NEW YORK, NY (By Cara Donatto/ Atlantic Records) - Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South recording artist
Yung Joc is set to put the cap on a year that saw him rise up from the streets of Atlanta to the platinum heights of hip-hop stardom.
Among the recent highlights is the news of Yung Joc's first-ever Grammy Awards nomination. The ATL-based rapper - whose debut album, "NEW JOC CITY," premiered in the No 1 spot on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts this past spring - got the nod for "Best Rap Song," honoring his No 1 smash, "It's Goin' Down." The 49th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on "Grammy Sunday," February 11th, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
"Joc's proven success is no surprise to me," said Block Enterprises CEO Russell "Block" Spencer. "My industry instincts recognized his talent. His passion and drive are what keep him hungry. Numbers don't lie, so with his undeniable talent and incredible work ethic, I'm sure the best is yet to come."
"We expect great things from Yung Joc in 2007," said Bad Boy Executive VP and General Manager Harve Pierre. "For his first album, 'NEW JOC CITY,' he traveled through every crack and crevice of the United States meeting fans and shaking hands. He is a hard worker and the type of artist we love. He lived on top of the charts with his first LP and is already on his third single, '1st Time.'"
Yung Joc will wrap up 2006 with an appearance on BET's annual 106 & Park New Year's Eve extravaganza, aptly titled 106 & Party (check local listings). The rap sensation is currently on the road with the "Scream Tour 5." Billed as the "Ruff & Ready, Young & Sexy" tour, the latest installment of the massively successful teen concert series sees the rapper sharing arena stages coast-to-coast with some of R&B and hip-hop's hottest new stars, including Omarion, Ne-Yo, Mario, and Pretty Ricky. Sponsored by BET, the Scream Tour 5 will criss-cross the country through December, culminating December 31st in a New Year's Eve spectacular at Washington, D.C.'s Verizon Center (see attached itinerary).
Last month, Yung Joc's breakthrough street anthem, "It's Goin' Down," was named "Hip-Hop Track of the Year" at the inaugural BET Hip-Hop Awards event. The single went from underground sensation to the top of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and then quickly burst onto the mainstream, reaching the top 3 on Billboard's Hot 100. The track's companion video just received top honors on MTV2, where it was named the No 1 video on the channel's "Top 100 Sucker Free Videos of 2006." The clip also topped the playlist at BET (where Yung Joc was a "Rated Next" artist), and scored Big Ten rotation on MTV.
What's more, Yung Joc is Warner Music Group's top mobile artist of the year. The ringtone for "It's Goin' Down" was certified three times platinum by the RIAA, and "I Know You See It" has been certified platinum.
Yung Joc reigned over the online world, spending much of Summer 2006 as MySpace's No 1 artist. On July 24th, the MC celebrated with a sold-out MySpace Secret Show in his native Atlanta. Other high-profile live appearances included a hugely popular tour alongside Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I., and a performance of "It's Goin' Down" during the main event ring walk at Don King's Gateway to Glory boxing event in St. Louis.
As if all that weren't enough, Yung Joc performed alongside Diddy at this year's BET Awards in June and also made guest appearances on some of the year's biggest tracks, including Danity Kane's top 10 smash, "Show Stopper," and Lil' Boosie's current top 20 hip-hop hit, "Zoom."
YUNG JOC ON TOUR 2006
All Dates w/SCREAM TOUR 5- RUFF & READY, YOUNG & SEXY
Starring Omarion & Ne-Yo
Co-Starring Pretty Ricky & Mario
Also Featuring Sammie, Jibbs, and One Chance
DECEMBER
21 Hampton, VA Hampton Coliseum
22 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
23 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
26 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
28 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
29 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center
30 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner
31 Washington, DC Verizon Center
