MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The Grizzlies in the NBA playoffs highlighted some of the best things about the Grind City. The people, basketball and Memphis hip-hop.
“It’s the culture. It’s about time, ”said legendary Memphis rapper MJG. One half of the pioneering duo 8Ball and MJG. You started out in the 90s and have seen Memphis go through it all. They also helped put the city and its music on the map.
“Memphis, Orange Mound, Memphis, Tennessee. It’s going down, ”said MJG. “Take it all over the world. We are very proud. It’s like Memphis, for us the way we express it to other people is like another planet. “
8Ball and MJG use music to describe Memphis. The Core Four showed it on the court during the Grit ‘N Grind era. Grizz Next Gen did the same thing in the postseason.
“People could see how talented we actually were, and I felt like we opened a lot of eyes,” said Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant.
According to both 8Ball and MJG and Grizzlies players, there are more parallels between Memphis music and basketball than it seems.
Grizzlies striker Jaren Jackson Jr. described it as “One match made it heaven.”
According to 8Ball, “Hip-hop has always been the movement of the game. Ever since they added bringing this type of music to games live, with the DJs, this has been the movement of the game. I think the players have more input. Now you know. If you saw a kitten with headphones on, what did it hear? Now you know because they’re playing it now, with all the games and stuff. “
Especially in Memphis, where basketball and hip-hop are at the top. Memphis rapper Moneybagg Yo has the number one album. He’s also just released the hit “Rookie of the Year,” based on Ja Morant. “I think it’s good for the city. The music, Moneybagg’s number one album in the country, Grizzlies in the playoffs at the same time, it’s like excellent, “said 8Ball. “That is good for the city. It all fits together. “
“I mean, especially in this town, it’s theme songs,” added Jaren Jackson Jr. “Much of what you hear play in our locker room is played in pretty much every locker room in America. And now you see a lot of Memphis rappers blowing up. They are like worldwide. They are like global. It’s just big. “
Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton, a guy from the West Coast, said, “I think Memphis did a great job yelling at us, and we always play the music of Memphis rappers in our warm-ups and stuff. I think that goes hand in hand. “
Even artists outside of Memphis can hear what’s going on in town. J. Cole called Ja Morant in his new song “my. life ”and gave the Grizzlies fans a new motto with the line“ I’m on my Grizzly ”.
There’s a good chance more and more lines like this will keep popping up as the Grizzlies have become the new up and coming team in the NBA.
“That’s how we’ll win as a city, is together. And it’s just an added plus that multiple people can win at the same time, I think it’s a good thing, “said MJG. “It’s time for Memphis, it’s time.”
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