JOLLI BOI

WHO IS JOLLI BOI
It was once suggested by Albert Einstein that one should not try to become a man of success, but rather a man of value. Tampa-born and based artist/producer Jolli Boi has found a way to be both: retaining his values while navigating and finding success in not one, but two shady industries. What you will find upon first speaking to the man born Kevin Abrams is an inherent positivity, and that quality has brought him to this point in his career: a place where he can creatively share his life experiences, while motivating others to follow their dreams, regardless of what obstacles they might face. If you think you’ve heard this rap tale before, you’re in for quite a surprise: Jolli Boi is NOT that guy.
Having cultivated a passion for music since his early childhood, Abrams’s first attempts at becoming a musician were inspired by the early sound-system style DJ crews of his home state. While in high school, he created and sold his own mixtapes, patterned after the sounds of groups like the Jam Pony Express. Nevertheless, his other childhood passion, football, seemed like the more likely option for a future. And so Kevin Abrams left his hometown of Tampa, FL, becoming a Syracuse Orangeman, a two-time All American, and a Detroit Lion, after being picked 54th overall in the second round of the NFL Draft. While his future was fairly secured, Abrams never lost interest in music, continuing to produce mixtapes for himself and his teammates. He even landed an internship with renowned producer Michael Powell (Anita Baker, Pebo Bryson, Gladys Knight, Patty LaBelle) through the NFL’s initiative to introduce players to post-football career options. Abrams had no way to imagine that his “post-football” life would start on December 27, 1998, when he was injured in a game against the Baltimore Ravens. It took almost a month for his injury to be properly diagnosed.
While Abrams did return to the field the following season, nearly three years and four surgeries after his initial injury, he was faced with the realization that his run in the League had ended. Finally, a legal battle involving seven attorneys for him to walk away from the NFL what he was contractually entitled to, something many players are never able to see. Back in Tampa in 2001 due to his early retirement, Jolli Boi decided to refocus his time and resources towards a career in music. He soon discovered that his music held an instant appeal. “I make reality music,” he explains. “I’m not a street dude, but the streets can relate to the life I’ve lead. A football player is after the same wants as any street hustler. In the NFL, the end result is either you’re gonna get hurt, get cut, or retire. The stakes in the streets are a little more final, but if you really think about it, they’re very similar.” Within a few months, one of his former teammates introduced the music of Jolli Boi to execs at Luke Records. The result was a feature on Luke’s Lil Jon-produced single, “Shake That,” recorded in 2003. Sadly, plans to have Jolli Boi join Luke on tour to promote the single were deterred by yet another injury. What had started as a sharp pain in Abrams’s back developed into a slight paralysis within eight months, and in 2004, he found himself back in the operating room. The single was released in 2006 on Luke’s last full-length album, My Life and Freaky Times. None of these obstacles has managed to hinder Abrams’s drive or focus. They have done quite the opposite. With the birth of his daughter in 2006, he is now more determined than ever to use his gift and voice to speak to the world, a vocation he aspired to even as a Communications student at Syracuse. “I don’t consider myself a rapper,” he reflects. “I’m an NFL cat who learned how to tell my story and release my tension through music.” As he puts the finishing touches on his debut album The Hand God Gave Me, Abrams is grateful not only for the ability to pursue his dream and the support of those around him, but also for the opportunity to incite others to action in their own lives. “When I played football, I was blessed with a chance to make a difference in the lives of younger players by speaking to mini camps and college players,” he says. “Today, I get a chance to reach even more people through my music. And all I’m doing is being myself.”