BlocBoy JB | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | James Lee Baker |
Born | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | May 19, 1996
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2012–present |
Labels |
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Children | 1 |
Website | blocboy |
James Lee Baker [2] (born May 19, 1996), better known as BlocBoy JB, is an American rapper. He is best known for his song "Look Alive" (featuring Drake), which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2018. [3] His other songs include "Shoot", "Rover" and its sequel, "Rover 2.0" (featuring 21 Savage).
James Baker was born on May 19, 1996, in Memphis, Tennessee. His name comes from his father, who is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for rape. In 2008, when Baker was 12, his father broke out of prison and traveled to Baker's home to see him for a short period of time. [4] At the age of 14, Baker became affiliated with the Grape Street Watts Crips. Although located in Los Angeles, the gang has an affiliated branch in Memphis called the Peda Roll Mafia. Baker's affiliation is mentioned throughout many of his songs, including "Rover". [5] Baker served a month in prison in 2012 for committing a home invasion, and served the rest of his sentence on house arrest. Baker has said the invasion was "sloppy", and that they performed the invasion with no masks and a BB gun. [6]
Baker began making music when he was fourteen when he moved to Raleigh in North Memphis and met Tay Keith (who later produced "Look Alive"), and the two began making music shortly afterwards. [7]
Baker started putting out music on his SoundCloud page in 2012. [8] He released his first mixtape, Who Am I, in 2016. It featured the track "No Chorus Pt. 6", which reached more than three million views on YouTube. [9]
The next summer, he released the song "Shoot", which spawned a dance craze called the "shoot dance". [10] [9] [11] Another single, "Rover", followed in early 2018. The viral hits attracted the attention of Canadian rapper Drake [12] [9] [11] who it was speculated was going to remix "Rover" [13] though it resulted in the pair collaborating on a song titled, "Look Alive", which was released in February 2018 and debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. [14]
Following the release of "Look Alive", Baker spurred rumors he would soon sign to Drake's label OVO Sound, saying "Somewhat. I'm trying to see what's my move." [15] He was also featured on Moneybagg Yo's 2 Heartless project. [16] On March 23, 2018, Baker released "Rover 2.0", a remix of "Rover", featuring rapper 21 Savage. [17] The song was Baker's second lead song to chart on a Billboard chart, peaking at number two on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles. He was also featured on ASAP Rocky's "Bad Company" [18] and No Jumper's "Hard" with Tay-K. [19]
After releasing the single, "Prod by Bloc", he announced the mixtape Simi , [20] while also revealing the tracklist which featured Lil Pump, YG, Drake and 21 Savage. [21] Baker was named as one of the members of XXL 's "2018 Freshman Class" on June 12, 2018. [22]
On October 30, 2018, Baker released his debut extended play, Don't Think That , which included features from Lil Uzi Vert and Hoodrich Pablo Juan. [23]
Baker released his eighth mixtape, I Am Me , on June 14, 2019, which included features from Lil Durk and Moneybagg Yo. [24] NLE Choppa and Baker, both from Memphis, Tennessee, have done 3 collaborations, named ChopBloc, ChopBloc 2, and ChopBloc 3, respectively.
In March 2020, Baker released his first official song of 2020, "Swervin". In May 2020, he released his highly anticipated single "No Chorus, Pt. 12", which was produced by longtime collaborator Tay Keith. [25] After a build-up on pre-release singles, Baker's debut studio album, FatBoy, was released on October 9, 2020. [26]
In October 2017, Baker filmed a dice game allegedly inside of Hamilton High School. Shortly afterwards, Shelby County Schools started investigating the incident. [27]
During an Instagram Live on March 16, 2020, Baker jumped from a two-story balcony into his pool, barely clearing the edge and clipping his heel on the side of the pool. [28]
In June 2020, 6ix9ine had an Instagram Live with DJ Akademiks. In the livestream, 6ix9ine targeted Baker, calling him a "one-hit wonder" and asked if he was working at Wendy's. Baker responded by saying, "Don't mention my name if you ain't on no gangsta shit". [29]
In November 2020, Baker received severe criticism and was accused of homophobia after he said PlayStation was "for the gays" and mocked the brand as "GayStation", even saying that Xbox is for "the street n*ggas". [30]
Baker is known for popularizing the "shoot" dance, which was incorporated in the Fortnite video game, made by Epic Games. [31] [32] [33] Following similar lawsuits against Epic Games, Baker filed his own lawsuit against Epic in January 2019, claiming the use of his dance move as a dance emote in-game is infringing on his copyright and personality rights. [34]
In February 2019, Baker was arrested on drug, gun and robbery charges, weeks after a warrant was issued for his arrest. [35] Later on, in May of that year, Baker was arrested again on gun and drug charges. The arrest happened hours before he was scheduled to perform at the Beale Street Music Festival. [36]
In 2020, Baker publicly voiced his support for former United States president Donald Trump. [37] [38] He has one child. [39] [40]
Year | Awards | Category | Nominated work | Result |
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2018 | BET Hip Hop Awards [42] | Best New Hip Hop Artist | Nominated | |
Best Collabo, Duo or Group | "Look Alive" (with Drake) | Nominated | ||
Best Mixtape | Simi | Won | ||
Aubrey Drake Graham, known mononymously as Drake, is a Canadian rapper and singer. An influential figure in contemporary popular music, he has been credited with popularizing R&B sensibilities in hip hop artists. Gaining recognition by starring as Jimmy Brooks in the CTV teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–08), Drake pursued a recording career in 2006, releasing his debut mixtape Room for Improvement in February of that year. He followed up with the mixtapes Comeback Season (2007) and So Far Gone (2009) before signing with Young Money Entertainment.
Collective Music Group, is a record label founded by Yo Gotti. The label's current president is Yo Gotti's cousin, Brandon Mims. The label houses primarily Tennessee-based hip hop artists including Moneybagg Yo, Blac Youngsta, BlocBoy JB, and GloRilla, but is also home to artists including 42 Dugg, EST Gee, and Mozzy, among others.
Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, known professionally as 21 Savage, is a British rapper. Born in London and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, he began his recording career in 2013 and released three independent mixtapes to regional acclaim. His breakout project—the collaborative extended play (EP) with record producer Metro Boomin titled Savage Mode (2016)—peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200. Its lead singles, "X" and "No Heart" peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, he reached further recognition for his guest appearance on Drake's single "Sneakin'". He then signed a recording contract with Epic Records in January 2017.
Taymor Travon McIntyre, better known professionally as Tay-K is an American rapper and convicted murderer. He is best known for his 2017 hit song "The Race", which peaked at number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA in January 2018. The lyrics detail criminal activity carried out by McIntyre, and became popular following a nationwide manhunt for his eventual arrest in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2018.
2 Heartless is the thirteenth mixtape by American rapper Moneybagg Yo. It was released on February 14, 2018, by Collective Music Group, Bread Gang Entertainment, N-Less Entertainment and Interscope Records, serving as his second commercial release with Interscope although Interscope refers the mixtape an album after the streaming success. The mixtape features guest appearances from Yo Gotti, Lil Baby, BlocBoy JB, and Quavo. The production lists Southside, Tay Keith, DJ Swift, Dmactoobangin, Track Gordy, Javar Rockmore and Fuse, among others.
"Look Alive" is a song by American rapper BlocBoy JB featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It is released as the first single off BlocBoy JB's mixtape Simi. The song was produced by Tay Keith. It debuted at number six and later peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, which makes it the first top 10 single for BlocBoy JB and 23rd for Drake.
"Rover" is a song by American rapper BlocBoy JB. It was released on January 13, 2018, as a standalone single. It was produced by Tay Keith.
Simi is the seventh mixtape by American rapper BlocBoy JB. It was released by his label Bloc Nation on May 4, 2018. The mixtape features guest appearances from Drake, Lil Pump, Moneybagg Yo, 21 Savage, and YG. The mixtape was supported by two singles: "Look Alive" featuring Drake and "Rover 2.0" featuring 21 Savage, and one promotional single, "Nun of Dat" featuring Lil Pump.
"Who Want the Smoke?" is a song by American rapper Lil Yachty featuring married fellow American rappers Cardi B and Offset. Written alongside producer Tay Keith, it was released on July 6, 2018, as the lead single from Yachty's third studio album Nuthin' 2 Prove. The track was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, known professionally as Tay Keith, is an American record producer, music programmer, and songwriter. He is best known for co-producing Travis Scott's 2018 single "Sicko Mode", peaking at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, as well as Drake's "Nonstop", BlocBoy JB's "Look Alive", and Eminem’s "Not Alike" which peaked respectively at number 2, 5, and 24 on the Hot 100. He is signed to publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and is a BMI member.
Sammie Marquez Benson, professionally known as Blac Youngsta, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He signed to fellow Memphis-based rapper Yo Gotti's label Collective Music Group (CMG) in 2015. He is best known for his singles "Hip Hopper" in 2017 and "Booty" the following year, with the latter peaking at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100. Both songs appear on his debut studio album 223 (2019), which was released in a joint venture with Epic Records and peaked at number 42 on the Billboard 200.
Don't Think That is the debut extended play by American rapper BlocBoy JB. It was released on October 30, 2018, and includes guest features from Lil Uzi Vert and Hoodrich Pablo Juan.
The discography of American rapper BlocBoy JB includes two studio albums, ten mixtapes, one EP, 31 singles, and numerous music videos.
"Yoppa" is a song recorded by American rappers Lil Mosey and BlocBoy JB, released on October 4, 2018, as the fourth single from Mosey's debut studio album Northsbest. The song was produced by Royce David, who has produced most of his songs. "Yoppa" is the only song on Northsbest featuring a guest appearance.
Markeyvius LaShun Cathey, better known by his stage name Key Glock, is an American rapper and songwriter from Memphis, Tennessee. Cousin of Young Dolph, he rose to fame in 2017 with his mixtape Glock Season. He is signed to Young Dolph's record label Paper Route Empire.
"Shoot" is a song by American rapper BlocBoy JB. It was released as the second single from his sixth mixtape Who Am I 3 on July 25, 2017.
"Mercedes" is a song by American rapper BlocBoy JB. It was released as the second single from his eighth mixtape I Am Me on May 23, 2019.
"No Chorus, Pt. 12" is a song by American rapper BlocBoy JB featuring record producer Tay Keith. It was released on May 19, 2020, as the second single from his debut studio album FatBoy.
American record producer Tay Keith has released one studio album, two mixtapes, and one extended play.