b. Jasiel Robinson, 2 April 1983, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Atlanta native Yung Joc grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, with music providing the only respite in a troubled upbringing that included a stint in jail. He learnt his trade as a member of several Atlanta-based rap crews, and before long was generating a serious word-of-mouth reputation on the back of his electrifying solo slots. His break from the underground was sealed in 2005 when Russell Spencer of Block Entertainment caught a live appearance at the city’s famed Royal Peacock. Spencer, then riding high with the success of Boyz N Da Hood, negotiated a solo contract with Bad Boy South. The rapper enjoyed immediate success when the catchy ‘banger’ anthem ‘It’s Goin’ Down’, already a major hit on the southern rap scene, crossed over to the mainstream Top 5 in summer 2006. His debut album New Joc City followed in June, reaching the US Top 3 and going on to sell over a million copies in America alone. Despite his commercial success, Yung Joc received largely negative reviews from the music press who criticised his perceived lack of originality. Hustlenomic$ continued the rapper’s success, debuting in the US Top 3 in August 2007. The album was notable for featuring up-and-coming rapper Gorilla Zoe.
