed. Diddy pushed them into a much more comercial direction, so that the album sound pretty much like most other albums coming out of the Dirty South. And it wasn't like that back then! Listen to their first 5 albums, and you could see that Ball and G were doing their own thing! And they even sold much more back then (let's face it, Diddy does nothing to promote this album, and that's why it hasn't sold well). They weren't able to do that on this album (at least on most songs). It's like they took a few steps BACK. "Livin' Legends" was much better. For example, the first single "Relax and take notes" is a deccent track, and that's it - how it was chosen to be a single is beyond my understanding.
Anyway, the album itself is nice, but overall most of it doesn't stand up. There are about 5 great songs, and the rest range between avarege and weak (Especially that "Hickery Dickery Dock". What the hell was the label thinking?? You KNOW that Ball and G would've never make a song like that!). The whole album sound too much like a Lil' Jon/TI/Young Jeezy album. Too much sreaming, too much of that crunk sound, too much screaming by MJG (remember how smooth he used to be? Not those game are gone_... The good songs are those who sound different. But the album overall isn't as melodic and soulful like their previous albums. Lyrically the album is also the weakest they've ever done. It's not as personal and deep like their previous albums, and it's obvious it's all Bad Boy's directions... Anyway, the bottom line is that it's an OK album, nothing special, but Ball and G are still living legends, and with their talent they are able to save the album and make it an enjoyable listen.

It is sad that these two southern hip-hop legends good names have been blemished by Bad Boy records. The transformation from their classic hit "on the outside looking in" along with a host of other great albums to this disgrace is quite sad. I'm sure your boy puffy offered alot more money and fame than they have ever had in the underground, and it hurt 'em. Some will say "well thats what you get for being a sell out" but if your in the game making underground hits for almost 2 decades and your only know to a small region, you may not feel the accomplishment or respect you deserve. I forgive them, not Puffy. Buy some of their old stuff.

diddy should let ball and g go back to that pimped out dirty souith houston-memphis flow they was sic wid it back in the days but no they had to join bad boy and make not one but 2 albums that pissed off their fans still not a bad album it would be better if diddy or bad boy was;nt involved.

With over 13 years of being in the rap game, 8Ball and MJG have seen the ups and downs of the industry through first-hand experience. They also know that the landscape of Hip-Hop has changed about a dozen times since their 1993 debut album Comin' Out Hard. With modest success from being on various independent labels (most notable being Suave House), the crew was signed to Bad Boy by Diddy and released their major label debut Living Legends in 2004. Still getting much of the same buzz as they did when they were on top of the underground scene, they did sell in excess of 750,000 copies (more than Diddy was able to do with Press Play in 2006). So with the release of Ridin High, the duo are hoping to at least match that success, but actually take a step backwards in the end. The album starts off pretty good with songs like the radio-friendly "Cruzin" featuring Project Pat and Slim of 112, the grimy anthem "Relax And Take Notes" featuring Notorious B.I.G. (per Diddy's request I'm sure), and the energetic, bass-heavy "Turn Up The Bump." Pimp C rolls through to rep for Houston on "Watchu Gonna Do," Killer Mike resurfaces for the entertaining track "Running Out Of Bud," Yung Joc makes a so-so appearance for the thumping "Clap On," and Jazza Pha and Juvenile bring all of their talents on board for "Pimpin Don't Fail Me Now" (a play on the chorus to Missy Elliott's "Pussycat"). Unfortunately there are huge missteps with a couple of tracks on this album. Diddy obnoxious presence in the background of the over-produced title track and his vocals on "30 Rocks" bring down the album tremendously. "Hickory Dickory Dock" (yes, you read that right) is just bad all around, and "Alcohol, Pu$$y, and Weed" is another bad attempt at making a Pop-sounding Dirty South track. "Get Low" is poorly produced and lyrically dormant, while "Take It Off" featuring Poo Bear is a futile attempt at recreating the feel of their former hit "Space Age Pimpin." This will probably spell the end of their mainstream run, but 8Ball & MJG obviously have the potential to be chart-topping superstars. But when you have a label that doesn't have much experience with producing and promoting albums from the Dirty South, it usually spells disaster for all.

I ALSO BLAME PUFFY. HE TALKING AON ALL TRACKS. BUT BESIDES HIM, THE ALBUM IS PRETTY SOLID. I SAY HE COULDNT HAD MORE PRODUCERS LIKE JAZZY PHA, PHARELL, OR SOME EVEN FROM THE SOUTH, BUT YOU KNOW PUFFY WANTS IT ALL INHOUSE. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I LIKE RELAX & TAKE NOTES, MEPHIS, RUN TO THE CORNER STORE, 30 ROCKS IS MY JAM MINUS PUFFY'S CORNY AZZ

What happens when you let the queen of pop(Puffy) control your whole album? You get a commercialized monstrosity called Ridin High. Ive known Eightball & MJG for giving you classics like Comin Out Hard, Space Age Pimpin, On Top Of The World, Lyrics Of A Pimp, In Our Lifetime etc. This album is borderline garbage. Before I start let me preface to you that I did like their album out side of Suave House called Space Age 4 Eva so dont think that Im being nostalgiac when I say that this album blows. Im just being real.

The Good: Relax And Take Notes(featuring Project Pat) and the bassline heavy Turn Up The Bump is that old school MJG that we're all fond of. Plus that was Project Pat of the Mista Dont Play days on Relax And Take Notes. Memphis is good tribute to their hometown even though I think that sample they took is irritating. Get Low is pretty cool as Ball & G give you a story of them trying to escape a shooting in a club. Stand Up is also a highlight as they both rap like Ghetto Mafia(remember them?) on the track. Honorable mentions: Cruzin(feat Three 6 Mafia and Slim of 112) sounds forced but its okay and Pimpin Dont Fail Me Now(feat Juvenile) somewhat reminds you of the Space Age 8-Ball & MJG. One last note: MJG floored 8-Ball on Relax And Take Notes, Turn Up The Bump and Get Low(not that Ball's rhymes were bad its just that MJG's caught your attention).

The Bad: Take It Off is a forced song for the ladies that fails miserably. Pimp C had the only verse worth talking about in Whatchu Gonna Do(another weak cut with a predictable hook)and Killer Mike had the only notable verse in Runnin Out Of Bud(boring smoke joint). Worldwide is the most obvious rush job track on the album(another joint with a weak hook) and Clap On feat Yung Joc should have been disposed of immediately.

The Ugly: Ridin High is one of the worst songs on the album and to put southern giants like Ball & G over a clubby beat that would suit Ciara just fine is insulting to a fault! 30 Rocks feat Diddy is the worst song on here period! The sissy beat, the nonsensical hook, the boring rhymes from Ball & G and is Diddy that insane that he doesnt realize how much he sucks as a rapper? Sample: "You know the name/ its Diddy Ya'll/ rock a lot of ice/ they call me chili dog"(it aint easy being cheesy huh, Puffy?). Hickory Dickory Dock(WTF?) and Alcohol P**** And Weed(didnt the 5th Ward Boyz have a song by the same title?) are garbage tracks that are about absolutely nothing(if you listen to the lyrics) and what kinds of titles are these?
Bottom Line: Ridin High is the worst album that 8-Ball & MJG ever made period! The production was weak, the guest spots were out of place and Ball & G sounded like they were going through the motions most of the time. Its sad to see this what the southern rap gods have been reduced too especially since they are capable of much better work. Their only hope is to break camp from Bad Boy and that acne-faced freak of nature. If they dont, they will continue to go downhill. Ive said it before and I will say it again, anytime you're on a record label that is known for being commercial, you're in big trouble!

In a last-ditch effort to save their careers (although I didn't really think their careers NEEDED saving), 8Ball & MJG signed on to Bad Boy Records and released the album Living Legends. I didn't think that album was very good because it seemed like Ball and G's style was reformulated too much into fitting in with the mainstream crowd. But will they be able to save face with their second Bad Boy release, Ridin High?

Well, it depends on whom you ask. First of all, this album is 75 minutes long, and it seems like every OTHER song is good. Actually, the lead single "Relax and Take Notes" (featuring a surprisingly good guest spot from Project Pat) would be fine if I overlooked the fact that the chorus is nothing but a few bars from Biggie's "Dead Wrong". And speaking of reused ideas, the chorus to the obligatory Jazze Phizzle productizzle "Pimpin' Don't Fail Me Now" (although he surprisingly doesn't say any of his catchphrases in the song) is really the same chorus from Missy Elliott's "P-cat" (from Under Construction), now in a masculine way.

There are still some good songs though, like "Stand Up", "Worldwide" and the necessary tribute-to-your-hometown, "Memphis". But when the duo start talking about sex, more problems occur, as in "Alcohol P Weed" and the ridiculous "Hickory Dickory Dock" (and the "Blowjob Interlude" that precedes it isn't funny). Actually, I don't know if I should mention "Hickory Dickory Dock" after all because only the chorus is about sex while the verses aren't really about anything. But I thought Ball and G learned from "Trying to Get At You" that romantic rap songs featuring 112 don't work for them (or anyone else), but still we have "Cruzin'" (also featuring Three 6 Mafia); and I don't think Ball will turn any ladies on with: "I know I'm not the best-looking n/But I'm so far from the worst-looking n".

Disappointments continue, as the title track is an obligatory song about blingin' with a blatant club-friendly beat. And Diddy's verse ruins the otherwise good "30 Rocks". Ridin High isn't a terrible album, but it's an extreme rollercoaster ride, so only pick it up to complete your 8Ball & MJG collection.

Anthony Rupert

their is a reason 8ball & MJG sound like the dirty south....because they are the originators. It is the rest of the dirty (crunk) south that cut copy and paste the blueprint from this duo

so sit back with a glass of good bourbon and chill to this album

my fav song ::: GET LOW

That way you won't be disappointed and wonder what type of garbage they are starting to put out. Ok, if you have read any of my other reviews...I am a die hard 8 Ball & MJG fan so, my reviews come from the heart of a lover of their music. I just don't know what they were thinking about with this one. They have really gotten aaway from the down south Orange mound music they are known for. I do not suggest this one. YMMV. NEOSOUL06.

Eightball & MJG are back with their 2nd album on Bad Boy (this is better then their first one Puffy did), though not as good as their early/mid 90's Suave House albums, it is a good album, especially compared to what has been coming out. Being inthe rap game for 16 or so years, the 2 are Down South vets and probably the 2nd best group ever formt he south (behind UGK and about even with the Geto Boys). This is the 7th group album I have of theirs (not to mention 3 Eightball solo's and 1 MJG solo), so you know the duo has put in some work. With 16 songs, 11 are good, a few beiong real good, 1 I skip and 4 are ok. Guests are on 10 of the 16 songs (rapping on 8 of them), so the guests department is pretty heavy, and almost all are southern artists. Production is nice as well and definitely has a southern feel to it. Midnite Black does 3 songs, Jazze Pha, Puff Daddy, DJ Toomp, DJ Nasty, Gorilla Tek, Bigg D, Danja, Soul Diggaz, Shawty Redd, Gorilla Zoe, B Rock, CKP, and Bangladesh all do 1 song. A nice album for tehir fans to have, and once again they don't let you down.

#2 - 9 (f/ Project Pat & Notorios BIG -- nice beat)
#3 - 8.5 (f/ Bigg D -- nice upbeat track)
#4 - 8
#5 - 8 (f/ Three-6 Mafia & 112)
#6 - 7.5 (f/ Pimp C)
#7 - 4.5 (f/ Puff Daddy -- by far the worst one on here)
#9 - 6.5
#10 - 8.5 (f/ Killer Mike & Dave Toliver -- smokin song)
#11 - 8.5 (f/ Young Joc (who for once is decent) -- nice beat)
#12 - 9 (tight beat)
#14 - 8 (f/ Juvenile & Jazze Pha)
#15 - 8
#16 - 7.5 (f/ Poo Bear -- more of a slower/ladies song)
#17 - 8 (f/ al Kapone)
#18 - 7.5 (very annoying chorus)
#19 - 9 (tight beat)

MJG -- Marlon Jermaine Goodwin -- b. 1/9/72 -- Memphis, TN
EIGHTBALL -- Premro Smith -- b. around 1972 -- Memphis, TN

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