World's Most Famous Streamer Shows off Memphis to the World

We wanted to release this special edition to our readers to highlight a special moment in our city, when the world’s most famous streamer came to town, and confirmed what we all already knew: Memphis is more lit than Nashville!

Darren Watkins Jr., better known as IShowSpeed, brought his viral “IRL Stream in America” tour through Memphis on Day 15 of his 35-day cross-country journey. He arrived in town with millions of followers watching live and left with a viral highlight reel that showcased Memphis food, music, culture, history, and style.

It was unscripted. It was authentic. And it was Memphis through and through.

A Jump into Memphis Life

One of the most viral moments of Speed’s Memphis stop came not in a restaurant or a museum, but at a pool. He joined in on a slicing session, the Memphis-born tradition of leaping into a pool with style and swagger. Slicers cut through the water sideways, fully clothed or with creative flair, creating splashes as big as the cheers from the crowd.

When Speed took his turn and sliced into the pool in full clothes, fans erupted. It wasn’t just funny, it was a rite of passage. For his audience, it was the first time many had seen slicing. For Memphians, it was validation — this is how we do it.

Cozy Corner BBQ: A Memphis Classic

No Memphis trip is complete without barbecue, and Speed wasted no time pulling up to Cozy Corner BBQ on North Parkway. Family-owned since 1977, Cozy Corner is known for rib tips, Cornish hens, wings, and pulled beef sandwiches.

Speed streamed himself diving into the food while locals gathered around, excited to see their neighborhood favorite get international attention. Cozy Corner didn’t need the endorsement, but it got one anyway, with Speed calling the meal one of his best yet.

Smackers: Flavor with a Vibe

Next up was Smackers, a spot that blends good food with good energy. Speed filmed his meal there, sharing both the plates and the vibe with his massive audience. The stop was more than just eating — it showed Memphis as a city of gathering places where food is about community as much as flavor.

Highland Strip: Youth Culture on Display

Memphis is a college town too, and Speed gave viewers a look at that side of the city on the Highland Strip by the University of Memphis. Known for its restaurants, bars, and late-night energy, the Strip gave his stream a jolt of college-town culture. Students filled the sidewalks, music spilled into the night, and Speed’s presence only amped up the scene.

Meeting Moneybagg Yo

Perhaps the biggest crossover moment came when Speed met Moneybagg Yo. The Memphis rap star surprised him with a gift that connected two of the city’s biggest cultural exports: music and basketball.

Moneybagg handed Speed a signed Penny Hardaway jersey. For fans watching around the world, it was an unforgettable symbol of Memphis greatness — a rap star paying tribute to a basketball legend, with Speed caught right in the middle.

The Lorraine Motel: A City’s Conscience

One of the most powerful stops of the day was the Lorraine Motel, home of the National Civil Rights Museum. Standing outside the place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, Speed and his viewers absorbed a piece of history that is both tragic and transformative.

The visit grounded his Memphis trip in something deeper than food or entertainment. It reminded his audience that Memphis is a city where history is felt every day, a place where joy and struggle live side by side.

Grizzlies Energy

Finally, Speed connected with the city’s modern sports heroes, linking up with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies. It was another piece of the puzzle — barbecue, music, history, nightlife, and now basketball. Memphis is a basketball town, and seeing two of its brightest stars on his stream tied the story together.

Why It All Matters

IShowSpeed’s visit was not a staged media campaign. It was raw, unscripted, and sometimes chaotic. That is exactly why it worked.

His trip captured Memphis in all its layers. Cozy Corner and Smackers showed off the food. Stax and Moneybagg Yo showed the music. The Highland Strip and Dream Team 901 showed the culture of today. The Lorraine Motel showed the weight of history. The Grizzlies showed the pride of a city that lives and breathes basketball. And slicing showed the joy.

For locals, it was validation. For outsiders, it was discovery. For Memphis, it was another chance to remind the world that no city tells a story quite like this one.

Memphis Wins

When IShowSpeed told his viewers “Memphis is way more lit than Nashville” it was more than hype. He lived it. Every bite of barbecue, Jookin’, the jersey from Moneybagg Yo, every step down Highland, every splash of slicing told the truth. Memphis IS LIT!!!!!!

This is Memphis. Real. Proud. Alive.

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