INTERVIEW: 8Ball Talks 8Ball Brand Coffee, Health Journey, Southern Rap, Memphis Culture, MJG + More

8-Ball, the legendary Memphis rapper and co-founder of 8Ball & MJG, opens up about his transformative health journey—losing over 150 pounds through nutrition, exercise, and mindset shifts without surgery—while emphasizing that his motivation wasn’t vanity but survival. He reflects on the overlooked legacy of Southern rap pioneers, admitting that despite shaping the genre’s foundation, he and MJG never had the mainstream 'moment' that earned them widespread accolades like the Oscars or major award show appearances. Yet, he remains proud of their cultural impact, citing how every major Southern hip-hop act from UGK to 3-6 Mafia built on their blueprint. The conversation also dives into the founding of 8 Ball Brand Coffee, a family-owned, culture-driven venture born from a friendship in Memphis, and his enduring brotherhood with MJG—rooted in shared trauma, loyalty, and the fact they were both mama’s only sons. At 61, 8-Ball embraces aging with purpose, finding peace in music, family, and community work, while still believing the story of 8Ball & MJG is far from over.