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See all on eBay →“On the Outside Looking In” is the second studio album by 8Ball & MJG, released on September 27, 1994, through Suave House Records and Relativity Records.
The story
The album followed the regional success of “Comin’ Out Hard” and was the duo’s first project to carry Relativity distribution alongside Tony Draper’s Houston-based Suave House. It was recorded during 1993 and 1994 and runs twelve tracks and about 53 minutes, with guest spots from Papa Reu, MC Breed, Thorough and Crime Boss.
Sound and production
Production came from South O working alongside 8Ball & MJG themselves, building on the soul-rooted, slow-rolling style of their debut. The contrast between 8Ball’s heavy baritone and MJG’s smoother delivery remains at the center of the record. Critics were mixed, with AllMusic giving it two and a half stars and RapReviews scoring it 7.5 out of 10.
Legacy
The album peaked at number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 106 on the Billboard 200, a big step up from the debut’s chart showing. It served as the bridge between the duo’s underground start and the gold-selling success of “On Top of the World” the following year.
Tracklist & credits
Produced by T-Money, 8-Ball + MJG
- 1Long Distance-Intro
- 2Lick'em Up Shot
- 3Crumbz 2 Brixx
- 4Players Night Out
- 5Sesshead Funk Junky
- 6So What U Sayin'
- 7No Sellout
- 8Anotha Day In Tha Hood
- 9No Mercy
- 10On Tha Outside Lookin' In
- 11Break-A-Bitch College
- 12Lay It Down
Tracklist and producer credits: Discogs. Gear credits: Breakbeat Archive, sourced on each credit.
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Released September 27, 1994. More from hip hop in 1994.