What happens when you mix Memphis history, hip-hop culture, and a rolling sound system? You get the Memphis Rap Tour Bus — the city’s first-ever rap tour experience, co-founded by Soulsville Charter School alum Taylor Barksdale.
In just two hours, the bus takes riders through the neighborhoods, studios, and landmarks that shaped Memphis’ global reputation in rap and hip-hop. Think of it less as a museum and more as a moving mixtape — beats, stories, and streets all coming together.
The idea sparked during a holiday dinner when Taylor told her brother Carlos she wanted to create a tour that celebrated both entertainment and Black history. With Carlos’ business savvy and Taylor’s background in performance, storytelling, and Memphis music, the duo spent months planning and hustling to bring the vision to life.
For Taylor, this project is personal. She grew up surrounded by music, performed at the Stax Music Academy, and carried forward the grit and creativity Memphis is known for. She also credits the Choose901 Alumni Program and her Soulsville community with giving her the support and connections to dream bigger.
“The grit and determination that define this city are the same qualities that drive us,” Taylor says. “The Memphis Rap Tour isn’t just about the music — it’s about resilience, culture, and showing the world what Memphis is made of.”
The result? A one-of-a-kind attraction that celebrates Memphis’ past, present, and future in hip-hop — from the streets to the stage, and now, to the bus.
