BlocBoy JB released 'Simi,' playing shows with 21 Savage, talks "This Is America"

21-year-old Memphis rapper BlocBoy JB has been a thing for a while now, and he’s only getting bigger. He started going viral thanks to his dance moves in last year’s “Shoot” video, eventually catching the attention of Drake, who teamed with him for “Look Alive.” Cardi B brought him on stage at Coachella, and Childish Gambino got in touch with him to record ad-libs for “This Is America.” Not to mention, Gambino does the “Shoot” dance in the already-iconic video for that song. BlocBoy spoke to Billboard about that:

[Gambino] reached out to my people. He needed my words. [My manager] was like, “Childish Gambino wants your vocals.” [They] made it seem like an organ [donation]. That beat was so motherfucking hard, and that’s all that was. As soon as I heard that motherfucker, I was like, “Man, I ain’t going to lie, I want to rap on his motherfucker.” But then I was like, “I’m just going to do what they say,” because I said I was going to record [ad-libs]. I said I was going to keep it simple. I had other music to get back to anyway.

When asked how BlocBoy would rate Gambino’s “Shoot” dance in the video, he replied, “Nobody can get a 10. He’ll get a 9. Only me gets the 10.”

Both “Shoot” and “Look Alive” are on BlocBoy’s recently-released mixtape Simi, which has proved to be BlocBoy’s most high-profile release yet. The project also features YG, 21 Savage, Moneybagg Yo and Lil Pump, and it’s a super fun listen that just goes banger after banger. If you haven’t heard it yet, you can stream it below.

BlocBoy JB is also opening 21 Savage’s two headlining shows in the tri-state area: NJ’s Starland Ballroom on May 22 and NYC’s Terminal 5 on June 1 (tickets). Those shows happen in the midst of 21’s tour with Post Malone and SOB x RBE. The NY/NJ shows are 21’s only dates with BlocBoy. 21’s full tour itinerary is here.