James Clay Jones III (born August 9, 1982), better known by his stage name Boldy James, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan.[2] A member of the Griselda collective, his debut album, My 1st Chemistry Set, was released on October 15, 2013.
Boldy James | |
|---|---|
 Jones in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Clay Jones III |
| Born | August 9, 1982[1] Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, US |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | |
Early life
Boldy James was born James Clay Jones III on August 9, 1983, in Atlanta, Georgia to James Clay Jones Jr. and Toni K. Broadus.[3] In 1983, Jones and Broadus returned to their original home of Detroit, Michigan with their son after Jones was wounded in the line of duty serving as a police officer.[3] They resided on the Eastside of Detroit with Jones' grandmother.[3] In 1989, Jones' parents separated and his mother sent him and his younger sister to live with their father on Detroit's westside on Stahelin Hell Block near McNichols Road and the Southfield Freeway.[3] Jones' love for music came to the forefront at the age of 12, when he performed in a middle school talent show and began writing his first raps shortly after.[4] He attended high school at Detroit Cooley, and dropped out after the ninth grade.[4] He got the name "Boldy James" from his friend, James Osely III, whom people in the neighborhood called "Boldy".[4] Jones said, "he didn't rap, he just sold cocaine. I liked the name because his name was James too". When his friend was murdered, he decided to carry on with the name, using it to rap.[4]
Career
In 2009, Jones's first big break on the national scene came in the form of two features on The Cool Kids and Don Cannon's mixtape Merry Christmas, on the songs "BBQ Wings" and "Tires".[5] That was followed up by his record "Gettin Flicked" appearing on The Cool Kids's 2010 mixtape Tacklebox.[6] Also in 2010, he was featured on the Chip tha Ripper song "Fat Raps" remix alongside Big Sean, Asher Roth, Dom Kennedy and Chuck Inglish.[7] Jones and Cool Kid member/producer Chuck Inglish are cousins.[6] On May 24, 2011, Jones released his solo debut mixtape Trappers Alley Pros and Cons.[8] The project went on to be named by Pitchfork as one of 2011's Most Overlooked Projects.[9] On February 27, 2012, he released his follow up mixtape, Consignment.[10] On March 5, 2013, he released an EP titled Grand Quarters.[11] On October 15, 2013, he released his debut album, My 1st Chemistry Set, entirely produced by The Alchemist.[12] On May 22, 2014, it was announced that Jones, Bishop Nehru, and Fashawn were the first signees to Nas's Mass Appeal Records.[13]
Personal life
On January 9, 2023, Jones was involved in a car accident in Detroit, leaving him with a broken vertebrae requiring intensive surgery.[14]
On August 24, 2023, Jones revealed that he is related to American rapper Snoop Dogg through word of his family.[15][16]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| My 1st Chemistry Set[12] (with The Alchemist) |
|
| The Price of Tea in China (with The Alchemist) | |
| Manger on McNichols (with Sterling Toles) |
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| Real Bad Boldy (with Real Bad Man) |
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| Bo Jackson (with The Alchemist) |
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| Super Tecmo Bo (with The Alchemist) |
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| Killing Nothing (with Real Bad Man) |
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| Fair Exchange No Robbery (with Nicholas Craven) |
|
| Mr. Ten08 (with Futurewave) |
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| Be That as It May (with Cuns) |
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| Indiana Jones (with RichGains) |
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| Penalty of Leadership (with Nicholas Craven) |
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| Across The Tracks (with Conductor Williams) |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Grand Quarters[11] |
|
| The Art of Rock Climbing[20] |
|
| Boldface (with The Alchemist) |
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| ADU (with Real Bad Man as Boldy Bad Man)[21] |
|
| Prisoner of Circumstance (with ChanHays) |
|
Mixtapes
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Trappers Alley: Pros & Cons[23] |
|
| Consignment: Favor For A Favor The Redi-rock Mixtape[24] |
|
| Trappers Alley 2[25] |
|
| House of Blues |
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| Live at the Roxy (Caps & Tabs)[12] (with M. Stacks) |
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| Latr (Tabs & Caps) |
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| The Versace Tape |
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Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "I Sold Dope All My Life"[26] | 2012 | Trappers Alley: Pros & Cons |
| "Grittin"[27] (featuring Peechie Green and Fat Ray) | — | |
| "For the Birds"[28] | 2013 |
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Take Whats Ours"[29] (L.O.Gic featuring Boldy James and Aaron Williams) | 2012 | — |
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Fat Raps" (Remix) | 2010 | King Chip, Chuck Inglish, Big Sean, Asher Roth, Dom Kennedy | From Me to You: The Prelude to Gift Raps |
| "Roll Call" | 2011 | The Cool Kids, Asher Roth, King Chip | When Fish Ride Bicycles |
| "Criminal Enterprise" | Chips, Dusty McFly, Keely | Couch Potato | |
| "Stop the Show" | Sir Michael Rocks, Payroll | Premier Politics | |
| "Golden Midas" | Asher Roth, Nico Segal, Greg Landfair Jr. | Pabst & Jazz | |
| "Detroit Game" | 2012 | J Dilla, Chuck Inglish | Rebirth of Detroit |
| "Girl (I Used To Know)" | JMSN | Priscilla | |
| "The Kosmos Pt. 2 - Power Glove" | The Alchemist | Russian Roulette | |
| "Soul Fry" (Remix) | Deniro Farrar, Shady Blaze | Kill or Be Killed | |
| "Paramount" | 2013 | Phillie | Welcome to the Detroit Zoo |
| "Boat Races" | TreeJay, DJ Clockwork, Larry Fisherman, Freddie Gibbs | Show Time | |
| "Light This Fa Me" | 2016 | Chuck Inglish, Buddy | Ev Zepplin |
| "On The Set" | 2017 | The Cool Kids, Smoke DZA | Special Edition Grandmaster Deluxe |
| "It's Possible" | 2019 | Westside Gunn, Jay Worthy | Hitler Wears Hermes 7 |
| "Ocean Prime" | The Alchemist | Yacht Rock 2 | |
| "Friday Night Cypher" | 2020 | Big Sean, Tee Grizzley, Kash Doll, Cash Kidd, Payroll, 42 Dugg, Drego, Sada Baby, Royce da 5'9", Eminem | Detroit 2 |
| "Get Money" | Dej Loaf, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine | Sell Sole II | |
| "Claiborne Kick" | Westside Gunn | Pray For Paris | |
| "Buffs vs. Wires" | Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher | Flygod Is An Awesome God 2 | |
| "All Praises" | Westside Gunn, Jadakiss | Who Made The Sunshine | |
| "TV Dinners" | 2021 | The Alchemist, Sideshow | This Thing of Ours |
| "Yzerman" | Nicholas Craven | Craven N 3 | |
| "Bird Box" | Rx Papi | 100 Miles & Walk'in | |
| "Westheimer" | Westside Gunn, Stove God Cooks, Sauce Walka | Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf | |
| "716 Mile" | Westside Gunn | ||
| "No Yeast" | 2022 | Curren$y | Continuance |
| "Sauvage" | Billy Woods, Gabe 'Nandez | Aethiopes | |
| "December Coming" | Domo Genesis & Evidence | Intros, Outros & Interludes | |
| "Looking For Water" | Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man | Real Bad Flights | |
| "Trillion Cuts" | Roc Marciano & The Alchemist | The Elephant Man's Bones | |
| “4Evastackin" | Marcel Allen | Ebony Goddess | |
| "Art Talk" | 2023 | Larry June & The Alchemist | The Great Escape |
| "Red Dolphin" | A$AP Ant | The PostLude | |
| "Trouble Man" | The Alchemist, T.F. | Flying High EP |