Surfacing

“New Joc City”

Yung Joc

Bad Boy South/Atlantic

Artist info: Stripped to the essentials, the first single, “It’s Goin’ Down,” from Yung Joc’s debut album, is notable for the nicely balanced bass (an anomaly in bass-heavy hip-hop) and a keyboard pattern that repeats endlessly. The 23-year-old rapper’s delivery is deadpan throughout, which adds to a general thug quality, but with a title hook and a keyboard line that anyone could remember.

Back story: Atlanta has been a particularly fecund city for producing big rap acts, most significantly OutKast. Joc (real name: Jasiel Robinson) had appeared at the same Royal Peacock club that had featured milestone acts including Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. In attendance were reps from his future record company, Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South, which signed him on the strength of that performance. “He had everybody leaning and rocking side to side,” said company President Block. “It’s Goin’ Down” is No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while his album appears on track to enter the national sales chart Wednesday, possibly in the Top 5.

Influences: Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, OutKast

Trivia: Tom Cruise and U.S. soccer star Clint Dempsey have been seen doing the rapper’s trademark “Joc’n” dance, seen on the video for the single, in which he imitates a motorcycle revving up.