How did you come up with the name Yung Joc as a stage name?
Yung Joc-My mother used to watch the show Dallas. JR. Ewing is on there. He has big paper. She said, "I'm gonna name you Joc because you are going to be a respected man with a lot of money one day." She called me that since a baby but when I got older I asked her "Where did that name come from?" and she told me. My mama named me that and I'm young, baby faced, don't grow no facial hair so it's Yung Joc.

How long have you been rapping?
Yung Joc-Since I was six.

Growing up was being a rapper something that you always wanted to do or did you have other career aspirations?
Yung Joc- On the collegiate side of things I wanted to be an attorney. When I was a kid I'd say "I want to be a lawyer." But then when I got older I realized I want to be a rapper.

Why did you want to be a rapper?
Yung Joc-It felt right. It felt like it was what I was born to do.

Were you ever in a group or where you always a solo artist?
Yung Joc-I used to be in a group. I was in a group named Bulletproof,....Envy. When I was ten the first group I was in was named Dinky Five and the Starlight Posse.

When you finally went solo how did you go about building your buzz and raising your profile as an artist?
Yung Joc- Just letting it be known. Whenever I got on the stage and touched the mic anywhere I let the people know who I was and what I represented and why I was doing what I was doing and what I wanted them to understand.

Did you do a lot of mix tapes?
Yung Joc- Nope. I put my music on a lot of mix tapes but I never did my own mix tape.

Who are some fellow Atlanta artists who you admire?
Yung Joc- T.I.P., Jeezy, Big Duke, Outkast....

Is "It's Goin' Down" your first single?
Yung Joc-Have you heard it?

It's on my computer but let me tell you. The motherboard is going out on my computer and I am taking things very easy right about now trying not too open up too many programs.
Yung Joc-I heard that.

What are some of the things you like to do in your free time?
Yung Joc-Spend money. I got a fetish for shoes. I got a problem. I can't stop spending money on shoes.

Shoes? What else do you spend money on?
Yung Joc-Electronics.

So your album comes out this summer?
Yung Joc- May 23rd. Its titled New Joc City.

What other artists did you work with on the album if any.
Yung Joc- I'm trying to keep it a secret.

Is there anything else that you wanted to add?
Yung Joc-This is for any upcoming artist. Stay down, work smarter not harder. Plan your work, work your plan. Put God first you got it.

Interview with Russell "Block" Spencer of Block Entertainment

Are you Joc's manager?
Block-Joc is signed to Blok Entertainment and Block Entertainment has a joint venture with Bad Boy.

What was it about Joc that made you want to sign him to Blok Entertainment?
Block-Joc created his own movement. Joc was in the streets , jumping on shows, going out and heating up the radio stations I liked his grind. His whole movement was like the kind of movement I do. I use to start from scratch and make something out of nothing. His grind.

Can you tell me more about what you do?
Block- I came in the game back in 94 co-managing Tupac. I did that till like 96 and I became the president of Suave House then I became the head A&R at Noontime, that was a production company and then I started my own company Block Entertainment. I got back with Noontime and started managing Jazze Pha with Noonie. Then me and Jazze Pha started Sho-Nuff. I'm co- owner of Sho-Nuff too you know with Ciara and Jody Breeze. We started Block Entertainment to be an underground label and that's how it started Boyz In The Hood and things just jumped off.

What's the status of Boyz in the Hood? Will there be another Boyz In The Hood album?
Block- Yeah . It will be out this August.

Who are the members now? I can't keep up anymore.
Block- I'm keeping it like a big surprise but it's gonna be real big trust me.

What can we expect from your artist Joc's first major label debut?
Block-Right now I'm speechless because it's so big and a breath of fresh air. I know everyone says that and I've heard it a million times too. But Joc is a movement and that's what I'm feeling. That's why I'm feeling like it will be a big movement as far as Block Entertainment.

Last question. Do you have any female rappers on Block Entertainment?
Block-No maam.

Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is an author and the webmaster For Thabiz.com.
Yung Joc/Block interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, and Thabiz.com 2006
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is the author of Be My Sorority Sister Under Pressure and the Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students. She is the founder of Thabiz.com and Imissthe80s.com and writes for the Rap, Teen, and 1980s section at Bellaonline.com. She is an ASCAP member as a writer and a publisher. Please contact Dorrie for advertising inquiries, lyric writing inquiries, reprint rights, paying entertainment jobs, or general comments.
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Yung Joc/Block interview may not be reprinted, copied or distribute without permission. You may link to this interview.Interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, thabiz.com April 2006.