BlocBoy JB facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
BlocBoy JB
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BlocBoy JB at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Lee Baker |
| Born | May 19, 1996 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2012–present |
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| Children | 1 |
James Lee Baker (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. His other songs include "Shoot", "Rover" and its sequel, "Rover 2.0" (featuring 21 Savage).
Contents
Early life
James Baker was born on May 19, 1996, in Memphis, Tennessee. He 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.
Career
2017–2018: Shoot dance, Billboard top 10, and XXL
The next summer, he released the song "Shoot", which spawned a dance craze called the "shoot dance". Another single, "Rover", followed in early 2018. The viral hits attracted the attention of Canadian rapper Drake who it was speculated was going to remix "Rover" 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.
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." He was also featured on Moneybagg Yo's 2 Heartless project. On March 23, 2018, Baker released "Rover 2.0", a remix of "Rover", featuring rapper 21 Savage. 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" and No Jumper's "Hard" with Tay-K.
After releasing the single, "Prod by Bloc", he announced the mixtape Simi, while also revealing the tracklist which featured Lil Pump, YG, Drake and 21 Savage. Baker was named as one of the members of XXL's "2018 Freshman Class" on June 12, 2018.
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.
2019–present: Eighth mixtape and debut studio album
Baker released his eighth mixtape, I Am Me, on June 14, 2019, which included features from Lil Durk and Moneybagg Yo. NLE Choppa and Baker, both from Memphis, Tennessee, have done 3 collaborations together, 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. After a build-up on pre-release singles, Baker's debut studio album, FatBoy, was released on October 9, 2020.
Personal life
In 2020, Baker publicly voiced his support for former United States president Donald Trump. He has one child.
Discography
- FatBoy (2020)
- Bacc 2 Da Blocc (2022)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | BET Hip Hop Awards | Best New Hip Hop Artist | Nominated | |
| Best Collabo, Duo or Group | "Look Alive" (with Drake) | Nominated | ||
| Best Mixtape | Simi | Won |
