Spank Rock

Spank Rock
Naeem Juwan, photo by Thed Jewel
Background information
Origin	Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Genres	Hip hop,electronic
Labels	Bad Blood Records, Big Dada, Downtown Records, Boysnoize Records
Associated acts	Amanda Blank, Santigold, Boys Noize, Benny Blanco, Armand Van Helden
Website	spankrock.com
Members	Naeem Juwan
Past members	Alex Epton

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.