Ya Boy

William Joseph Crawford, 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 was formerly signed to both of Akon's labels Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution.[2]

Ya Boy
Crawford in 2009
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Joseph Crawford
Also known asRich Rocka
Born (1984-01-28) January 28, 1984[1]
OriginSan Francisco, California, U.S.
GenresHip hop, West Coast hip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2002–present
Labels
Associated acts

Biography

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]

Musical 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
YearAlbum
2003 Mind Motion Rocks The Done Deal Party
2004 Fully Loaded Street Heat "16's Wit Me"
2005The 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
2010The Fix 2
2011 The Fillmore Renaissance Story
Pray For Forgiveness Mixtape by DJ Paul, Ya Boy & Lil Lody Hosted by DJ Scream
2012Trappy Birthday
2013Road 2 Rocka
Rich Rocka
2014Allegiance
2015 Rich Rocka II
2016Alien
Legacy
Guilty by Association 2
The Fix 3
2017 Definition of Explosive
The Tonite Show
Rocka World

References
  1. https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/YaBoy/profile/
  2. Paine , Jake (February 26, 2010). "Akon Signs Ya Boy To Konvict Music". hiphopdx.com.
  3. "The GQA: Stevie Johnson". GQ. October 13, 2011.
  4. Ya Boy Hoo Bangin. hiphopblog.com (October 21, 2009)
  5. "Rich Rocka – Road 2 Rocka Hosted by Digital Product". datpiff.com. July 4, 2013.
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