Ya Boy
 |
Ya Boy | |
|---|---|
 Ya Boy in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Joseph Crawford |
| Also known as | Rich Rocka |
| Born | January 28, 1984[1] |
| Origin | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, West Coast hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels |
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William Joseph Crawford (born January 28, 1984), known by his stage name Ya Boy (also known as Rich Rocka), is an American rapper from the Fillmore District of San Francisco, California. He is best known for his feature on DJ Drama's 2011 song "Lock Down" alongside singer Akon.[2] Throughout his career, he's been signed to The Game's Black Wall Street Records, Akon's labels Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution, Mack 10's Hoo-Bangin' Records, and San Quinn's Done Deal Entertainment.
Early life
Crawford grew up in San Francisco's Fillmore District, and graduated from El Camino High School in South San Francisco.
His cousin is football player Stevie Johnson.[3]
Career
In late 2006, Ya Boy signed to Game’s Warner Brothers distributed label The Black Wall Street Records. After making an appearance on the label’s first release – a mixtape, The Black Wall Street Journal, Vol. 1 – Ya Boy begun to work with a number of big-name producers including Scott Storch, Araab Muzik and Cool & Dre on his second full-length album Holla at Ya Boy. The album's lead single, "Holla at Ya Boy," was released in early 2008.
In 2009 Ya Boy, with Nitevision, started his own record label, "Black Card Music" and signed to Mack 10's Hoo-Bangin' Records.[4] However he would leave that label and in 2010 signed to Akon's label Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution. In August 2010 he released his first single, "Party Girls," featuring Rico Love and a second single "Lockdown" featuring his boss Akon on October 11, 2011. Ya Boy announced in early 2013 that he changed his name to Rich Rocka. He then released a mixtape "Road 2 Rocka" on July 4, 2013.[5]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Mind Motion Rocks The Done Deal Party |
| 2004 | Fully Loaded Street Heat "16's Wit Me" |
| 2005 | The Future of the Franchise |
| Rookie of the Year | |
| 2006 | Chapter 1: The Rise |
| 2007 | Ya Boy Radio: Part One |
| The Fix | |
| 2008 | Optimus Rime |
| I'm 'Bout to Murdah This Shit | |
| The Bay Area Bully | |
| 2009 | Kush 2009 |
| Mohawks & Heavy Metal | |
| 2010 | The Fix 2 |
| 2011 | The Fillmore Renaissance Story |
| Pray For Forgiveness Mixtape by DJ Paul, Ya Boy & Lil Lody Hosted by DJ Scream | |
| 2012 | Trappy Birthday |
| 2013 | Road 2 Rocka |
| Rich Rocka | |
| 2014 | Allegiance |
| 2015 | Rich Rocka II |
| 2016 | Alien |
| Legacy | |
| Guilty by Association 2 | |
| The Fix 3 | |
| 2017 | Definition of Explosive |
| The Tonite Show | |
| Rocka World | |
| 2023 | Back From the Future 2 |
References
- ^ "Ya Boy". Hotnewhiphop.com. January 28, 1984. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ^ Paine , Jake (February 26, 2010). "Akon Signs Ya Boy To Konvict Music". hiphopdx.com.
- ^ "The GQA: Stevie Johnson". GQ. October 13, 2011.
- ^ Ya Boy Hoo Bangin. hiphopblog.com (October 21, 2009)
- ^ "Rich Rocka – Road 2 Rocka Hosted by Digital Product". datpiff.com. July 4, 2013.
External links
- Redd, Maria. "Redd Roxx Rundown: Livin' Rich with Rich Rocka, formerly Ya Boy". buffalo.com. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
- Ya Boy's Official Myspace
- Ya Boy's Official Twitter
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- Living people
- People from South San Francisco, California
- African-American male rappers
- American male rappers
- Hip hop musicians from San Francisco
- Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area
- West Coast hip hop musicians
- 21st-century American rappers
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 1984 births
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- 20th-century African-American people