BlocBoy JB

Memphis rapper BlocBoy JB scores platinum hits with his combination of speedy rhymes and big bass instrumentals from longtime producer Tay Keith. After releasing a series of well-received mixtapes, he caught the attention of Canadian rapper Drake, who collaborated with him on the viral single "Look Alive." The track reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, and along with a viral dance craze, it helped solidify JB's commercial success. He built on this success with 2020 studio debut FatBoy, collaborations with NLE Choppa, and mixtape releases like 2022's Bacc 2 Da Bloc.

BlocBoy JB was born James Baker in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. JB grew up in a large, single-parent household and would sneak his brother's equipment away to record his own music. The self-taught producer and dancer released his first song, "Goons Coming," when he was just a teenager. In 2017, he issued "No Chorus, Pt. 6" and "Shoot," the latter of which spawned a viral dance craze, taking off to the point where it caught the ears of high-profile rappers like Drake. Produced by Keith, the track was featured on his Who Am I 3 mixtape and was recorded in the rapper's closet. As his online audience grew, he issued additional mixtapes like The Purple M&M. In early 2018, he scored a major co-sign when Drake joined him on the track "Look Alive." Included on JB's Simi mixtape, the track amassed millions of streams within a month of its release. It also became JB's Billboard chart debut, landing at number six on the Hot 100. He returned to the studio in 2019 and issued the bouncy single "Mercedes." "Swervin'" appeared in 2020 before JB's first major-label release, FatBoy, in October. The single landed on the album, which also featured appearances from Trippie Red, G Herbo, and Yo Gotti. 2020 also saw the release of "ChopBloc, Pt. 3," a single from FatBoy featuring NLE Choppa. After a quiet 2021, BlocBoy reunited with Keith for the Bacc 2 Da Bloc mixtape in January of 2022. The 15-track project saw Keith helming the executive producer role and featured guest appearances from EST Gee, Pooh Shiesty, Co Cash, and SpotemGottem.~ Neil Z. Yeung