8TheGoonie Went From Sleeping in His Car to Rebuilding in Ohio’s Underground

8TheGoonie is an independent rapper who recently relocated to Ohio after growing up in Alabama. In Columbus’s underground scene, he’s building from the ground up—freestyling, recording, and learning how to turn songs into a real path forward. His story blends early talent, faith, and the patience to keep going when life gets heavy.

Music started early for him. His grandmother gave him a kid’s drum-and-keyboard set when he was two, and he never really put it down. By middle school he was freestyling daily, studying how artists like Eminem, Drake, Jay‑Z, Travis Scott, Gucci Mane, and Jeezy built their flows. ADHD made him laser in on craft; repetition made the delivery stick.

Early Start, Real Influence

He doesn’t like being boxed in by genre. If you need a label, call it trap/hip‑hop with range. Melodic at times, aggressive when it fits. What matters is honesty. Freestyling is his release valve—when stress builds, he raps. Music lets him say the things he doesn’t always want to explain out loud.

First Wins and Proof of Concept

The first real sign he could do this came at 13–14 with a SoundCloud song called “Fake Love.” It hit around 50,000 plays overnight. That moment showed him two things: people were listening, and streams can turn into money. Today he distributes through Amuse, a DIY route that keeps his releases moving without major overhead—very much the independent rapper playbook in the Midwest music space.

Goals, Money, and Momentum

He’s honest about money. Some months the music brings in tens of dollars; he wants it to scale to $20,000 a month so he can live, travel, and invest without stretching. Long‑term, he aims for hardware and visibility—Grammys, movie placements, endorsements—and the kind of following that proves reach without losing himself. For Columbus creatives watching his climb, the blueprint is consistency plus intent.

Setbacks, Faith, and Mental Health

The past couple of years were rough. He was homeless for a stretch after moving, sleeping in his car while piecing together work. Faith became the anchor. He talks openly about prayer, reading the Bible, and resetting his habits. He also pushes mental‑health awareness—naming depression, pressure, and survivor’s guilt—because the first step that helped him was admitting what he was fighting.

What’s Next

The plan is simple: more videos, more finished drops, better rollouts. Keep building connections, keep showing up, and let the work speak. In the Columbus underground scene—and across indie hip‑hop—that steady pace is how careers actually form.

To hear the full story, watch 8TheGoonie’s complete interview here: https://youtu.be/ckJNoySohaM