The New Boyz are the 18-year-old rappers that lead the jerk movement with their hit song, You’re A Jerk. From the high desert of southern California, it only took a few months for the New Boyz to become rising stars on a national level. In fact, Ben J and Legacy have gone from doing shows in local high-school gyms to performing on the red carpet at the BET Awards and booking an impressive lineup of concerts across the country!
Ben J Bio
Ben J, whose real name is Earl Benjamin, was born on October 13, 1991 in L.A. He began rapping as a young child, and always visualized himself as being famous. When Ben J got into trouble at home, his mom would send him to his room to write a rap about his feelings. In fact, Ben J’s mom’s main goal in supporting her son’s dream of musical fame was to keep him out of trouble!
Legacy Bio
Legacy’s real name is Dominic Thomas, and he was born on October 12, 1991. One of Legacy’s biggest role models growing up was his grandfather, who taught him what it meant to be a leader. He also instilled in his grandson a love of music. Legacy spent countless hours reading, drawing and writing poems. Interested in rap, Legacy started writing and making beats on his computer. His love for reading and writing brought him a newfound dream for music, which he expresses today as part of the New Boyz.
Friendship Facts
The friendship between Ben J and Legacy began in 2006. Actually, the two became BFFs after an argument that would tear most people apart. Basically, they did not like each other but, after discussing their differences, they realized that they had more in common than they ever imagined. Their birthdays are only one day apart, they have an enormous love for music, a similar family background and love to have fun. Their similar interests not only brought them closer as friends, but allowed them to see that their talents together could bring a change to their community, and a strong positive impact to teen culture and beyond.
The Jerk
True – the New Boyz didn’t create The Jerk. Instead, they took the street-culture classic from the 1990s and revamped it with a minimalist beat and a hip(ster)-hop fashion sense. And the web is watching, as hundreds of user-generated videos are surfacing on sites like YouTube of youth across the nation imitating the acrobatic and fancy footwork.
