24: How does the new album differ from the
last album?
8Ball: This album is grittier, more 8Ball &
MJG orientated. We took it back to the music people love hearing from us.

24: Which producers did you work with
on ‘Ridin High’?
8Ball: Big D (former member of Usual Suspects),
DJ Nasty, Jazze Pha, Drum Majorz, a new producer from Atlanta name Midnite Black,
he did 4 tracks, Shawty Redd, and DJ Toomp. We kind mixed it up on this one.

24: Who are some of the guest appearances
on the album?
8Ball: Killer Mike, Slim (from the R&B
group 112), Juvenile, Three6Mafia, Project Pat, and Young Joc. It might sound
like a lot of people, but it’s not. We really wanted to keep the features
to a minimum on this album.

24: So many artists are inspired by 8Ball
& MJG, who inspires you guys?
8Ball: We were so diverse when it came to music
and our up bringing because of our mothers and fathers listening to Blues, R&B
greats like Al Green, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and that inspired us a lot.
This is one of the things that separates our music is that a lot of our music
is inspired by Blues and Rock & Roll but still southern Hip Hop at the same
time also. The rap side, we are inspired by the Run DMC, LL Cool J, EPMD, and
the new school cats because they doing it bigger then ever now like T.I. and
Kanye West with their music and subject matter. That’s big inspiration
to me just like Ludacris, Young Jeezy and the barriers they are breaking for
southern Hip Hop. Plus you got P.Diddy and Busta Rhymes who have been doing
for so long and are still relevant today they are so many I could go on forever.

24: What mistakes have you learned from
the last album that will help you make Ridin High more successful?
8Ball: I think just the grittiness of this
album will help it be more successful.

24: What’s the next single?
8Ball: We are not sure at this time a lot of
people like “Clap On” featuring Young Joc, and a lot of people like
“Hickory Dickory” so I’m really not sure at the moment.

24: What’s your favorite song on
the album?
8Ball: I really like the whole album but if
I had to choose, we have a song called “Worldwide” produced by DJ
Toomp. “Corner Store” featuring Killer Mike, and “Hickory
Dickory” are so of my favorites but I can go on because I like this album
so much.

24: What’s the secret to your long
jevity in the game through out the years?
8Ball: If I knew I would bottle that shit up
and sell it like water, I don’t know man we just go out there and do us
eventually we developed like a cult following of fans that just love us for
what we do and we just keep faith in God.

24: I know a lot of people look up to
you, so what advice would you give to an up and coming artist trying to get
into the industry?
8Ball: Hard work. There is no substitute for
hard work and keep your faith in God always. This goes to a little kid making
beats on the Internet or using fruity loops to someone who is on a major label.
No one is going to do it for you, so you have to do it by yourself!

24: What’s next for 8Ball &
MJG?
8Ball: So much man. We have a lot of stuff
in works, I have my own independent label Eight Ways Entertainment and I have
a couple albums in the stores right now. Go buy that album Ridin High you wont
be disappointed and check us on MYSPACE.COM/BallandMJG.

Interview by: Jay Carter