S. Samuel
Rap duo 8Ball & MJG has discussed the possibility of retiring from hip-hop and taking on more executive roles in the near future.
8Ball said the days of performing throughout the country and recording new music may be coming to an end.
“I definitely see some form of retirement in the near future for me,” he explained in an interview. “Of course I still want to be involved in music any kind of way I can but maybe as far as rapping and getting on stage and stuff like that retirement is one of the things that’s coming. Hopefully, I’ll be able to develop my label into something that can be a staple of southern music like a So So Def or Po’ Boy Records.” (XXL Mag)
MJG agreed and but wants to be respected after he hangs up the mic.
“I feel more or less the same,” he added. “I plan to be a part of music in one way or another and to be taken seriously as an artist or musician [after I retire]. Things might change a little or slow down or shift into a different way.” (XXL Mag)
Rap pioneer Rakim recently spoke with SOHH about when rappers should call it quits and retire.
“Yeah, I think what’s happening is, rappers are becoming, especially for people that love a rapper, rap and hip-hop come to party,” Rakim explained. “You can’t just put it down. It’s not like sports where you know, you lose a step. You can lose skills in rapping of course, but it’s a little different man and I think sitting back and watching the R&B genre, you got, at any awards show and you see brothers like Al Green come out and tear it down. It’s longevity in R&B and I think if it’s done right, to an extent, I think we can have a little longer gevity in hip-hop, it don’t just have to be a young music anymore. You got people like myself, I’m in my 40’s now, early, early early like real early. I just touched 40, but still, I don’t plan on stop listening to rap anytime soon and I don’t plan to stop rhyming no time soon and it’s that tug-of-war with the fans.” (SOHH)
The rap vets are currently prepping the upcoming release of their new album, Ten Toes Down.
8Ball says he and MJG (Marlon Jermaine Goodwin) “just wanted to give (the album) a lot of wildness, a lot of truth about how we’ve been feeling about certain things these last three years” since the release of 2007’s “Ridin’ High,” “and keep it crunk. That was the whole premise behind everything.” The duo recorded in Memphis and Atlanta, where its Push Management is based, and worked with producers such as Drumma Boy, David Banner, Mo B. Dick, Nard & B and Frank Nitti of Nitti Beats. Guests on “Ten Toes Down” include T.I., Snoop Dogg, Bun B, Young Dro and Banner. (Billboard)
Check out Rakim talking with SOHH about retirement below:
