Rolling Stone’s most influential creator of 2025 recently spent a day around Greater Cincinnati.
Popular streamer and Cincinnati native IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., was spotted at several Queen City staples Sept. 9 for day 13 of his in-person “Stream in America” series.
IShowSpeed, who boasts 40 million Instagram followers and 43.8 million YouTube subscribers, is best known for his worldwide streaming tours. The camera stays rolling while he meets sports stars, films music videos or is hounded by massive crowds.
In the 11-hour, 52-minute YouTube video, IShowSpeed takes his viewers on a tour through his hometown, which includes visiting his childhood home, his alma mater, Purcell Marian High School, a Gold Star location in Newport, TQL Stadium, Kenwood Towne Centre, The Banks and more.
“This is where I was born y’all,” IShowSpeed said. “This is where I grew up.”
Here’s a look at the highlights from IShowSpeed’s Sept. 9 visit in Cincinnati.
Popular streamer and Cincinnati native IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., was spotted at several iconic Queen City spots on Sept. 9 for day 13 of his in-person “Stream in America” series.
IShowSpeed visits Purcell Marian High School, Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy
After taking viewers through his old neighborhood, IShowSpeed ventured over to his former high school, Purcell Marian, to visit with some of his favorite teachers and staff members.
He also popped into a few classrooms, surprising students who quickly abandoned their lessons to greet the famous streamer.
He posed for a few photos with some excited fans, took a moment to catch up with his former Spanish teacher and football coach, bought a Cavaliers crewneck from the school spirit store, checked out the school’s new facilities and football field, had lunch in the cafeteria and more.
“This is bringing back a lot of memories,” he said. “I’m back to the castle.”
But Purcell Marian wasn’t the only school to get a surprise cameo from IShowSpeed.
The streamer visited Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, where he attended elementary school. When he arrived at the school, he was greeted by more of his former teachers and was also gifted a Lions letterman jacket and a custom poster, with a collage of photos from his time at the school.
Excited about Grippos
Fellow content creator and Cincinnati-native, Lamenuel Scales, known to his followers as Hilarious Scales, showed up to IShowSpeed’s meet-and-greet at Purcell Marian High School with a special gift: a bag of Bar-B-Q Grippos.
Scales posted a video on Instagram of him handing the bag to IShowSpeed with the words, “When you bring IShowSpeed his favorite childhood chips.”
While back in the car, IShowSpeed tells his entourage that he grew up eating Grippos. He also stated that Grippos are “the best barbecue chips” and insisted they try the local snack.
“I grew up eating those. … Y’all don’t know nothing about the Grippos, man,” he said.
Scales, who was driving next to IShowSpeed, rolled down his window and yelled, “You f— with the Grippos, don’t you? Come on now. I got you. That’s one thing you ain’t mentioned.”
“Hell yea,” IShowSpeed replied.
Hanging out with FC Cincinnati
For the next stop on the IShowSpeed Cincinnati tour, the streamer went to Mercy Health Training Center in Milford, where he met with FC Cincinnati president and co-CEO Jeff Berding. Berding gave the streamer a mock FC Cincinnati contract to sign and a custom jersey with the word “Speed” and the No. 7 written on the back.
“This is a dream come true man,” IShowSpeed said.
FC Cincinnati shared photos on social media of IShowSpeed hanging out with the some of the players and staff. One post was captioned, “Welcome to the club, (IShowSpeed).”
The official X account for Major League Soccer also posted pictures and videos of his visit on social media writing, “Lookin’ good in Ohio, (IShowSpeed).”
IShowSpeed also visited TQL stadium in Over-the-Rhine later in the day.
IShowSpeed shops at Kenwood Towne Centre, BlaCk OWned Outerwear
After running some soccer drills with FC Cincinnati, IShowSpeed decided to do some shopping at Kenwood Towne Centre.
He browsed through the inventory at Pop Mart, a popular Chinese toy company known for selling collectible designer toys, and Spencer’s, a novelty gift shop.
He also bought a Cincinnati Reds hat at Lids, an Elly De La Cruz jersey from Rally House and some shoes from CLB XXIII.
He later visited BlaCk OWned Outerwear in Over-the-Rhine, where he met up with local rapper Skylar Blatt. He also purchased his “favorite sweater,” the store’s signature “OG Pullover,” which he said he always has to buy when he’s in town.
IShowSpeed reveals go-to Cincinnati chili order, visits Gold Star in Newport
Everyone knows you can’t do a proper tour of the Queen City without a stopping at a local chili parlor.
While he was with FC Cincinnati, IShowSpeed revealed his go-to chili order, which includes three cheese coneys and a three-way. The streamer pulled up to a Gold Star chili location in Newport between 7 and 7:30 p.m. to get his fix, according to a press release from the chain.
IShowSpeed attends YouTube Brandcast 2025 at David Geffen Hall in May in New York City.
In the video, fans can be seen climbing through Gold Star’s drive-thru window and attempting to enter through the restaurant’s back door.
“Let’s just say Cheese Coneys were had, floors were mopped, and a window may have been broken, but IShowSpeed’s rating of Gold Star chili was a ‘ten out of ten − dead—,'” the release states.
In addition to Gold Star, IShowSpeed also ordered a three-piece lemon pepper wing from Hook Fish and Chicken, which he states is a “traditional Cincinnati dish.” He tried Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kentucky for the first time, ordering a single drumstick. He also went to Graeter’s at Fountain Square and had a cup of the brand’s famous black raspberry chocolate chip flavor.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: IShowSpeed eats chili, visits high school in wild Cincinnati stream
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