By Tai Saint Louis
Block Entertainment CEO Russell "Block" Spencer is expanding the scope of his label. Following the success of rappers Young Joc, Gorilla Zoe, and Boyz N Da Hood, the Bad Boy South imprint is foraying into R&B with its newest artist JC.
"I met him through his manager and eventually took the time out to hear him and work with him," Block told AllHipHop.com, adding that his new protégé's "voice, humbleness, melodies, work ethic, lyrical content and writing styles" set him apart from other crooners.
"Every label needs to be well rounded and the R&B shapes it just to that," said Block, who doubles as President of Bad Boy South.
The 22-year-old Nashville, TN native, born Justin Crowder, started his career at the age of nine as a member of the Nashville Youth Chorus.
While working on his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Tennessee State University – which he completed in a total of four years – JC continued to lay the groundwork for a professional career in music.
Following college and a few years of shopping his demo and opening for A-Listers Eve, Amerie, Twista and LL Cool J, to name a few, JC was briefly signed to Atlanta's original powerhouse, So So Def Records.
The decision to leave the Jermaine Dupri-helmed label in search of a better stylistic match, JC landed at Block Entertainment, where he is currently working on his debut, Voicemail, due out around October 2008.
So far the album features appearances by Gorilla Zoe and Rick Ross, who appear on JC's first two singles, "Nobody Gotta Know" and "Tic Toc," respectively.
Voicemail also boasts production by Bryan Michael Cox, Diddy, and Polow Da Don, as well as JC himself who, alongside production partner Trey Stylz, is producing half of the album for their production company Versastyle Entertainment.
