Love in Orange Mound
8Ball & MJG Join The Gloria Smith Foundation on Orange Mound Community Day
Memphis, TN — Saturday, August 2, 2025 — In the heart of Orange Mound, a legendary Memphis neighborhood rich in culture and soul, hometown heroes 8Ball & MJG joined forces with The Gloria Smith Foundation to bring hope, joy, and unity during this year’s Orange Mound Community Day.
The event kicked off early with a community run/walk that drew dozens of volunteers and families, despite Memphis temperatures climbing to a sweltering 95°F. Smiles and sweat marked the morning as residents and supporters took to the streets to show their pride and solidarity.
Following the walk, the block was transformed into a celebration of community love — featuring a backpack giveaway, free food for all, and a vibrant kids’ talent show hosted by none other than 8Ball & MJG. The legendary rap duo, known for putting Memphis hip hop on the map, traded the mic for the community, giving back to the very soil that raised them.
“This event is so much more than the free backpacks, so much more than the run,” said Lace, co-founder of The Gloria Smith Foundation. “It’s about Orange Mound showing community love.”
The Memphis Police Department was also on hand, not in uniformed enforcement but in fellowship — joining games, conversations, and laughter alongside other local leaders and organizations. The positive energy was contagious.
Rapper 8Ball addressed the crowd during the talent show:
“Don’t be scared of Orange Mound. If the world is watching, we just had a walk around my neighborhood without any issues.”
This sentiment rang loudly through the event, countering common stereotypes about inner cities. On this day, Orange Mound wasn’t a headline for crime — it was a spotlight for compassion, unity, and purpose. Love in Orange Mound showed that neighborhoods historically labeled as troubled are also filled with leaders, talent, and the heart to heal. It was more than a community event — it was a movement of love.
Written by:
DJ Bobby Eupho
Dallas, Texas
Bosstalk 101
I wish more people would do event like this love the article