BlocBoy JB

BlocBoy JB, born James Lee Baker on May 19, 1996, is a rapper from Memphis, Tennessee, whose energetic delivery and regional dance crazes made him one of the defining voices of the late-2010s Memphis rap scene. He built a grassroots following through a string of independent mixtapes released between 2016 and 2017, sharpening a bouncy, ad-lib-heavy style closely tied to producer Tay Keith's signature drums. His breakout single «Shoot», paired with a viral dance, spread across social media and eventually caught Drake's attention.

That connection, facilitated by Tay Keith, led to the 2018 hit «Look Alive», which paired BlocBoy JB's raw Memphis energy with Drake's star power and became a commercial breakthrough, reaching the top of the charts and introducing him to a national audience. The song's success cemented Tay Keith as one of hip-hop's most in-demand producers and positioned BlocBoy as a key figure bridging Memphis's underground scene with the mainstream.

Later that year he released his debut studio album SIMI, dedicated to a close friend who had been killed, showing a more personal side beneath the high-energy trap sound. Tracks like «Rover» and «Nun of Dat» further showcased his frenetic flow and knack for infectious hooks, cementing his place among the artists who helped define Memphis rap's national rise in the streaming era.