Bad Boy Entertainment, doing business as Bad Boy Records, is an American record label founded in 1993 by Sean "Puffy" Combs. During the mid-1990s, the label signed hip hop and contemporary R&B artists, beginning with the Notorious B.I.G. Following his commercial success, the label signed other acts, including Faith Evans, Mase, 112, Total, The Lox, Shyne and Carl Thomas. At its 1997 peak, Bad Boy was worth an estimated US$100 million.
8Ball & MJG is an American hip hop duo from Orange Mound, Memphis, Tennessee. They met at Ridgeway Middle School in 1984. In 1993, the duo released their debut album Comin' Out Hard. They went on to release On the Outside Looking In (1994), On Top of the World (1995), In Our Lifetime (1999), Space Age 4 Eva (2000), Living Legends (2004), Ridin High (2007) and Ten Toes Down (2010).
Bernard James Freeman, known professionally as Bun B, is an American rapper. He is best known as one half of the southern rap duo UGK, a group he formed in 1987 alongside Pimp C. Aside from his work with UGK, Bun B has released five solo albums, including 2010's Trill OG, which received the rare 5-mic rating from The Source.
112 is an American R&B group from Atlanta, Georgia. Discovered by record production duo Tim & Bob, the group signed with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records, an imprint of Arista Records to release their eponymous debut studio album (1996). The following year, they guest performed alongside labelmate Faith Evans on Puff Daddy's 1997 single "I'll Be Missing You," which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and became the first hip hop song to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100. The group then released their second and third albums Room 112 (1998) and Part III (2001); the latter peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. The group's fourth album, Hot & Wet (2003) served as their final release with Bad Boy until signing with Def Soul to release their fifth album Pleasure & Pain (2005), which saw continued commercial success. The albums spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 singles including their debut, "Only You" as well as "Cupid," "Anywhere", "Love Me", "It's Over Now," and the Grammy Award-nominated "Peaches & Cream."
Comin' Out Hard is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Eightball & MJG, released in August 1993 by Suave House Records. It has sold more than 500,000 copies.
Living Legends is the sixth studio album by American hip hop duo 8Ball & MJG. The album was released on May 11, 2004, by Bad Boy South. It spawned three singles "You Don't Want Drama", "Straight Cadillac Pimpin'" and "Forever". In addition to selling 750,000 copies to date, the album sold 121,000 copies in its first week and debuted to number three spot on the Billboard 200, making it 8Ball & MJG's highest charting album to date.
Ridin High is the seventh studio album by the American hip hop duo 8Ball & MJG. The album was released on March 13, 2007, by Bad Boy South. It was originally scheduled for July 2006, under the title Pure American Pimpin', but was eventually confirmed to be titled Ridin High. The album features guest appearances from Three 6 Mafia, Juvenile, Yung Joc, P Diddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Jazze Pha, 112, and Project Pat. Productions will come from Jazze Pha, Sean Dre, Drumma Boy, Lil Jon, DJ Toomp and Timbaland's protégé Danja.
On Top of the World is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Eightball & MJG. The album was released on October 31, 1995, by Suave House Records and Relativity Records. West-coast artists E-40 and Mac Mall both make appearances on this album, along with Big Mike – a one-time member of Geto Boys. Nuckle Heads, a newly formed group of 2 female rappers on Suave House, debut on this album. South Circle also make an appearance here. Former 1 of the Girls member Nina Creque also appears on the album.
Lost is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Eightball. It is a double album, released on May 19, 1998, by Draper Inc. Records. 8Ball had already released three albums as a part of the group 8Ball & MJG, but after 1995's On Top of the World the group decided to make solo albums before reuniting as a group. This was the second of the group's solo albums, being released after MJG's No More Glory. This album has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for selling 1.8 million copies in the U.S. The song "Drama in My Life" was first heard on the soundtrack album to the 1998 film Woo.
Space Age 4 Eva is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo 8Ball & MJG. The album released on November 21, 2000, by JCOR Entertainment and Interscope Records. The music video for the album's first single "Pimp Hard" marked the directorial debut of photographer Anthony Mandler.
In Our Lifetime is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo 8Ball & MJG. It was released on May 18, 1999, through Suave House Records under a new distribution deal with Universal Records. Recording sessions took place at Urban House Studios, Inc. and Digital Services in Houston and at the Dungeon Recording Studios in SWATS. Production was handled by T-Mix and Mr. DJ, with Tony Draper serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Big Duke, Thorough, CeeLo Green, Nina Creque, Outkast and Toni Hickman. The album debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B Albums charts, selling 95,000 copies in its first week in the United States. Music video was directed for "We Started This". This would be the duo's last recording for Suave House Records label.
Almost Famous is the second solo studio album by American rapper 8Ball. It was released on November 20, 2001, through JCOR Entertainment. It features guest appearances from MJG, Carl Thomas, Cl'Che, Dorasel, Koncrete, Ludacris, P. Diddy and Thorough. The album peaked at number 47 on the Billboard 200 and number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
Suave House Records, also known as The Legendary Suave House, is a record label in Houston, Texas, United States, founded by Tony Draper.
Piece of Mind is the debut studio album by American rapper Tela. It was released on November 5, 1996 through Suave House/Relativity Records. Production was handled by Tela himself with DJ Slice T, Jazze Pha, T-Mix and Insane Wayne. It features guest appearances from 8Ball & MJG, Crime Boss, South Circle and NOLA. The album peaked at number 70 on the Billboard 200 and number 17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Its lead single, "Sho Nuff", peaked at No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Thurston Slaughter, better known by his stage name Crime Boss, is an American rapper. He debuted on 8Ball & MJG's album On the Outside Looking In in 1994. He signed with Suave House Records and issued his first album the following year: All in the Game. The album peaked at no. 113 on the Billboard 200. He followed up in 1997 with his most successful album, Conflicts & Confusion, released by Relativity Records, which went to no. 25 on the Billboard 200. Crime Boss left Suave House and released his third and final album, Still at Large in 1998 for his own Crime Lab Records. After Still at Large, Crime Boss appeared on Spice 1's 2000 album, The Last Dance and Sean T's 2001 album, Can I Shine?. After a brief hiatus, Crime Boss reappeared in 2020 on the music streaming site Spotify with his single "Chemical Imbalance 2.0" featuring Kritical Distrezz.
All in the Game is the debut album by rapper Crime Boss. It was released on February 7, 1995, through Suave House Records, with production by T-Mix and 8Ball & MJG.
Usual Suspects is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group 5th Ward Boyz. It was released on November 18, 1997, through Rap-A-Lot Records. Recording sessions took place at Hippie House Studios and Digital Services in Houston and at the Enterprise in Burbank. Production was handled by Mike Dean, who had produced the majority of the group's previous three albums, Leroy "Mr. Lee" Williams, Freddie Young, Scarface, Flip, John Bido, and the 5th Ward Boyz themselves. It features guest appearances from Mr. Slimm of 5th Ward Juvenilez, Do or Die, Devin the Dude, Johnny P, Scarface, Spice 1, Willie D, 8Ball & MJG.
Wicked Wayz is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Mr. Mike. It was released on July 30, 1996 through Suave House/Relativity Records. Production was handled by Smoke One Productions, E-A-Ski & CMT, with Tony Draper serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from 8Ball & MJG, Christión, E-A-Ski, Ice Cube, N.O.L.A. and O.C. The album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its lead single, "Where Ya Love At?", reached #87 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #40 on the Hot Rap Songs.
"Sho Nuff" is a song by American recording artist Tela featuring fellow Southern hip hop duo 8Ball & MJG. It was released on March 11, 1997, through Suave House Records as the lead single from Tela's debut studio album Piece of Mind. Recording sessions took place at Crosstown Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Production is credited to Tela, DJ Slice T, and Jazze Pha, who also performed the song's hook.
Life's Quest is the fifth solo studio album by American rapper 8Ball. It was released on July 24, 2012, through E1 Music. It features guest appearances from 2 Chainz, Angie Stone, Big K.R.I.T., Ebony Love, Keelyn Ellis, LC, MJG, Singa and Slim.
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