BlocBoy JB

BlocBoy JB
BlocBoy JB at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards
BlocBoy JB at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards
Background information
Birth nameJames Lee Baker
Born (1996-05-19) May 19, 1996 (age 28)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2012–present
Labels
Children1
Websiteblocboy.com

James Lee Baker[2] (born May 19, 1996), known professionally as BlocBoy JB, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. Baker is best known for his 2018 single "Look Alive" (featuring Drake), which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] Its follow-up, "Rover" (remixed featuring 21 Savage) entered the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, and both preceded the release of his seventh mixtape, Simi (2018). He signed with Interscope Records in August of that year. His debut studio album, FatBoy (2020) was released two years later and failed to chart.[4]

Early life

[edit]

James Baker was born on May 19, 1996, in Memphis, Tennessee and was mostly raised in Binghampton, Memphis. 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.[5] 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".[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

Career

[edit]

2012–2016: Early music

[edit]

Baker started putting out music on his SoundCloud page in 2012.[9] 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.[10]

2017–2018: Shoot dance, Billboard top 10, and XXL

[edit]

The next summer, he released the song "Shoot", which spawned a dance craze called the "shoot dance".[11][10][12] Another single, "Rover", followed in early 2018. The viral hits attracted the attention of Canadian rapper Drake[13][10][12] who it was speculated was going to remix "Rover"[14] 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.[15]

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."[16] He was also featured on Moneybagg Yo's 2 Heartless project.[17] On March 23, 2018, Baker released "Rover 2.0", a remix of "Rover", featuring rapper 21 Savage.[18] 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"[19] and No Jumper's "Hard" with Tay-K.[20]

After releasing the single, "Prod by Bloc", he announced the mixtape Simi,[21] while also revealing the tracklist which featured Lil Pump, YG, Drake and 21 Savage.[22] Baker was named as one of the members of XXL's "2018 Freshman Class" on June 12, 2018.[23]

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.[24]

2019–present: Eighth mixtape and debut studio album

[edit]

Baker released his eighth mixtape, I Am Me, on June 14, 2019, which included features from Lil Durk and Moneybagg Yo.[25] 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.[26] After a build-up on pre-release singles, Baker's debut studio album, FatBoy, was released on October 9, 2020.[27]

Controversies

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In October 2017, Baker filmed a dice game allegedly inside of Hamilton High School. Shortly afterwards, Shelby County Schools started investigating the incident.[28]

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.[29]

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".[30]

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".[31]

Baker is known for popularizing the "shoot" dance, which was incorporated in the Fortnite video game, made by Epic Games.[32][33][34] 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.[35]

[edit]

In February 2019, Baker was arrested on drug, gun and robbery charges, weeks after a warrant was issued for his arrest.[36] 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.[37]

On October 1, 2024, Baker allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel of his car with a loaded handgun and marijuana in his lap; he was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana, and driving on a revoked license.[38]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2020, Baker publicly voiced his support for former United States president Donald Trump.[39][40] He has one child.[41][42]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: BlocBoy JB discography
  • FatBoy (2020)
  • Bacc 2 Da Blocc (2022)[43]

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Nominated work Result
2018 BET Hip Hop Awards[44] Best New Hip Hop Artist Nominated
Best Collabo, Duo or Group "Look Alive" (with Drake) Nominated
Best Mixtape Simi Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Your Cheat Sheet for Telling All the SoundCloud Rappers Apart". Vulture. April 4, 2018.
  2. ^ "BMI - Repertoire Search". repertoire.bmi.com.
  3. ^ Trust, Gary (February 20, 2018). "Drake Tops Billboard Hot 100 With 'God's Plan' & Debuts in Top 10 as Featured on BlocBoy JB's 'Look Alive'". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  4. ^ "BlocBoy JB on His Breakout Year, Drake Collab and Viral Dance". YouTube.com. Complex.
  5. ^ djvlad (May 9, 2018). "BlocBoy JB on His Dad Getting 25 Years, Breaking Out of Prison and Visiting Him (Part 1)". Retrieved May 9, 2018 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "BlocBoy JB - Rover 2.0". Genius. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  7. ^ djvlad (May 11, 2018). "BlocBoy JB on Being Locked Up for Home Invasion with BB Gun. Baker had his first child in 2012 named Winter.2)". Retrieved May 11, 2018 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "BlocBoy JB is now in the running to become America's next top rapper". The Fader. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  9. ^ Robertson, Darryl (February 12, 2018). "Five Things We Found Out About Memphis Rapper, BlocBoy JB". Vibe. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Seabrook III, Robby (February 16, 2018). "The Break Presents: BlocBoy JB". XXL. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  11. ^ Hussein, Wandera (February 15, 2018). "BlocBoy JB: Five Things to Know About the 'Look Alive' Memphis Rapper". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Pearce, Sheldon (February 9, 2018). "Tracks: BlocBoy JB - 'Look Alive' (ft. Drake)". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  13. ^ Kameir, Rawiya (February 12, 2018). "BlocBoy JB is now in the running to become America's next top rapper". The Fader. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  14. ^ "Drake Appears to be on the Remix of BlocBoy JB's "Rover"". Hypebeast. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  15. ^ Trust, Gary (February 20, 2018). "Drake Tops Billboard Hot 100 With 'God's Plan' & Debuts in Top 10 as Featured on BlocBoy JB's 'Look Alive'". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  16. ^ "Drake May Have Signed Fast-Rising Memphis Rapper Blocboy JB To OVO". Uproxx. February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  17. ^ "Moneybagg Yo's '2 Heartless' Project Features Quavo and More". XXL. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  18. ^ "BlocBoy JB – "Rover 2.0" (Feat. 21 Savage)". Stereogum. March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  19. ^ "A$AP Rocky & BlocBoy JB Take Aim at Their Haters on 'Bad Company': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  20. ^ "Tay-K and BlocBoy JB share "Hard"". The Fader. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  21. ^ "BlocBoy JB announces Simi release date, shares cover art". The FADER. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  22. ^ "Blocboy JB Taps Drake, 21 Savage, YG, Lil Pump & More For "SIMI" Tracklist". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  23. ^ "XXL 2018 Freshman Class Revealed". XXL. June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  24. ^ "BlocBoy JB's "Don't Think That" Features Lil Uzi Vert & HoodRich Pablo Juan". HotNewHipHop. October 30, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  25. ^ "BlocBoy JB Drops "I Am Me" Mixtape". HipHopDX. June 13, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  26. ^ "BlocBoy JB & Tay Keith Reunite On "No Chorus Pt. 12"". HotNewHipHop. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  27. ^ "BlocBoy JB Drops 'FatBoy' Album". Complex. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  28. ^ "Rapper BlocBoy JB films dice game allegedly inside Hamilton High". WAFB. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  29. ^ "BLOCBOY JB JUMPS OFF BALCONY INTO POOL ... Juuust Dodges Paralysis!!!". TMZ. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  30. ^ "BlocBoy JB Claps Back At 6ix9ine's "One-Hit Wonder" Diss". HotNewHipHop. June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  31. ^ "BlocBoy JB Called Out for Saying PlayStation Is 'For the Gays'". Complex. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  32. ^ "Where did BlocBoy JB's "shoot dance" come from?". Capital Xtra. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  33. ^ "BlocBoy JB's "Shoot" Dance Is Now on Fortnite". XXL. May 2, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  34. ^ "Blocboy JB Calls Out 'Fortnite' For Co-opting 'Shoot Dance'". Complex. September 10, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  35. ^ Alexander, Julia (January 23, 2019). "BlocBoy JB sues Epic Games over popular 'Shoot' dance emote". The Verge. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  36. ^ "BlocBoy JB Arrested on Drug, Gun Charges". Rolling Stone. February 28, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  37. ^ "Memphis Rapper BlocBoy JB Arrested Again on Gun, Drug Charges". Rolling Stone. May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  38. ^ "Rapper BlocBoy JB dozes off at busy intersection with loaded gun in his lap, THP says". WREG News Channel 3. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  39. ^ "BlocBoy JB Says He's Starting to Like President Trump". XXL. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  40. ^ "BlocBoy JB Expresses Fondness For Trump". HotNewHipHop. March 21, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  41. ^ "BlocBoy JB is now in the running to become America's next top rapper". The FADER. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  42. ^ "BlocBoy JB on Instagram: "Happy Birthday Son I Love You"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  43. ^ "BlocBoy JB & Tay Keith Join Forces for 'Bacc 2 da Bloc' Mixtape". Complex. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  44. ^ "Here Are All the Winners From the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards". Billboard. October 16, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
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