Eightball & MJG - In Our Lifetime, Vol. 1 (Remastered) (CD)

All Music Guide

Aging does not become most hip-hop artists, nor do reunions. However, there are always exceptions that prove the rule and, apparently, In Our Lifetime, Vol. 1 is one of those cases. Eightball MJG went on hiatus in 1998, and they both released solo albums that weren't bad, but weren't particularly noteworthy, either. Their reunion on In Our Lifetime, Vol. 1 is another story altogether. Working with producers Organized Noise, T-Mix and Black, the duo has found an appealing variation on the Dirty South sound -- a smooth groove that recalls classic late '70s/early '80s funk, while taking chances with its drum machine rhythms and the overall sonic texture. Even the hardest-hitting cuts, "Get It Crunk" and "We Started This," have a spacey feel to their production. It all holds together, and none of the guest artists -- including Cee-Lo, Big Duke, Nina Creque and Outkast -- detracts from Eightball MJG, who have written some of their finest lyrics yet. The entire album is designed as an oral... history of their past, and since they have a loose narrative to follow, they've wound up creating their most coherent -- and arguably best -- album yet. Very few rappers could claim to get better with age, but it seems like Eightball MJG may be doing just that. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read more Less