# Boldy James

James Clay Jones III (born August 9, 1982), better known by his stage name Boldy James, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip hop collective Griselda. Recognized for his deep voice and laid-back delivery of vivid stories, he often explores themes of drug trade and street life. After his debut album My 1st Chemistry Set (2013), James has since released a wide discography of both studio albums as well as mixtapes and EPs, often releasing multiple projects in a year.
His reunion with the Alchemist—who also produced his debut—on The Price of Tea in China (2020) saw him gain significant recognition, along with his jazz-infused collaboration album with Sterling Toles, Manger on McNichols, released that same year. He frequently collaborates with other members of the Griselda collective, and has worked with producers such as Conductor Williams, Jay Versace, Harry Fraud, Nicholas Craven, Real Bad Man and Futurewave, among others.

## Early life

Jones was born on August 9, 1982, in Atlanta, to James Clay Jones Jr. and Toni K. Broadus. In 1983, Jones and Broadus returned to their original home of Detroit, with their son after Jones was wounded in the line of duty serving as a police officer. They resided on the Eastside of Detroit with Jones' grandmother. In 1989, Jones' parents separated and his mother sent him and his younger sister to live with their father on Detroit's westside on Stahelin Hell Block near McNichols Road and the Southfield Freeway. Jones' love for music came to the forefront at the age of 12, when he performed in a middle school talent show and began writing his first raps shortly after. He attended high school at Detroit Cooley, and dropped out after the ninth grade. He got the name "Boldy James" from his friend, James Osely III, whom people in the neighborhood called "Boldy". Jones said, "he didn't rap, he just sold cocaine. I liked the name because his name was James too". When his friend was murdered, he decided to carry on with the name, using it to rap.

## Career

In 2009, Jones's first big break on the national scene came in the form of two features on The Cool Kids and Don Cannon's mixtape Merry Christmas, on the songs "BBQ Wings" and "Tires". That was followed up by his record "Gettin Flicked" appearing on The Cool Kids's 2010 mixtape Tacklebox. Also in 2010, he was featured on the Chip tha Ripper song "Fat Raps" remix alongside Big Sean, Asher Roth, Dom Kennedy and Chuck Inglish. On May 24, 2011, Jones released his solo debut mixtape Trappers Alley Pros and Cons. The project went on to be named by Pitchfork as one of 2011's Most Overlooked Projects. On February 27, 2012, he released his follow up mixtape, Consignment. On March 5, 2013, he released an EP titled Grand Quarters. On October 15, 2013, he released his debut album, My 1st Chemistry Set, entirely produced by The Alchemist. On May 22, 2014, it was announced that Jones, Bishop Nehru, and Fashawn were the first signees to Nas's Mass Appeal Records. He left Mass Appeal in 2020 to sign with Westside Gunn's Griselda Records. With Griselda, he has released The Price of Tea in China, Manger on McNichols and Bo Jackson, among other albums. His new album "Token of Appreciation" releases on February 27.

## Personal life

On January 9, 2023, Jones was involved in a car accident in Detroit, leaving him with a broken vertebrae, requiring intensive surgery.
On August 24, 2023, Jones revealed that he is related to American rapper Snoop Dogg through word of his family. He is also a cousin of Chuck Inglish.

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details :
| Title | Album details |
| My 1st Chemistry Set (with The Alchemist) | Released: October 15, 2013 Label: Decon, Mass Appeal Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download |
| The Price of Tea in China (with The Alchemist) | Released: February 7, 2020 Label: ALC Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD, vinyl |
| Manger on McNichols (with Sterling Toles) | Released: July 22, 2020 Label: Sector 7-G Formats: Streaming, digital download, vinyl |
| The Versace Tape | Released: August 14, 2020 Label: Griselda Formats: Streaming, digital download |
| Real Bad Boldy (with Real Bad Man) | Released: December 11, 2020 Label: Real Bad Man Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD, vinyl |
| Bo Jackson (with The Alchemist) | Released: August 13, 2021 Label: ALC Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD, vinyl |
| Super Tecmo Bo (with The Alchemist) | Released: December 17, 2021 Label: ALC Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD, vinyl |
| Killing Nothing (with Real Bad Man) | Released: May 20, 2022 Label: Real Bad Man Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD, vinyl, cassette |
| Fair Exchange No Robbery (with Nicholas Craven) | Released: September 30, 2022 Label: Nicholas Craven Productions Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD, vinyl, cassette |
| Mr. Ten08 (with Futurewave) | Released: November 4, 2022 Label: WAVGODMUSIC INC. / FXCKRXP Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD, vinyl, cassette |
| Be That as It May (with Cuns) | Released: December 14, 2022 Label: Tuff Kong Records Formats: Streaming, digital download, CD, vinyl, cassette |
| Indiana Jones (with RichGains) | Released: January 20, 2023 Label: Self-released Formats: Streaming, digital download, vinyl |
| Penalty of Leadership (with Nicholas Craven) | Released: January 12, 2024 Label: Nicholas Craven Productions Formats: Streaming, digital download, vinyl, cassette |
| Across the Tracks (with Conductor Williams) | Released: June 28, 2024 Label: Near Mint Formats: Streaming, digital download, vinyl, cassette |
| The Bricktionary (with Harry Fraud) | Released: November 22, 2024 Label: Near Mint Formats: Streaming, digital download, vinyl, cassette |
| Murder During Drug Traffic (with RichGains) | Released: January 3, 2025 Label: Self-released Formats: Streaming, digital download |
| Permanent Ink | Released: January 24, 2025 Label: Royal House Recording Formats: Streaming, digital download |
| Token of Appreciation (with Chuck Strangers) | Released: February 27, 2025 Label: Self-released Formats: Streaming, digital download, vinyl |
| Alphabet Highway (with V Don) | To be released: April 4, 2025 Label: Serious Soundz, RRC Music Co. Formats: Streaming, digital download, vinyl |
| Conversational Pieces (with Real Bad Man) | To be released: May 2, 2025 Label: Real Bad Man Records Formats: Streaming, digital download |

### Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details :
| Title | EP details |
| Grand Quarters | Released: March 5, 2013 Label: Decon Formats: CD, digital download |
| The Art of Rock Climbing | Released: January 27, 2017 Label: Mass Appeal Formats: Streaming, digital download |
| Boldface (with The Alchemist) | Released: December 20, 2019 Label: ALC Formats: Streaming, digital download |
| ADU (with Real Bad Man as Boldy Bad Man) | Released: January 16, 2023 Label: Real Bad Man, RRC Music Formats: vinyl |
| Prisoner of Circumstance (with ChanHays) | Released: June 9, 2023 Label: Droppin Science Productions Formats: Streaming, digital download, vinyl |
| 1LB (One Lucky Bastard) (with Your Boy Posca) | Released: February 2024 Label: Near Mint Formats: Vinyl, cassette |
| Hidden in Plain Sight (with whothehelliscarlo) | Released: December 20, 2024 Label: Westside Bike Club Formats: Streaming, digital download |

### Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with year released :
| Title | Album details |
| Trappers Alley: Pros & Cons | Released: May 24, 2011 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download |
| Consignment: Favor For A Favor The Redi-rock Mixtape | Released: February 27, 2012 Label: Self-released Formats: Digital download |
| Trappers Alley 2 | Released: February 27, 2015 Label: Mass Appeal Formats: Digital download |
| House of Blues | Released: February 24, 2017 Label: Mass Appeal Formats: Streaming, digital download |
| Live at the Roxy (Caps & Tabs) (with M. Stacks) | Released: November 24, 2018 Label: Connected Everywhere, Concreatures 227 Formats: CD, digital download |
| Latr (Tabs & Caps) | Released: December 8, 2018 Label: Mass Appeal Formats: Streaming, digital download |

### Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "I Sold Dope All My Life" | 2012 | Trappers Alley: Pros & Cons |
| "Grittin" (featuring Peechie Green and Fat Ray) | 2012 | — |
| "For the Birds" | 2013 | — |

#### As featured artist

List of singles as featured performer, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Take Whats Ours" (L.O.Gic featuring Boldy James and Aaron Williams) | 2012 | — |

### Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
| "Fat Raps" (Remix) | 2010 | King Chip, Chuck Inglish, Big Sean, Asher Roth, Dom Kennedy | From Me to You: The Prelude to Gift Raps |
| "Roll Call" | 2011 | The Cool Kids, Asher Roth, King Chip | When Fish Ride Bicycles |
| "Criminal Enterprise" | 2011 | Chips, Dusty McFly, Keely | Couch Potato |
| "Stop the Show" | 2011 | Sir Michael Rocks, Payroll | Premier Politics |
| "Golden Midas" | 2011 | Asher Roth, Nico Segal, Greg Landfair Jr. | Pabst & Jazz |
| "Detroit Game" | 2012 | J Dilla, Chuck Inglish | Rebirth of Detroit |
| "Girl (I Used To Know)" | 2012 | JMSN | Priscilla |
| "The Kosmos Pt. 2 - Power Glove" | 2012 | The Alchemist | Russian Roulette |
| "Soul Fry" (Remix) | 2012 | Deniro Farrar, Shady Blaze | Kill or Be Killed |
| "Paramount" | 2013 | Phillie | Welcome to the Detroit Zoo |
| "Boat Races" | 2013 | TreeJay, DJ Clockwork, Larry Fisherman, Freddie Gibbs | Show Time |
| "Light This Fa Me" | 2016 | Chuck Inglish, Buddy | Ev Zepplin |
| "On The Set" | 2017 | The Cool Kids, Smoke DZA | Special Edition Grandmaster Deluxe |
| "It's Possible" | 2019 | Westside Gunn, Jay Worthy | Hitler Wears Hermes 7 |
| "Ocean Prime" | 2019 | The Alchemist | Yacht Rock 2 |
| "Friday Night Cypher" | 2020 | Big Sean, Tee Grizzley, Kash Doll, Cash Kidd, Payroll, 42 Dugg, Drego, Sada Baby, Royce da 5'9", Eminem | Detroit 2 |
| "Get Money" | 2020 | Dej Loaf, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine | Sell Sole II |
| "Claiborne Kick" | 2020 | Westside Gunn | Pray For Paris |
| "Buffs vs. Wires" | 2020 | Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher | Flygod Is An Awesome God 2 |
| "All Praises" | 2020 | Westside Gunn, Jadakiss | Who Made The Sunshine |
| "TV Dinners" | 2021 | The Alchemist, Sideshow | This Thing of Ours |
| "Yzerman" | 2021 | Nicholas Craven | Craven N 3 |
| "Bird Box" | 2021 | Rx Papi | 100 Miles & Walk'in |
| "Westheimer" | 2021 | Westside Gunn, Stove God Cooks, Sauce Walka | Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf |
| "716 Mile" | 2021 | Westside Gunn | Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf |
| "No Yeast" | 2022 | Curren$y | Continuance |
| "Sauvage" | 2022 | Billy Woods, Gabe 'Nandez | Aethiopes |
| "December Coming" | 2022 | Domo Genesis & Evidence | Intros, Outros & Interludes |
| "Looking For Water" | 2022 | Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man | Real Bad Flights |
| "Trillion Cuts" | 2022 | Roc Marciano & The Alchemist | The Elephant Man's Bones |
| “4Evastackin" | 2022 | Marcel Allen | Ebony Goddess |
| "Serving" | 2022 | Rome Streetz | Kiss the Ring |
| "Art Talk" | 2023 | Larry June & The Alchemist | The Great Escape |
| "Red Dolphin" | 2023 | A$AP Ant | The PostLude |
| "Stunna" | 2023 | Rome Streetz, Double Dee | Noise Kandy 5 |
| "Trouble Man" | 2023 | The Alchemist, T.F. | Flying High EP |