Joyner Lucas Bio
Gary Maurice Lucas Jr. (born August 17, 1988), known professionally as Joyner Lucas, is an American rapper, songwriter, and actor. Born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Lucas began rapping at the age of ten and built a reputation through a series of self-released projects before breaking out with viral singles. He is also a co-founder of the music technology platform Tully, which he helped establish in 2015.
Early Life and Background
Gary Maurice Lucas Jr. was born on August 17, 1988, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He began rapping at the age of ten, inspired by the hip-hop scene around him and by artists he grew up listening to. Lucas attended South High Community School in Worcester, where he continued to develop his craft and his interest in music.
Outside of school, he absorbed the influences of East Coast hip-hop and began writing and recording his own material. Lucas was later diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a child, an experience he has said shaped his sense of self and inspired the title of his debut studio album. He eventually started performing under early stage names before settling on the moniker Joyner Lucas.
Path to Rap
Joyner Lucas first started rapping under the name G-Storm and later performed as Future Joyner. In 2007, he joined forces with his cousin Cyrus tha Great to form a group called Film Skool Rejekts, and that year they released a project titled Workprint: The Greatest Mixtape of All Time. After rapper Future rose to mainstream prominence, Lucas shortened his stage name to Joyner Lucas to avoid confusion.
Lucas released his first solo mixtape, Listen to Me, in 2011, followed by LFO’s (Low Frequency Oscillators) in 2013. His 2015 mixtape Along Came Joyner included the breakout single Ross Capicchioni, which drew widespread attention and led to a featured spot in the 2015 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher. Originally scheduled for the online-only cypher, Lucas was promoted to the live broadcast cyphers after a strong initial performance.
Joyner Lucas Career
Early Career (2007–2017)
Following the success of Ross Capicchioni, Lucas signed with Atlantic Records on September 21, 2016. He released his major-label mixtape 508-507-2209 on June 16, 2017, which reached number seven on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and featured singles such as I’m Sorry, Ultrasound, Just Like You, and Winter Blues. Lucas also built a following through remixes of popular hip-hop tracks, including a widely noted remix of Lil Pump’s Gucci Gang.
On November 28, 2017, he released the politically charged single I’m Not Racist via his YouTube channel. The music video went viral, was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and earned Lucas a nomination for Best Music Video at the 61st Grammy Awards. Although the song lost to Childish Gambino’s This Is America, the appearance cemented his reputation as a bold and socially conscious lyricist.
Breakthrough (2018–2020)
In February 2018, Joyner Lucas and Chris Brown announced a collaborative project titled Angels & Demons, and released the single Stranger Things, which became Lucas’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. He was then featured on Lucky You from Eminem’s tenth studio album Kamikaze, which debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and marked his first top-ten placement on the chart.
Lucas announced his debut studio album ADHD in October 2018, with I Love as its lead single. The album was released on March 27, 2020, and reached number ten on the Billboard 200. It featured guest appearances from Logic, Young Thug, Chris Brown, Timbaland, Fabolous, and King OSF, along with skit appearances by Chris Tucker and Kevin Hart. Lucas parted ways with Atlantic Records in December 2018, choosing to self-release ADHD.
Notable Works and Milestones
Lucas’s signature works include the 2015 single Ross Capicchioni, the 2017 viral hit I’m Not Racist, the major-label mixtape 508-507-2209, and his debut studio album ADHD, which peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200. He has earned two Grammy nominations, including one for Best Music Video, and has collaborated with major artists such as Eminem, Chris Brown, Lil Baby, J. Cole, and Future.
Joyner Lucas Award Nominations
Joyner Lucas has received two Grammy Award nominations across his career, with no wins as of the most recent records available. His first major nomination came at the 61st Grammy Awards, where I’m Not Racist was nominated for Best Music Video.
Joyner Lucas Awards Won
As of the most recent records available, Joyner Lucas has not won a Grammy Award. His two nominations reflect critical recognition, particularly for the music video work surrounding I’m Not Racist.
Joyner Lucas Family
Joyner Lucas shares a son named Joyner Messiah Lucas, born on February 20, 2016, with Carmen Julissa Ayala, with whom he had an off-and-on romantic relationship. Lucas has spoken about the experience of fatherhood in his music, including on the song Forever from his mixtape 508-507-2209. His son has made cameos in several of Lucas’s music videos, including the 2020 single Will, which featured a guest verse from Will Smith himself.
Personal Life
Outside of his music career, Joyner Lucas co-founded the music technology platform Tully in 2015 alongside his manager Dhruv Joshi. He was also diagnosed with ADHD as a child, a subject he has spoken about publicly and which inspired the title of his debut album.