Thug Life Army

One of the South’s brightest young hip-hop emcee, Baby Stone (b. Rodney Jones), has traveled an uncommon road to stardom.

The rap artist known as Baby Stone is the son of a Baptist preacher and a former Junior Olympic boxer. He has defied virtually impossible odds on his way to a blossoming hip-hop career both as an rap artist and a record label executive.

With the much-anticipated release of his sophomore album, ‘Brighter Days’ (Cornerboyz Worldwide/Good Life/Artemis), Baby Stone has arrived on the world Hip Hop scene with a unique story of tragic choices, second chances, and triumphant redemption.

While growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, Baby Stone was a standout amateur boxer and all-around star athlete. “As a teenager, I started getting into trouble, so my Dad put me in boxing. At first I did it because it was something I could do to get my father’s attention,” Baby Stone recalls. But he quickly segued from boxing for his father, to becoming a fierce competitor who enjoyed the sport. Baby Stone’s incomparable work ethic and fierce determination while training as a boxer acted as a blueprint for his music career years later. “Whatever it is that you’re into, you have to give it your all, you can’t give anything less and be successful,” he says.

Unfortunately the competition in the ring wasn’t enough to keep Baby Stone out of trouble and he soon traded his boxing gloves in for the lure of the streets.

His actions came with severe consequences, and it appeared Baby Stone was destined to serve a life sentence behind bars, before fate intervened and he was granted a second chance.

However, during his stint behind bars, Baby Stone developed an affinity for the written word and passed countless hours writing poetry, and eventually, song lyrics.

Instead of being bitter about his past Baby Stone is optimistic about the tumultuous journey that has lead him to ‘Brighter Days’. “Everything is planned. When I was locked up I had time for God to work with me, and I came out a better person. Allah is all powerful, he can turn anything around,” he says.

After returning home, Baby Stone reconnected with a childhood friend named Roc Dog and began recording songs and studying the music business.

Content at the time to be his friend’s “hype man,” Baby Stone continued to gain experience in the studio as an observer. Fate would soon step in again, as a few months after laying down his first tracks, Roc Dog committed suicide.

Consumed by a passion for his fallen friend’s dream, Baby Stone decided to follow the road Roc Dog would never travel. He teamed up with another neighborhood buddy, Alex "Bruh" Brown, and together they started an independent record label titled, CornerBoyz Worldwide.

“My goal was never just to be a rapper. I want to be in a position to help my family and community; that’s what CornerBoyz Worldwide is about. I didn’t want to be on a label and have to wait on someone else to decide to put out the album,” Baby Stone replies when asked about his decision to go the independent route as opposed to trying to secure a record deal with a label.

“Our first single was called, “Catching Cases” and it was something everyone could relate to. Our community was supportive because they were happy to see us doing something positive, people respected that,” Baby Stone speaks proudly of his loyal Mississippi fan base. On his independent grind, Jones’ first live performance came as an opener for G-Unit rap artist Young Buck in his hometown of Jackson. Baby Stone tore the house down, and a local hip-hop legend was born.

With the help of a local producer and studio owner named Caveman, Baby Stone released his debut CD, titled ‘Better Way’, in April of 2005. The album sold well regionally and attracted the attention of local radio stations and show promoters.

Corner Boyz also released a highly successful Mixtape/DVD titled Corner Boyz Worldwide/Chronicles. Baby Stone rose to local celebrity status on the strength of album sales and performances with hip-hop heavy weights like fellow rap artists Mike Jones, Trick Daddy, and Pastor Troy.

Baby Stone re-entered the studio in October of 2005 and began work on his second album, simply entitled ‘Brighter Days’. With this album, Baby Stone confidently tackles serious issues like taking care of one’s children (“I’m Gonna Hustle”), toys with his hometown’s infamous “Snitches,” and prophesizes his worldwide domination of the rap game in “Coast To Coast.”

Determined to shine a positive light on his dark past, Baby Stone has wrested control of his own destiny and become a formidable player in the Hip Hop world. Music critics have described Brighter Days as polished, mature, and real; indicative of an artist whose time has come. “On this I was in different state of mind than with the first album. This time I touched on a lot of subjects I feel strongly about. I’m in a different place, we’re moving forward. We’ve shed tears, poured out liquor and smoked blunts, now its time to move on to Brighter Days,” Baby Stone says.

Please Visit Baby Stone on his MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/babystonemusic  to hear some of tracks from this up and coming heavy weight in the hip-hop game.