Up until 2004, Roy Jones Jr. was seemingly unbeatable in the ring. He mowed down the competition, was making a shit ton of money and became the first former middleweight title holder to win a Heavyweight belt in 106 years.
Then 2004 happened. He was knocked out by Antonio Tarver in May of that year in a huge upset. A few months later, he was knocked out again, this time by Glen Johnson (You can watch the entire fight here). After years of being the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, Roy Jones Jr. was focused on his raps and not opponents.
In addition to lip syncing his own song to the ring in that Johnson fight, Jones Jr. plastered ads for his upcoming rap album on the canvas. His boxing career took a turn for the worse in 2004, but what about his attempts to make it in the music game? Let’s take a look at Jones Jr.’s most notable rap video.
Song: I Smoke, I Drink (Remix)
Artist: Body Head Bangerz featuring YoungBloodz
Year: 2004
Quote it:
“Roy ain’t got to smoke or drank he gets head.
Roy keep at least six women up in the bed”
Best Video Moment: Roy Jones Jr. showing off what is apparently a massive collection of his own sextapes.
See More: Rap Music Video Reviews from The Touchback
All things considered, this is an okay song and a perfectly acceptable rap video for the mid-2000s. They certainly didn’t break the budget to make this, in fact the scenes with Magic were filmed at Jones Jr.’s mansion, but it is by no means cheap looking. However, there is something about the music video that just seems off.
Roy Jones Jr. raps with the Body Head Bangerz
And that something off is Roy Jones Jr. and his raps. He is just not very good. The difference in quality between the YoungBloodz or Magic and Jones Jr. is massive. It would have been like if one of them tried to box him. Just a total mismatch.
The premise of the song is smoking and drinking but Roy Jones Jr. raps about not smoking and not drinking. This is utterly unacceptable. Could you imagine if Mannie Fresh started rapping about respecting women and loving his mama on Back That Azz Up?
No, because it wouldn’t make any sense. Jones Jr. had to have known the hook and song concept before recording his verse and yet he couldn’t even stay on topic. The fact this album and music video came during what was the worst stretch of his career shows Jones Jr. should have stuck to boxing. At least he has bread and got head in 2004.
