The Break Presents: Jackboy

Loyalty will take you far. First nudged into rap by his best friend and Sniper Gang comrade Kodak Black, Jackboy has begun to make a name for himself in the incarcerated rapper's absence. In XXL's 2016 Freshman Issue, Kodak name-dropped Jackboy (who was in jail at the time) when asked what rapper should have also been a Freshman alongside him. Leaving jail in December 2016 then dropping his first tape, Stick Up Kid, one month later, Jackboy found his way fast. July 2017 saw him drop "Grimace," which has an accompanying video that's been viewed 20 million times. He and Kodak followed that with "G to the A," which is sitting at 37 million views.

Despite some more legal trouble, Jackboy had real traction and was respected on his own as an artist. With the release of his latest project, Lost In My Head, which is buoyed by the single "Bipolar," one thing is for certain: Jackboy is on his way.

Get familiar with Jackboy in this week's edition of XXL's The Break.

Age: 22

Hometown: Pompano Beach, Fla.

I grew up listening to: "Gucci [Mane] and Boosie [Badazz]. Boosie was more like hood stuff, he was not one of my favorites or anything. He's spitting some stuff that I can relate to. But Gucci was more-so on the favorite tip—he got the bop, he spitting hood stuff and then that's just where I was comin' at that time."

My style’s been compared to: "You know they compare me to Kodak [Black]! 'Cause they say we sound similar, but we from the same place. This my right-hand man, real deal best friend. The licks he talking about in his song—I was right there. Bitch, I was on the same lick! I can't get my version of the lick now?"

My standout records to date have been: "'From the G to the A' with me and Kodak. That got like 47 million. My biggest song for myself is 'Grimace.' I'm mad, I posted on my page [and] it got 10 million [plays]. WorldStar doubled back, posted it [and] got 9.9 million. Another page posted it [and] got 1.5 million. Nah man, y'all stealing my views, man. I wan't all my views!"

My most slept-on song: "'Go Away.' A lot of people slept on that. I got a lot of slept-on songs, but whatever, it's just practice."

My standout moments to date have been: "[Signing to] Empire/Sniper Gang [is] the biggest it got, because that was the gateway to this. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be here."

Most people don’t know: "I was born in Haiti. People think I was born here. Like [age] 6, when I first moved to Broward, I moved to North Lauderdale first, then I moved to Pompano. I rep Pompano, 'cause that's where I'm from. Haiti [is] a part of me, but Pompano really had a part of the swag."

I’m going to blow up because: "It's inevitable."

I’m going to be the next: "Boss."

Follow Jackboy on Instagram and SoundCloud.

Standouts:

"Grimace"

"G to the A" (Kodak Black and Jackboy)

"Bipolar"

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