BabyTron

American rapper (born 2000)
  • Hip hop
  • trap
  • scam rap
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2017–presentLabels
  • Empire
  • The Hip Hop Lab
Member ofShittyBoyz, D$M
Musical artist

James Edward Johnson IV[1][2] (born June 6, 2000), known professionally as BabyTron, is an American rapper. He initially gained popularity in 2019 with his track "Jesus Shuttlesworth" and is a member of hip hop group ShittyBoyz.[3]

Early life and education

James Edward Johnson IV was born on June 6, 2000, in Ypsilanti, Michigan.[4] He attended Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti.[5]

Career

2017–2021: Early career, Bin Reaper and Bin Reaper 2

BabyTron began taking music seriously at age 13, alongside childhood friends TrDee and StanWill, and they established the rap trio ShittyBoyz while in high school. BabyTron would also consistently release solo songs and mixtapes on streaming platforms.[6] His 2019 track "Jesus Shuttlesworth" became viral within the hip hop community,[7] with a variety of memes spawning from the track. The track was released on his debut 2019 mixtape Bin Reaper. In 2021, he would feature on the Lil Yachty song "Hybrid", taken from the latter's Michigan Boy Boat mixtape.[8] BabyTron released the Bin Reaper 2 album in October 2021 with features from Lil Yachty, Miles Bridges (credited as RTB MB).[9]

2022–present: Megatron and Bin Reaper 3

BabyTron gained traction in 2022 through his series of tracks that feature him rapping on a multitude of popular beats in one song. This began with "Prince of the Mitten" in January and was followed up with "King of the Galaxy" later that month.[10]

BabyTron released the album Megatron on March 4, 2022, through Empire and The Hip Hop Lab.[11] His song "Emperor of the Universe" was released on May 17, and featured a music video directed by Cole Bennett.[12]

He was named as part of the XXL 2022 Freshman Class on June 14, 2022.[13]

On August 2, his single "Blah Blah Blah" with TrDee was released.[14] ShittyBoyz' second mixtape, Trifecta 2, was released on August 5, 2022.[15]

On September 19, BabyTron announced his next album Bin Reaper 3 .[16] On October 28, 2022, Bin Reaper 3: Old Testament released, peaking at number 69 on the Billboard 200, his first entry on the chart.[17]

On January 5, 2023, BabyTron announced his third album, Bin Reaper 3: New Testament. The album includes features from Lil Yachty, Babyface Ray and Cordae. New Testament acts as a sequel to Bin Reaper 3: Old Testament. The album was released on January 13, 2023 and peaked at number 100 on the Billboard 200.

Following his arrest on February 8, 2023, BabyTron surprise released the EP Out On Bond on February 24.[18]

Legal issues

On February 8, 2023, Johnson was pulled over and arrested after a police officer conducted a probable cause search of his vehicle, finding marijuana, marijuana edibles, psilocybin mushroom edibles, and a handgun. He was booked into Dawson County Jail in Lexington, Nebraska, for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was released after posting 10% of a $15,000 bond.[19]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[20]
Sleeve Nash
  • Released: October 31, 2020[21]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 —
Back To The Future
  • Released: December 2, 2020[22]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 —
Bin Reaper 2
  • Released: October 29, 2021[23]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 —
MegaTron
  • Released: March 4, 2022[24]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 —
Bin Reaper 3: Old Testament
  • Released: October 28, 2022[25]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 69
Bin Reaper 3: New Testament
  • Released: January 13, 2023[26]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 100
[27]
6
  • Released: June 6, 2023[28]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 —
MegaTron 2
  • Released: October 27, 2023[29]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 110

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Mixtape details
Different Breed
  • Released: October 25, 2017[30]
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Bin Reaper
  • Released: October 30, 2019[31]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Lewis & Clark
  • Released: January 1, 2021[32]
  • Label: The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Dookie Brothers 2 (with TrDee)
  • Released: May 21, 2021[33]
  • Label: The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Luka Troncic
  • Released: June 6, 2021[34]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Case Dismissed
  • Released: February 23, 2024[35]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title EP details
Pre-Game
  • Released: August 6, 2020[36]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Shitty Bronx (with BandGang Biggs)
  • Released: December 18, 2020[37]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Dookie Brothers (with TrDee)
  • Released: February 5, 2021[38]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
They Won't Clear This
  • Released: December 1, 2022[39]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Out On Bond
  • Released: February 24, 2023[40]
  • Label: Empire, The Hip Hop Lab
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

References

  1. ^ "Information on BabyTron's songs in ASCAP ACE database". ASCAP. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  2. ^ Metro Detroit's newest hip-hop star BabyTron on breakthrough verge, 5 November 2021, retrieved 2022-06-15
  3. ^ Kelly, Chris (January 25, 2023). "Rap newcomer BabyTron brings postmodern take on hip-hop to Union Stage". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  4. ^ Meet BabyTron, Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Rapper, 10 November 2021, retrieved 2022-06-15
  5. ^ Metro Detroit's newest hip-hop star BabyTron on breakthrough verge, 5 November 2021, retrieved 2022-06-15
  6. ^ Davison, Kahn Santori. "Detroit rap group ShittyBoyz talk about their new album, chemistry, and enjoying success". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  7. ^ The Break Presents – BabyTron, 6 January 2022, retrieved 2022-06-15
  8. ^ Meet BabyTron, Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Rapper, 10 November 2021, retrieved 2022-06-15
  9. ^ "BabyTron, 'Bin Reaper 2'". Rolling Stone Australia. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  10. ^ Lafontant, Olivier. "BabyTron Is Toying With Your Favorite Rapper". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  11. ^ "BabyTron catches dimes like 'MEGATRON' on new album". Our Generation Music. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  12. ^ Cruz, Reanna (2022-05-23). "BabyTron, 'Emperor of the Universe'". NPR. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  13. ^ 2022 XXL Freshman Class Revealed, 14 June 2022, retrieved 2022-06-15
  14. ^ "BabyTron & TrDee Share New Joint Track, "Blah Blah Blah"". HotNewHipHop. 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  15. ^ "ShittyBoyz: Trifecta 2". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  16. ^ "BR3 LOADING..." Instagram. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  17. ^ Bin Reaper 3: Old Testament, 2022-10-28, retrieved 2022-10-28
  18. ^ "BabyTron Releases Surprise EP 'Out On Bond' About Being Out On Bond". Stereogum. 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  19. ^ "Michigan rapper arrested in Dawson County". KRVN 880 – KRVN 93.1 – KAMI. 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  20. ^ @billboardcharts (November 8, 2022). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/3)..." (Tweet). Retrieved November 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
    • MegaTron 2: "Billboard 200: Week of November 11, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  21. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Sleeve Nash". Spotify. October 31, 2020.
  22. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Back To The Future". Spotify. December 2, 2020.
  23. ^ Ihaza, Jeff (15 December 2021). "BabyTron, 'Bin Reaper 2'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – MegaTron". Spotify. March 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Bin Reaper 3: Old Testament". Spotify. October 28, 2022.
  26. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Bin Reaper 3: New Testament". Spotify. January 13, 2023.
  27. ^ @billboardcharts (January 23, 2023). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200: [...] #192, @zachlanebryan Elisabeth" (Tweet). Retrieved January 24, 2023 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – 6". Spotify. June 6, 2023.
  29. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – MegaTron 2". Spotify. October 27, 2023.
  30. ^ "Genius – BabyTron – Different Breed". October 25, 2017.
  31. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Bin Reaper". Spotify. October 30, 2019.
  32. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Lewis & Clark". Spotify. January 1, 2021.
  33. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Dookie Brothers 2". Spotify. May 21, 2021.
  34. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Luka Troncic". Spotify. June 6, 2021.
  35. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Case Dismissed". Spotify. February 23, 2024.
  36. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Pre-Game". Spotify. August 6, 2020.
  37. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Shitty Bronx". Spotify. December 18, 2020.
  38. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Dookie Brothers". Spotify. February 5, 2021.
  39. ^ "Genius – BabyTron – They Won't Clear This". December 1, 2022.
  40. ^ "Spotify – BabyTron – Out On Bond". Spotify. February 24, 2023.
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