8Ball & MJG & Bun B in Chicago

8Ball & MJG are an American rap duo formed in Memphis in 1984. Their measured delivery and bass-heavy Southern hip-hop are heard across albums including Comin’ Out Hard, On Top of the World and Living Legends; their best-known tracks include “Space Age Pimpin’” and “You Don’t Want Drama.” At a 2022 Verzuz show at The Eastern in Atlanta, 8Ball & MJG were paired with UGK for a celebration of the two groups’ catalogs. Two years later, they performed a Tiny Desk concert at NPR Music in Washington, D.C., using a live band to revisit “Lay It Down,” “Mr. Big” and other tracks from their catalog.

Bun B is an American rapper from Port Arthur, Texas, and one half of UGK, the Southern rap duo he formed with Pimp C. UGK’s catalog includes the album Ridin’ Dirty and the song “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You),” while his solo work includes Trill and “Draped Up.” In 2022, Bun B headlined Bun B’s H-Town Takeover at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, bringing out Texas rappers including Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Z-Ro and Lil Keke. He returned in 2023 for Bun B’s Southern Takeover, a second rodeo concert featuring Erykah Badu, Scarface, Juvenile and Mannie Fresh.