- New Boyz
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New Boyz
New Boyz in 2009, Legacy (left) and Ben J (right)Background information Origin Hesperia, California, United States Genres Hip hop Years active 2008–present Labels Shotty, Asylum, Warner Bros. Website www.thenewboyz.com Members Legacy
Ben JNew Boyz is an American hip hop/rap group and a former jerkin crew duo[1] made up of rappers Earl "Ben J" Benjamin (born October 13, 1991) and Dominic "Legacy" Thomas (born October 12, 1991)[2] from Hesperia, California. They debuted in summer 2009 with their viral hit, "You're a Jerk", taken from their debut studio album Skinny Jeanz and a Mic, released in September 2009. The song peaked in the top thirty of the Billboard Hot 100, and it was the first song to bring the jerkin' style to the national forefront. A second single, "Tie Me Down" featuring Ray J, was also successful and peaked in the top thirty.
Contents
Biography
Benjamin and Thomas met as freshmen at Hesperia High School.[3] The two were originally rivals, but became friends over a common interest in music.[4] Thomas began rapping at the age of eight after watching a music video by Bow Wow, but Benjamin did not have plans to pursue a musical career, instead, he intended to play football at San Diego State University.[5] However, Benjamin decided to focus more on music after he discovered that Thomas was achieving success in rapping. With their October birthdays only a day apart, they pooled their gift money to buy recording equipment. Thomas then taught himself how to make beats for the group's songs with a computer program called Fruity Loops, saying "I had to teach myself. We didn’t want to pay for beats."[6] After Thomas transferred to a new school, they decided to form a group. With Benjamin being "Ben J" and Thomas being "Legacy", they began performing together as the Swagger Boyz on July 4, 2008[5] and created a MySpace page to promote their self-published single "Colorz".[4]
2009: Skinny Jeanz and a Mic
In the summer of 2009, the New Boyz' single "You're a Jerk", based on the local dance style of jerkin', became a national hit. "You're a Jerk" peaked on #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts.[7] The New Boyz' debut album Skinny Jeanz and a Mic was released in September 2009.[4] Released by Shotty and Asylum Records, the album peaked at #56 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Top Rap Albums charts.[8] "Tie Me Down", featuring Ray J, was the second single from the New Boyz' debut album; that song contained Auto-Tune. "Tie Me Down" peaked at #22 on the Hot 100 and #5 on the Hot Rap Tracks.[7]
2010-present: Too Cool to Care
In July 2010, New Boyz collaborated with Virgin Islands singer Iyaz on the song "Break My Bank", which peaked at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] New Boyz released their second studio album, Too Cool to Care, on May 17, 2011. On the album, the duo focused less on the "jerkin'" aspect of the music, instead emphasizing more diverse influences. Legacy stated that on the previous album, listeners "were more focused on these dudes wearing skinny jeans, 'they are making jerk stuff,' so that's why we made sure on this second album, we let it be known that we can go in."[9] The group plans to experiment with other genres besides hip-hop, including rock. On February 15, 2011, New Boyz released their second single off the album "Backseat", which the song features The Cataracs and Dev,which became an instant hit in the U.S. among teens and young adults.
Discography
Studio albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions US
[10]US
R&B
[11]US
Rap
[12]Skinny Jeanz and a Mic - Release date: September 15, 2009
- Label: Shotty, Asylum Records
- Format: CD, music download
56 12 8 Too Cool to Care - Released date: May 17, 2011
- Label: Shotty, Asylum Records
- Format: CD, music download
41 9 7 Singles
List of singles, with chart positions and certifications Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US
[13]US
R&B
[14]US
Rap
[15]US
Pop
[16]AUS CAN NZ UK "You're a Jerk" 2009 24 13 4 — — — — — Skinny Jeans and a Mic "Tie Me Down"
(featuring Ray J)22 42 5 23 — — — — - US: Platinum[18]
"Break My Bank"
(featuring Iyaz)2010 68 63 10 — — — — — Too Cool to Care "Backseat"
(featuring The Cataracs and Dev)2011 26 — 12 17 89 52 30 55 - US: Platinum[19]
"Better With the Lights Off"
(featuring Chris Brown)38 — 13 23 90 — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart. Promotional singles
List of singles, with chart positions and certifications Title Year Peak chart
positionsAlbum US
[13]"Crush On You"
(featuring YG)2011 - Too Cool to Care As a Featuring Artist
List of singles, with chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album US
[13]US
R&B
[20]US
Rap
[21]US
Pop
[22]AUS CAN NZ UK "I Like It Like That"
(Hot Chelle Rae featuring New Boyz)2011 51 — — 28 — — — — Whatever "—" denotes releases that did not chart. Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Result 2010 BET Awards 2011 Best Group[23] Nominated References
- ^ http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhpY3U06RQWH1E44I0
- ^ "21 Under 21: New Boyz". bilboard.com. http://billboard.com/features/21-under-21-new-boyz-1004116428.story#/features/21-under-21-new-boyz-1004116428.story. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
- ^ "New Boyz". MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/newboyz. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c Thurston, Jason (2009). "New Boyz > Biography". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p1162033/biography. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
- ^ a b Reid, Shaheem (July 13, 2009). "New Boyz Say They're More Than Just Jerkin' Rappers". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615680/20090710/new_boyz.jhtml. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
- ^ Weiss, Jeff (August 5, 2009). "We’re Jerkin’ (Starring the New Boyz, J-Hawk and Pink Dollaz)". LA Weekly. LA Weekly. http://www.laweekly.com/2009-08-06/music/we-8217-re-jerkin-8217/3/. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c "New Boyz: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p1162033/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
- ^ "New Boyz > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p1162033/charts-awards. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
- ^ Roberts, Steven (2010-09-20). "New Boyz Move On From 'Jerkin' With Too Cool To Care". MTV News. MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648202/20100920/_new_boyz_.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- ^ "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704?f=333&g=Albums. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - Rap Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704?f=335&g=Albums. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704?f=367&g=Singles. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - Rap Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704?f=370&g=Singles. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - Pop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704?f=381&g=Singles. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - December 22, 2010: "You're a Jerk" certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=New%20Boyz&title=Jerk&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - December 22, 2010: "Tie Me Down" certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=New%20Boyz&title=Tie%20Me%20Down&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum: New Boyz certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=New%20Boyz&title=&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
- ^ "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704?f=367&g=Singles. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - Rap Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704?f=370&g=Singles. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "New Boyz Album & Song Chart History - Pop Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/new-boyz/chart-history/1109704?f=381&g=Singles. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "Jay-Z Leads BET Awards 2010 Nominations". Rap-Up. 2010-05-18. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/05/18/jay-z-leads-bet-awards-2010-nominations/. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
External links
Singles Featured Singles "I Like It Like That"Related articles Categories:- Asylum Records artists
- Musical duos
- Musical groups established in 2008
- American hip hop groups
- African American musical groups
- Musical groups from California
- Musical groups from Los Angeles, California
- West Coast hip hop groups
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