Joyner Lucas

New England rapper Joyner Lucas crafts intricate, introspective verses over forceful beats shaped by the legacies of Jay-Z, Eminem, and 2Pac. Emerging from the central Massachusetts scene in the mid-2010s, he sparked debate with early tracks “I’m Not Racist” and “Devil’s Work,” whose unflinching socio-political stance earned him an initial Grammy nomination for the former. A second nomination followed for his work alongside Eminem, arriving ahead of his proper studio debut, ADHD, which surfaced in 2020. Subsequent releases such as the 2020 collaboration “Ramen & OJ” with Lil Baby, 2021’s “Your Heart” with J. Cole, and 2023’s “Devil’s Work 2” paved the way for his second full-length project, Not Now, I’m Busy, issued in 2024.

Born Gary Maurice Lucas, Jr. in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1988, he cultivated an affinity for hip-hop during childhood. At age seven he began composing rhymes as “G-Storm” and soon partnered with his uncle, only a few years his senior, on assorted musical endeavors. During adolescence he briefly performed as Future Joyner, switching to his given name in 2012 once the rapper Future gained prominence. After years of independent creation, he issued his debut solo mixtape, Along Came Joyner, in 2015. That project contained the breakout cut and video “Ross Capicchioni,” which recounted the near-fatal shooting of a Detroit teenager bearing the same name through the viewpoints of both victim and perpetrator. Additional singles gained traction, leading Atlantic Records to sign him in 2016. His fourth mixtape, 508-507-2209, arrived in mid-2017, and later that year “I’m Not Racist” achieved viral status, propelled in part by its politically charged, Grammy-nominated video.

During 2018 Lucas joined Chris Brown for the February release Angels & Demons. Later that summer a guest appearance on Eminem’s Kamikaze propelled him onto the Billboard Top Ten for the first time via “Lucky You,” securing another Grammy nomination. He closed the year with the single “I Love,” previewing his eventual studio debut ADHD. Its follow-up, “Devil’s Work,” dropped in May 2019 and drew attention for its provocative yet reflective content. ADHD reached listeners in March 2020, peaking at number ten on the Billboard 200. Boi-1da and Timbaland handled portions of the production while Young Thug, Fabolous, Logic, and returning partner Chris Brown contributed guest verses; the Evolution EP also appeared that year. “Ramen & OJ” with Lil Baby arrived in 2021, succeeded by further singles such as “Dreams Unfold” featuring Lil TJay and “Rambo” with Lil Durk. In 2023 Lucas unveiled “Devil’s Work 2,” “Blackout” alongside Future, and “24 Hours to Live” as early indicators of his sophomore album Not Now, I’m Busy. The complete project, featuring additional appearances by Twista, Jelly Roll, a posthumous DMX verse, and others, finally emerged in March 2024 and entered the Billboard 200 at number 42.