MJG gained notoriety alongside his longtime group mate, 8Ball, though at times it felt as though he was being overshadowed.
The Memphis duo proved incredible as 8Ball & MJG, with 8Ball heavily credited as being the most skillful and noteworthy of the two. All that changed with this, MJG’s silky smooth solo debut that’s both a sonic and lyrical masterpiece.
‘No More Glory’, easily one of the most bluesy hip-hop albums ever recorded, fleshed out MJG’s individual style and personality, showcasing just how skilled he was – which proved to be abundantly. “But it’s alright… What I don’t know I’ma learn, and what I ain’t got I’ma earn”, he rhymed the hook of the sexy groove “Hard But Fair”.
What’s hard is MJG’s fair share of dope tracks that keep you bobbing your head from beginning to end. He earned a ton more respect.
“Shine and Recline” opens with an instrumental lead that’s so undeniably funky, you almost don’t want any words over it. Yet MJG, with an assist from 8Ball, rides the melody with relentless flows, each verse a traffic jam of quotable street lines you can’t pass.
With Rodney Ellis singing the chorus, MJG’s remake of Stevie Wonder’s “That Girl” gives the legendary jam the hip-hop update it deserved.
And everyone deserves the backing of a “Good Damn Man”. |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
