Ya Boy

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Ya Boy
Ya-Boy 2009.jpg
Ya Boy in 2009
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Joseph Crawford
Also known asRich Rocka
Born (1984-01-28) January 28, 1984 (age 40) [1]
Origin San Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres Hip hop, West Coast hip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2002–present
Labels

William Joseph Crawford (born January 28, 1984), known by his stage name Ya Boy (also known as Rich Rocka), is an American rapper from the Fillmore District of San Francisco, California. He is best known for his 2011 single "Lock Down" (with DJ Drama featuring Akon). [2] The year prior, he signed with the latter's record label, Konvict Muzik, having first signed with San Quinn's Done Deal Entertainment to release his debut studio album, Rookie of the Year (2005). The following year, he signed with the Game's Black Wall Street Records, and later Mack 10's Hoo-Bangin' Records in 2009, releasing no albums with both labels. [3]

Contents

Early life

Crawford grew up in San Francisco's Fillmore District, and graduated from El Camino High School in South San Francisco.

His cousin is football player Stevie Johnson. [4]

Career

In 2005, Crawford signed with San Quinn's Done Deal Entertainment and SMC Recordings to release his debut album, Rookie of the Year in May of that year. In 2006, Crawford signed with the Game's record label The Black Wall Street Records, an imprint of Warner Bros. Records. After making an appearance on the label's collaborative mixtape, The Black Wall Street Journal, Vol. 1 (2006), Crawford began working with producers including Scott Storch, Araab Muzik and Cool & Dre, the latter of whom produced his 2008 standalone single, "Holla at Ya Boy". [5]

In 2009, Crawford formed the record label Black Card Music, and signed himself and the label to Mack 10's Hoo-Bangin' Records. [6] He released no projects with the label, and instead signed with Akon's labels Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution in February 2010. The following August, he released the single "Party Girls" (featuring Rico Love), and later the single "Lockdown" (with DJ Drama featuring Akon) in late 2011. The latter song was shared with disc jockey DJ Drama as part of his third album, Third Power (2011). Crawford changed his stage name in favor of Rich Rocka in early 2013. He then released the mixtape Road 2 Rocka on July 4, 2013. [7]

Discography

Studio albums

Mixtapes

YearTitle
2003Mind Motion Rocks The Done Deal Party
2004Fully Loaded Street Heat "16's Wit Me"
2005The Future of the Franchise
2006Chapter 1: The Rise
2007Ya Boy Radio: Part One
The Fix
2008Optimus Rime
I'm 'Bout to Murdah This Shit
The Bay Area Bully
2009Kush 2009
Mohawks & Heavy Metal
2010The Fix 2
2011The Fillmore Renaissance Story
Pray For Forgiveness(with DJ Paul and Lil Lody, hosted by DJ Scream)
2012Trappy Birthday
2013Road 2 Rocka
2014Allegiance
2015Rich Rocka II
2016Alien
Legacy
Guilty by Association 2
The Fix 3
2017Definition of Explosive
The Tonite Show
Rocka World
2023Back From the Future 2

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References

  1. "Ya Boy". Hotnewhiphop.com. January 28, 1984. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  2. Paine , Jake (February 26, 2010). "Akon Signs Ya Boy To Konvict Music". hiphopdx.com.
  3. "L.A.'s 10 Best Up-and-Coming Rappers - LA Weekly".
  4. "The GQA: Stevie Johnson". GQ. October 13, 2011.
  5. "The Black Wallstreet, Vol. 1 by The Game & DJ Infamous Haze on Apple Music". October 24, 2006 via music.apple.com.
  6. Ya Boy Hoo Bangin. hiphopblog.com (October 21, 2009)
  7. "Rich Rocka – Road 2 Rocka Hosted by Digital Product". datpiff.com. July 4, 2013.
  8. "None".