Jay Rock
Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr. (born March 31, 1986 in Watts, Los Angeles, Califo… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr. (born March 31, 1986 in Watts, Los Angeles, California), better known by his stage name Jay Rock, is an American rapper. He was named one of the top 13 most street artists by XXL. His voice has been called a cross between The Notorious B.I.G. and Shyne. He is a part of the rap group Black Hippy which also features Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul. Rock signed to Strange Music and released his long-awaited debut studio album Follow Me Home on July 2011.
For a rapper to command your attention, it all comes down to the voice. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Public Enemys Chuck D had millions of fans hanging on to every word of his booming baritone. In the mid-1990s, The Notorious B.I.G.s steely poise and vocal precision led many critics and fans to proclaim him the best rapper of all time. Now, in 2006, get ready for the next rapper with a magnetic voice, someone whose pristine raps demand attention. His name: Jay Rock.
Born and raised in Watts, Californias notorious Nickerson Gardens Projects, Jay Rock got his first encouragement from his music-making relatives, who noticed the impact his deep, melodic voice made on song after song. They were like, youre hard. And youve got a voice for it, too. Youve got a real cool voice to it, Jay Rock recalls: "A lot of people started hearing me and they would tell me that my voice catches them. So, I started working it, working on my craft and got more and more confidence." His rap name is inspired by a character off the hit Canadian comedy show Trailer Park Boys.
Jay Rocks confidence led to a string of heated appearances on neighborhood mixtapes. The gifted rhymers clever phrasing, gritty realism, storytelling swagger and powerful voice grabbed the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment boss Dude Dawg. Once in the studio with an independent company backing him, Jay Rocks output increased and improved.
After shopping his demo to a number of major labels, Jay Rock and Top Dawg earned a deal with industry powerhouse Warner Bros. Records, also home to Lil Jons BME Recordings, E-40, The Federation and Talib Kweli, among others. The Warner Bros. executives were impressed with Jay Rocks distinctive flow, his vivid lyrics and, of course, voice. Already a star on the Internet, his always-updated myspace.com/jayrock page features three songs that have more than 100,000 plays.
One of those cuts is LA Shit, Jay Rocks stellar reworking of Busta Rhymes New York Shit. When I heard that song, I thought it was a hot-ass song, so I wanted to get on my LA shit about what we do out here, says Jay Rock, who has long been a fan of Busta Rhymes phraseology. I was paying respect to Busta and his song, and thats for the mixtapes right there. I want LA to get an ear for it.
LA will also appreciate the energetic California Soul, which details the treacherous reality of Californias streets. Game produced the record and he gave it to me. I met him at the studio about a week later and let him hear ithe went crazy! He liked it so much he recorded the hook on the spot. On the smooth Thats My Word, Jay Rock asserts his status as a man of his word, while To The Top documents his ascent from project resident to his present day successes. It was a struggle to get to where Im at now, he says. Im talking about going from the bottom to the top, what I was going through starting off. Im legal now. Im signed. I started off at the bottom, made something out of nothing and am going to run with it until I get all the way to the top.
As someone who looks toward the past as he pushes toward the future, Jay Rock holds the soulful Back In The Days in high regard. I just went back to when I was 6, 7, growing up listening to the oldies, he explains. That song meant a lot because I always dwell on the past, for some reason. I always think back and wish that I was a kid again. I know that will never happen, but some times I just wish I could go back in the days when I was young.
For now, though, Jay Rock is focused on recording his debut album and ushering in a new era of hard-core West Coast rap. Jay Rock is thankful that Comptons The Game was able to breakthrough with his multi platinum, The Documentary album. Game opened up the doors for a lot of people, Jay Rock says. Game opened the door and Im running right through with my people behind me. Were trying to bring it back home, bring the West back. Weve been down for a long time, so were trying to bring it back home.
With production on his forthcoming debut album from such A-List producers as KayGee (Jaheim, Naughty By Nature) and L.E.S. (Nas), as well up-and-coming beatsmiths Nephew, 4th Quarter and K-Fam, Soundwave and Aqua (Jay-Z), Jay Rock is set to live out a dream that seemed to be destined to happen.
His hard-working mother filled their home with the classic soul and blues music of such icons as the Temptations, Dramatics, Isley Brothers, Johnny Guitar Watson and B.B. King. She also had an affinity for rap, and enjoyed the music of such trendsetters as Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie. Her love for music carried over to her house parties. My mom threw parties damn near every weekend, Jay Rock recalls. Shed be stressing during the week, would come home and thats what theyd do, party all night long.
Jay Rock soon developed an interest in playing keyboards and, at age 12, writing poems. And, as he grew up in the volatile Watts streets, gangster rap began to take hold. You couldnt go up the street without hearing Snoop, Dre or N.W.A, he says. Much as N.W.A and others reported about their surroundings, Jay Rocks early poems documented his feelings -- about a person, about Los Angeles, about his experiences.
Jay Rock soon started getting into trouble at school, forcing him to attend a number of different schools. He also endured a harsh reality when cited and incarcerated for violating his areas gang injunction. I was hanging out with dudes I grew up with, dudes I went to school with, played Pop Warner with, he says. They saw us out there and took us downThey put me on it...I basically cant hang out where I liveI cant help where I stayThey got me again when I was hanging out of my own apartment, my own residence.
Jay Rocks legal struggles have made him appreciate what he has already accomplished, turning his childhood talent for writing into a career as a major-label recording artist. Getting signed and being from what Im from, thats a great achievement because nobodys really been signed from my projects, Jay Rock says: "Thats a big achievement for me. Its a blessing. It feels real good. I could be in the jail somewhere or in the grave, but Im right here doing what I need to do.
And it all starts with the voice.
For a rapper to command your attention, it all comes down to the voice. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Public Enemys Chuck D had millions of fans hanging on to every word of his booming baritone. In the mid-1990s, The Notorious B.I.G.s steely poise and vocal precision led many critics and fans to proclaim him the best rapper of all time. Now, in 2006, get ready for the next rapper with a magnetic voice, someone whose pristine raps demand attention. His name: Jay Rock.
Born and raised in Watts, Californias notorious Nickerson Gardens Projects, Jay Rock got his first encouragement from his music-making relatives, who noticed the impact his deep, melodic voice made on song after song. They were like, youre hard. And youve got a voice for it, too. Youve got a real cool voice to it, Jay Rock recalls: "A lot of people started hearing me and they would tell me that my voice catches them. So, I started working it, working on my craft and got more and more confidence." His rap name is inspired by a character off the hit Canadian comedy show Trailer Park Boys.
Jay Rocks confidence led to a string of heated appearances on neighborhood mixtapes. The gifted rhymers clever phrasing, gritty realism, storytelling swagger and powerful voice grabbed the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment boss Dude Dawg. Once in the studio with an independent company backing him, Jay Rocks output increased and improved.
After shopping his demo to a number of major labels, Jay Rock and Top Dawg earned a deal with industry powerhouse Warner Bros. Records, also home to Lil Jons BME Recordings, E-40, The Federation and Talib Kweli, among others. The Warner Bros. executives were impressed with Jay Rocks distinctive flow, his vivid lyrics and, of course, voice. Already a star on the Internet, his always-updated myspace.com/jayrock page features three songs that have more than 100,000 plays.
One of those cuts is LA Shit, Jay Rocks stellar reworking of Busta Rhymes New York Shit. When I heard that song, I thought it was a hot-ass song, so I wanted to get on my LA shit about what we do out here, says Jay Rock, who has long been a fan of Busta Rhymes phraseology. I was paying respect to Busta and his song, and thats for the mixtapes right there. I want LA to get an ear for it.
LA will also appreciate the energetic California Soul, which details the treacherous reality of Californias streets. Game produced the record and he gave it to me. I met him at the studio about a week later and let him hear ithe went crazy! He liked it so much he recorded the hook on the spot. On the smooth Thats My Word, Jay Rock asserts his status as a man of his word, while To The Top documents his ascent from project resident to his present day successes. It was a struggle to get to where Im at now, he says. Im talking about going from the bottom to the top, what I was going through starting off. Im legal now. Im signed. I started off at the bottom, made something out of nothing and am going to run with it until I get all the way to the top.
As someone who looks toward the past as he pushes toward the future, Jay Rock holds the soulful Back In The Days in high regard. I just went back to when I was 6, 7, growing up listening to the oldies, he explains. That song meant a lot because I always dwell on the past, for some reason. I always think back and wish that I was a kid again. I know that will never happen, but some times I just wish I could go back in the days when I was young.
For now, though, Jay Rock is focused on recording his debut album and ushering in a new era of hard-core West Coast rap. Jay Rock is thankful that Comptons The Game was able to breakthrough with his multi platinum, The Documentary album. Game opened up the doors for a lot of people, Jay Rock says. Game opened the door and Im running right through with my people behind me. Were trying to bring it back home, bring the West back. Weve been down for a long time, so were trying to bring it back home.
With production on his forthcoming debut album from such A-List producers as KayGee (Jaheim, Naughty By Nature) and L.E.S. (Nas), as well up-and-coming beatsmiths Nephew, 4th Quarter and K-Fam, Soundwave and Aqua (Jay-Z), Jay Rock is set to live out a dream that seemed to be destined to happen.
His hard-working mother filled their home with the classic soul and blues music of such icons as the Temptations, Dramatics, Isley Brothers, Johnny Guitar Watson and B.B. King. She also had an affinity for rap, and enjoyed the music of such trendsetters as Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie. Her love for music carried over to her house parties. My mom threw parties damn near every weekend, Jay Rock recalls. Shed be stressing during the week, would come home and thats what theyd do, party all night long.
Jay Rock soon developed an interest in playing keyboards and, at age 12, writing poems. And, as he grew up in the volatile Watts streets, gangster rap began to take hold. You couldnt go up the street without hearing Snoop, Dre or N.W.A, he says. Much as N.W.A and others reported about their surroundings, Jay Rocks early poems documented his feelings -- about a person, about Los Angeles, about his experiences.
Jay Rock soon started getting into trouble at school, forcing him to attend a number of different schools. He also endured a harsh reality when cited and incarcerated for violating his areas gang injunction. I was hanging out with dudes I grew up with, dudes I went to school with, played Pop Warner with, he says. They saw us out there and took us downThey put me on it...I basically cant hang out where I liveI cant help where I stayThey got me again when I was hanging out of my own apartment, my own residence.
Jay Rocks legal struggles have made him appreciate what he has already accomplished, turning his childhood talent for writing into a career as a major-label recording artist. Getting signed and being from what Im from, thats a great achievement because nobodys really been signed from my projects, Jay Rock says: "Thats a big achievement for me. Its a blessing. It feels real good. I could be in the jail somewhere or in the grave, but Im right here doing what I need to do.
And it all starts with the voice.
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Jay Rock Lyrics
03. Bout That (What's up, Jay Rock?) Shit, just the same old same…
112 Bars Yeah niggas! Who the fuck you thought it was? It's ya nigga…
90059 Took my mind on this road, you too I took my…
Act Tuff Jay Rock, K dot Watts City finest, and the Hub City…
Aint No Sunshine I ain't no joke I used to let the mic…
All I Know Is Everybody focused on this animal Someone who push the envelo…
All My Life The ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto The ghetto, ghetto, g-ghetto Oh…
All My Life ft. G. Malone K-Dot Ab-Soul Schoolboy Q Mistah FAB Crooked I 211 Sinful TK Eastwood Oma I was on the block right, wasn't in my right…
Bang Bang Um, yeah palms sweating guess it's time for the murder My…
Black Hippy Let 'em die, dead Black Hippy Pfffft and we don't give…
Boomerang More money to blow then I'm good to go More kush…
Bout That (What's up, Jay Rock?) Shit, just the same old same…
Can I Roll Niggas mad that I can rap Just imagine if I stayed…
Code Red (What's up, Jay Rock?) Shit, just the same old same…
Colors Ok now shorty had yellow shorty eyes brown Shorty so gold…
Do You Know I'll admit in the beginning I didn't Give a fuck about…
Eastside Eastside got that dope Bitch, I'm serving it Bent GT, I'm sw…
Easy Bake This shit is fresh out the oven Fresh out the oven I'm…
Elbows Poke your elbows out and swing like this Poke your elbows…
ES Tales Back in the projects Back in the projects I lost it all Now…
Finest Hour And so I party like it's 2012 Split the swisher open,…
Fly on the Wall Fly away, sometimes I wish I could fly away There was…
Follow Me Home Mothafucka this is Watts, California Nickerson Gardens Follo…
For What It's Worth Worth it Maybe, when you go home I don't wanna be here Tryna…
Freestyle Ayy K. Dot Yeah, yeah Can we get it how we used…
Go I told 'em that the truth was comin' niggas Hey Punch,…
Goin Down K dot, got this fiend saying, Baby Man we got that…
Goodbye Baby Niggas always talk about how Many cars they got Where I'm fr…
Gumbo Keep it one hundred, I'm one hundred and one I ain't…
Hood Gone Love It Keeping it G ain't nuttin, you ain't gotta like it…
Hottest In The Hood I ain't fresh out the hood I'm still in the hood Still,…
How We Grow Up 5 6 to up gang 5 6 to up gang 5 6…
I'm So Loaded I'm so loaded, so low Get your cup up, so low Smoke…
I'm Thuggin Bitch I'm thuggin', bitch I'm thuggin' and these bitches lov…
Intro (What′s up, nigga?) (Aw, man, that's fucked up, man) (I kno…
J Dilla I'm still lost in my own Zone in the living room…
Jay Rock feat. Kendrick Lamar & Major James I ain't worried about these niggas Trynna hate on me To me…
Just Like Me How cool is gang banging? Its love when you and your…
Kill Or Be Killed You woke up this morning not knowing blood will be…
King's Dead Still in the projects Still in the projects If you fall-all-…
Kings Dead Miss me with that bullshit (bullshit) You ain't really wild,…
Knock It Off Dear God, I wanna thank you for this big redemption Dear…
Life's A Gamble I'm never asleep I'm on my shit dawg Like a toddler…
Lift Me Up Jay Jay Jay mothafukin Rock the man of the respect I'm…
Los Awesome I'm a groovy type nigga, rather two-step with you Pants sagg…
M.O.N.E.Y They sell out, or buy in Put their lives on the…
M.O.N.E.Y. They sell out, or buy in Put their lives on the…
Money Trees Uh, me and my niggas tryna get it, ya bish…
Money Trees Deuce I told my niggas if you hold me back From pursuin',…
Necessary 90059 be the zip, it be the zip I'm straight up…
No Joke Stocks rising, fertilizing neighbourhoods with butter, butte…
No Mask On Nickerson Gardens, take one Carnivore, who wanna war, I'll w…
OSOM Out of sight, out of mind Feelin' like, I'm runnin' out…
Parental Advisory We outchea everyday, racked up, strapped up Call for your ba…
Pay for It Ain't no game, I'm taking all you have And you're gonna…
Plenty Money Straight from the bottom of the gutter Where we run from…
Redemption If you had a second chance in life, what would…
Rotation 112th I got the drank, I got the smoke in rotation Head…
Say Wassup They know I put it down, now they wanna say…
Shit Real Eastside, BH dub, you know about us Get shot, or get…
So On I'm so loaded, so low Get your cup up, so low Smoke…
Still in the Hood I ain't fresh out the hood I'm still in the hood Still,…
Tap Out Redemption like We been lit Face down, ass up, vicious (woah…
Telegram See the telegram goin' crazy I tell the 'Gram I'm goin'…
Tell Yo Momma Once again it's on Hey girl, yeah shake that thong Afterward…
The Bloodiest The devil thought he had me, I was on back…
The Hood Gone Love It Keeping it G ain't nuttin, you ain't gotta like it…
The Message It's like you're testing me now This my testimony, look I…
The Takeover Come on, yeah r-O-C-K runnin' this rap shit Top Dawg, yeah,…
The Ways Wait, I understand the love, but I just wanted some…
They Be On It I keep them big ol' 26's on deck And the bitches…
They Say Growin up i was a knucklehead, boy you never listen…
They Want My Spot Yeah, B these niggas want my spot, dog These niggas can't…
Too Fast Yeah, mami Mami Ay dios mío, mami Yeah Ay dios mío (Mustard …
Trapped in the Hood I ain't fresh out the hood I'm still in the hood Still,…
Troopers Cardo got wings There's work on the phone Tell my mama that…
U Already Know I'll admit in the beginning I didn't Give a fuck about…
Vice City Big money, big booty bitches Man that shit gon' be death…
Wanna Ride I be that nigga they call Jay Rock, I'm a…
We Ballin' Now I'm the one that you call When it's time to…
Westside A hunnid thou, 3 kilos, my chain is illegal My life…
WIN Ay this that Eastside Johnny, big redemption like Know I'm t…
Wow Freestyle Ayy K. Dot Yeah, yeah Can we get it how we used…