8Ball and MJG are set to be honored in their hometown of Memphis with their very own intersection named after them.
On Saturday (September 28), the corner of Park Avenue and Airways Boulevardd — in the neighborhood of Orange Mound, which the duo have often shouted out in their music — will officially become 8Ball Boulevard and MJG Avenue.
In an Instagram post, 8Ball reacted to the news writing, “Thank you Memphis. Thank you Orange Mound. The love is appreciated!
“Never got many accolades so this hit different mane you hear me. Thank you @mayorpaulyoung @duprano and everyone that made this possible.”
In 2018, the legendary duo were inducted into the Memphis Hall of Fame, marking only the second Hip Hop act in company’s history to collect the honor.
8Ball took to Instagram to express his gratitude, which included a special shout out to Three 6 Mafia, who were inducted in 2012.
“Got inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame last night!” he wrote. “Such a great blessing and pleasure to be honored in royal company like Aretha Franklin, George Klein and Eddie Floyd to name a few! And shoot out to the FIRST inductees that represented the Memphis music community 3-6 Mafia! Thank you Memphis.”
8Ball and MJG emerged in 1993 with their inaugural studio album, Comin’ Out Hard. Their last collaborative project of new work was their eighth effort, Ten Toes Down, released in 2010. And in 2019, they released a live album of their classics titled Classic Pimpin.
In 2022, over 80,000 people tuned in as the pair took on UGK in a Verzuz, including Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, Fat Joe, Slim Thug, DJ Scratch and more.
From songs such as 8Ball & MJG’s “Don’t Make Me” from 2004’s Living Legends and UGK’s “Int’l Player’s Anthem”(which included a surprise appearance from Outkast legend Big Boi) to Bun B’s tribute to the late Pimp C, the audience was treated to a hearty helping of Southern rap classics.
While Bun, 8Ball and MJG had plenty to say in between songs, 8Ball seized the moment at one point to call outMillion Dollaz Worth of Game podcast host Gillie Da Kid for supposedly getting a story wrong involving the late DJ Screw and Rap-A-Lot Records founder J. Prince (aka Lil J).
“I remember late nights — this is when we first moved to Houston — I used to be with Lil Keke; that’s how you know it’s a true story,” he began. “These boys had me at Carrington’s on the parking lot and Screw used to sell the tapes out the back of the car. When I walked up, that boy said, ‘Man, I got everything.’ He gave me about 20 volumes, like all at one time.”
He went on: “And another thing, while the world is listening, Gillie Da Kid told a story about us running from Lil J one night out the parking lot. Gillie Da Kid, you remembered that wrong. You have never been in a car with me. My first gun charge was in Houston, you can look that shit up.
“And Lil J, we have nothing but respect for that man, and he ain’t got nothing but respect for us. We have never had to run from Lil J. You hear me, man? So get your story right and go back online and say who was really with that night.”