Spank Rock

Naeem Juwan, better known by his stage name Spank Rock, is an American rapper and songwriter from Baltimore. He rose to fame with his 2006 album YoYoYoYoYo, which was produced by former group member Alex Epton (XXXChange). A harbinger of post-millennial alternative rap, the duo became known for its mixing of disparate hip hop and club genres, including Baltimore club, Miami bass, electro music and rock.

In 2007, Epton left the group to pursue his own production while Juwan went on to release the Bangers & Cash EP (2007) with pop producer Benny Blanco. After a five-year contract struggle with his label Downtown Records, Juwan released his sophomore LP Everything Is Boring and Everyone Is a Fucking Liar (2011) with a range of producers including Boys Noize, Le1f, XXXChange, and Squeak E. Clean.

Juwan grew up in West Baltimore in a row home alongside five sisters and two brothers. As a teenager, Juwan frequented clubs such as Paradox, where DJs played Baltimore club music. In high school, his older sister introduced him to Brooklyn-based producer J. Period, known for producing records by underground rappers Mos Def and Artifacts. J. Period mentored Juwan and helped him improve his skills as a rapper for some time. After moving to Philadelphia and dropping out of college, Juwan met fellow Baltimore native Alex Epton, who had studied composition at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and learned studio production as an intern at the DFA Records studio in New York.

Juwan and Epton started performing under the name Spank Rock together in Philadelphia and Phoenixville, where their reputation quickly increased. They later toured with Hollertronix and M.I.A.. They also toured with Beck in 2006. Spank Rock's debut album YoYoYoYoYo was released in 2006 on the Big Dada record label. Their single, "Bump", was named Single of the Year by Xfm London breakfast DJ Lauren Laverne in 2006.

In late 2007, Alex Epton aka XXXchange, left Spank Rock to pursue his own production while Naeem Juwan signed a deal with Downtown Records. Spank Rock's first Downtown Records release came in the form of fall 2007's Benny Blanco & Spank Rock Present: Bangers & Cash EP, a 2 Live Crew inspired 5 song EP. Spank Rock also contributed a rap on the "Benny Blanco" remix of the track Heart Beat Rock; taken from Australian singer Kylie Minogue's 2007/8 Grammy nominated album "X".

In 2010, MC Spank Rock was featured along with The View's Kyle Falconer on "The Bike Song" by Mark Ronson, which featured on Ronson's 2010 album Record Collection. He was also the touring rapper on the album's 2010 UK tour.

In September 2011, Spank Rock released his second full-length album, Everything Is Boring and Everyone Is a Fucking Liar on his own label, Bad Blood Records. Pitchfork.com premiered the first single from the album, titled "Energy," produced by Boys Noize, and later selected the single "Nasty" as Best New Track. Rolling Stone premiered the album in September 2011 on their website. The album featured production from Boys Noize, XXXChange, Sam Spiegel, and Le1f, as well as appearances by Santigold and Big Freedia. After the release of his album, Spank Rock was one of the faces of Alexander Wang's 2011 T collection, along with Santigold.

In 2012, Spank Rock released a second EP, "E. I. B. A. E. I. A. F. L. Remixes", a collection of various producers' remixes of tracks from his sophomore LP. In 2012 Naeem Juwan co-wrote the Boys Noize-produced track "Look at These Hoes" from Santigold's LP Master of My Make-Believe.

In 2014, Spank Rock released his third EP, "The Upside," on his own Bad Blood Records and Boysnoize Records, with production contributions from Miami-based bounce producer Kid Kamillion, German electronic dance producer Boys Noize, Don Loemax and Damian Taylor. The EP premiered on December 9, 2014 following a premiere stream of the entire EP on Dazed & Confused. Lead single "Gully" was remixed by Brodinski and Switch, and has received extensive play on BBC Radio 1.

In 2016, Spank Rock became part of The Avalanches' touring line-up. He provides the raps from the Wildflower album, as well as providing toasting and backing vocals.

Albums

• YoYoYoYoYo (2006)
• Everything Is Boring and Everyone Is a Fucking Liar (2011)

Singles

• "Put That Pussy on Me" (2005)
• "Rick Rubin" (2006)
• "Sweet Talk" (2006)
• "Bump" (2006)
• "Energy" (2011)
• "Car Song" (2011)
• "I Know a Place" (feat. Armand Van Helden) (2014)
• "Gully" / "Vertigo" (2014)
• "Gully (Brodinski Remix)" (2014)
• "Assassin (ft. Amanda Blank)" / "Back Up" (2014)

EPs

• Benny Blanco & Spank Rock Present: Bangers & Cash (2007; Downtown)
• E. I. B. A. E. I. A. F. L. Remixes (2012; Bad Blood)
• The Upside (2014; Bad Blood / Boysnoize Records)

Other releases

• Couche Tard (2006)
• FabricLive.33 (2007)

Appearances

• "Hoodie (Spank Rock Remix)" from Chocolate Swim (2006)
• "D.A.N.C.E." (Remix featuring Mos Def and Spank Rock) (2007)
• "Kick Drum" from Noise Won't Stop by Shy Child (2007)
• "Back It Up" from Ed Rec Vol. 3 by Feadz (2008)
• "Keep My Composure" from Brotherhood by The Chemical Brothers (2008)
• "Heart Beat Rock" (Benny Blanco Mix featuring Spank Rock) from X by Kylie Minogue (2008)
• "Shove It" from Santigold by Santigold (2008)
• "Trick or Treat" from Stainless Style by Neon Neon (2008)
• "Radical Businessman" from Tut Tut, Now Shake Ya Butt by Japanther (2008)
• "Roll That Shit" from Booty Breaks Vol. 3 by Deekline & Wizard (2008)
• "We Are Rockstars (Feat. Spank Rock & Amanda Blank, With Does It Offend You, Yeah?) from Pillowface And His Airplane Chronicles by Steve Aoki (2008)
• "Ultraviolence" (Remix featuring Spank Rock) by Heartsrevolution (2009)
• "Wachadoin" (featuring Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold, & Nick Zinner) from The Spirit of Apollo by N.A.S.A. (musical group) (2009)
• "My Eyes" (featuring Spank Rock, Theophilus London, Melo-X & Zakee) from Mishka and Ninjasonik present Darth Banhao by Mishka and Ninjasonik (2009)
• "Backseat" (featuring Spank Rock, Lady Tigra & Damien Adore) from Backseat - Single by Staygold (2010)
• "Park The Truck" (featuring Spank Rock) from Tons Of Friends by Crookers (2010)
• "The Bike Song" (feat. Kyle Falconer & Spank Rock) from Record Collection (album) by Mark Ronson (2010)
• "Church is on Fire" by Rebecca & Fiona from I Love You, Man! (2011)
• "7pm Woke Up An Hour Ago (feat. Spank Rock) from Michel Poiccard by The Death Set (2011)
• "Bad Things (feat. Spank Rock)" from Transistor Rhythm by Addison Groove (2012)
• "Star Alliance (ft. Spank Rock)" by Le1f (2013)
• "I Run This Club (Remix feat. Fat Tony, Siyoung, Spank Rock)" by Cakes da Killa (2014)
• "Trippy's Theme (TWRK Remix feat. Spank Rock)" by Trippy Turtle (2014)

Soundtracks

• Mister Lonely by Harmony Korine - "Backyard Betty"
• Entourage Season 3, Ep. 5 - "Bump"
• Wish-Bone salad dressing commercial - Remixed version of "Bump"
• Twelve (film) - Remixed version of "Bump"
• Need for Speed: Carbon - "What It Look Like"
• Madden NFL 07 - "Backyard Betty"
• Blur - Remixed version of "Bump"
• NBA 2K9 - Instrumental version of "Loose"
• FIFA 12 - "Energy"
• Battlefield Hardline - "Assassin"
• Forza Horizon 2 - "Rick Rubin"