Yung Joc Returns With "HUSTLENOMICS";

Rapper's Hugely Anticipated Sophomore Album Features Urban Smash, "Coffee Shop (Feat. Gorilla Zoe)"; Grammy-Nominated MC to Tour With "SCREAMFEST '07"; "HUSTLENOMICS" Officially Drops August 28th

Atlantic Records

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - August 13, 2007) - Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South recording artist Yung Joc is set to drop his eagerly awaited second album, "HUSTLENOMICS." The Grammy Award-nominated rapper's sophomore collection -- which features the current hit single, "Coffee Shop (Feat. Gorilla Zoe)" -- arrives in stores and online nationwide on Tuesday, August 28th.

Following up on the blockbuster success of last year's RIAA platinum-certified debut album, "NEW JOC CITY," "HUSTLENOMICS" confirms Joc's status as one of today's most ingenious and accomplished hip-hop artists. The album sees the 24-year-old MC collaborating with a who's-who of studio stars, including the Neptunes, Chris Flash, Cool & Dre, Jazze Pha, Kevin "Khao" Cates, Drumma Boy, Dee Jay Dana, and others. Along with the aforementioned Boyz N Da Hood member Gorilla Zoe, Joc is also joined by a series of special guests, including Russell "Block" Spencer, Diddy, The Game, Snoop Dogg, Trick Daddy, Bun B, Rick Ross, Jim Jones, Young Dro, and Pharrell.

"This album shows growth and maturity," says Joc. "I'm just expressing myself with different types of songs and different types of flows. A lot of cats think once you get on you get to make money, do shows, go to all the parties, and all this. There's a lot more to it than that."

"Coffee Shop (Feat. Gorilla Zoe)" is already shaping up as one of the season's biggest hip-hop hits. The track has bulleted into the top 30 at Urban radio outlets and into the top 20 on the Rap charts, while also scoring major airplay at Rhythmic-formatted stations.

The song's companion video -- directed by Lenny Bass (Boyz N Da Hood, Field Mob, Nappy Roots) -- is in the Top Ten on BET's "106th & Park" countdown following its recent network debut via a special installment of "Access Granted." The clip is also now in rotation at MTV2. In addition, the "Coffee Shop" ringtone is quickly making its way towards the top 40 on Nielsen Ringscan's "Top 200 Mastertones" chart.

In addition to its CD and digital release, "HUSTLENOMICS" will mark Bad Boy Records' first-ever release in the new MVI format. An MVI is a DVD that contains the full album, portable music files, video content, and interactive features. The PC/MAC-compatible package will include a bonus CD, a never-before-seen video interview with Joc, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, a making-the-video special for "Coffee Shop," digital extras (such as screen savers, buddy icons, and wallpapers), U-Myx and UrTone (which allow fans to create their own custom remix and ringtone of "Coffee Shop"), plus much more.

Yung Joc will herald the release of "HUSTLENOMICS" with a full-scale summer tour, joining the all-star bill for BET and Scream Star Entertainment's "Screamfest '07." The eagerly anticipated trek -- which also features such superstars as T.I., Ciara, and T-Pain -- kicked off last week in New Orleans, with dates running though a two-night-stand at Los Angeles' Gibson Amphitheatre on September 1st and 2nd (see itinerary below).

What's more, Yung Joc has slated a number of major TV appearances for the week of the new album's release. Among the highlights will be visits to both BET's "106th & Park" and MTV's "TRL."

"Joc is the hardest working artist out here," says Block. "This is his dream and he's been ready to work hard at it since day one, way before I ever signed him. From the rhymes, to the tracks, to the videos, Joc has put a lot of himself in 'HUSTLENOMICS' and his audience is going to feel that. This is a very special project for both of us."

In recent weeks, the ATL-based MC has made his presence known on TV via live performances on such high-profile network shows as ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Other recent TV spots include multiple appearances on BET, including "Rap City," the annual BET Music Awards, and "106th & Park's" "ScreamTour" Special.

Yung Joc -- who is also featured on T-Pain's #1 hip-hop smash, "Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin') -- can be seen in a major national print ad campaign promoting the Rockport Company's "Established 1971" collection. The promotion sees Yung Joc appearing in a variety of high-profile magazines alongside such rising stars as actor Wood Harris, R&B artist Lyfe Jennings, and MTV personality Coltrane Curtis.

The release of "HUSTLENOMICS" follows Yung Joc's amazing 2006, a year which saw him rise up from the streets of College Park, Georgia to the platinum-certified heights of hip-hop stardom. Fueled by the massive hit single, "It's Goin' Down," the rapper's RIAA platinum-certified debut album, "NEW JOC CITY," exploded onto Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" and "Top Rap Albums" charts, entering in the #1 spot upon its June release.

"It's Goin' Down" proved to be a mainstream breakthrough for Yung Joc, moving quickly from underground sensation to the top of Billboard's "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" chart and the top 3 on Billboard's "Hot 100." In early 2007, the track received one of music's highest accolades -- a Grammy Awards nomination as "Best Rap Song."

The street anthem's companion video also proved a blockbuster, topping the playlist at BET, which named "It's Going Down" as "Hip-Hop Track of the Year" at the inaugural BET Hip-Hop Awards event. At MTV, the clip scored Big Ten rotation and was ranked as one of MTV2's "Top 100 Sucker Free Videos of 2006."

Furthermore, "It's Goin' Down" was an out-and-out triumph in the ringtone world. With over 5 million ringtones sold, Yung Joc was Warner Music Group's #1 mobile artist for 2006.

Yung Joc also reigned over the online world, spending much of summer 2006 as MySpace's #1 artist. He also became an in-demand live act, with concert appearances including a sold-out MySpace Secret Show in his native Atlanta, an SRO tour alongside Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I., and a top spot on the "Scream Tour 5," BET's hugely successful multi-artist arena trek. Other onstage highlights included a performance of "It's Goin' Down," during the main event ring walk at Don King's Gateway to Glory boxing event in St. Louis and an appearance on BET's annual "106th & Park" New Year's Eve extravaganza.

As if all that weren't enough, Yung Joc made guest appearances on a number of the year's biggest tracks, including Danity Kane's top 10 smash, "Show Stopper," and Lil' Boosie's top 20 hip-hop hit, "Zoom."