Star Spotlight: LAX Boyz

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Born and based in Los Angeles, the LAX Boyz are making their move! Spank B, Poke, and Zay Zay don’t believe in being the same ol’-same ol’. They are determined to break barriers and new ground with their music.

“We are not coming out like most other teen rappers,” says Spank B. “Older people are going to feel us and the younger people are going to feel us. It’s good that we’re young now, because we are the future and we’re sparking the brains of the youth!”

Opinionated and outspoken, the LAX Boys are rappers who write lyrics that are both fun and meaningful. Spank B, Poke, and Zay Zay have a lot to say, so listen to what they told Scholastic News Online!

(AUDIO) Spank B, Zay Zay, and Poke, are the Los Angeles rap group, LAX Boys. Hear what each member of the group would choose as a second career if they weren’t rapping right now.

Q: Tell me about yourselves.
Spank B: My name is Spank B, I am 15 years old. I was born in LA and raised and San Bernardino.
Zay Zay: I am 16 years old. I was born in LA.
Poke: I am 16 years old. I was also born in LA.

Q: Where did you get your nicknames?
Spank B: When I was little, I was really bad. I got a lot of whuppings. But for some reason, it never hurt me. From then on, people just called me Spank.
Zay Zay: Well, Zay Zay comes from Isaiah, which is my real name. So everybody used to call me that when I was younger.
Poke: Poke came from when I was a baby. I was really chubby, so one of my cousins used to call me Porky the Pig. But instead of calling me Porky, she called me Pokey. Then, everybody started calling me Pokey. Over time, that also got shortened to Poke.

Q: How was the group formed?
Zay Zay: Well, Poke and Spank are brothers and I’m their cousin. We always used to hang out a lot. Whenever we hung out, we would freestyle. One day, we were in Poke and Spank’s garage playing on a beat machine and we decided we were going to start a group. It is history—you dig?

Q: Was music always a part of your family?
Spank B: It’s always been a part of our family. Our dad was the drummer for a group called The Steppers. We also have an uncle who sings gospel music. Music has always been in our souls.

Q: Describe the music on your new album, The Arrival.
Spank B: We all have individual styles. We are not just three rappers together. We are all individual rappers—we just happen to be in a group. My style came from the streets. It is rough, rugged, and edgy. I am always in your face. I make puns and metaphors that will make you think. I write very good lyrics—the sort of lyrics you have to think about to understand. I will keep your mind racing.
Poke: I am a cool, laid-back person and that is my rapping style. Sometimes, I even throw in a punch line here and there.
Zay Zay: I have to say I get my style from talking to ladies. I am a lady’s man. I am just real wild.

Q: Since you are all so different, does that ever cause any problems within the group?
Spank B: No. We all respect each other’s styles.

Q: Any favorite tracks on the album?
Spank B: I really don’t have a favorite because every one bears meaning to me. But I would have to say that I really like the song “Faith.”
Zay Zay: I have to go with “Interview.” It is talking about [when you meet a new girl] and you give her an “interview.” If she answers the right questions, she passes the test!
Poke: If I had to pick one, it would be “My Block.” It talks about where we grew up and some of the things we had to deal with in our childhood.

Q: What are some of the things you had to deal with growing up?
Poke: A lot of teenagers experience gang violence. Even some of our relatives have been involved in gangs. There are people we know who have chosen that way of life and we are trying to choose something different.

Q: What kind of advice would you give to kids going through those problems?
Poke: That is not the only way of life. There is always a better way.
Spank B: You’ve got an option; you don’t have to choose that way. Whether your thing is sports, rapping, or being an artist, whatever, there is always another way.

Q: How much of the CD did you write yourselves?
Spank B: We wrote the whole album ourselves. We write all our lyrics.

Q: What do you have planned for the future?
Spank B: We are versatile artists—not just rappers. We are artists. So, we hope to touch everybody and be on top when it all over and never be forgotten.

—Interview by Jenn Shaw

STAR CALENDER

September 2, 2007
Dallas Convention Center—performing with Omarion & Marques Houston

September 16, 2007
San Bernardino Orange Show —performing with Omarion & Marques Houston


STAR FACTS

Name: Isaiah Robinson
Nickname: Zay Zay
Birthday: June 23
Birthplace: Long Beach, CA

STAR FAVES

Sports: Football, baseball
TV Show: Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Food: bean & cheese burrito
Candy: Starburst


STAR FACTS

Name: Korey Edward Christian Robinson
Nickname: Poke
Birthday: June 14
Birthplace: Lynwood, CA

STAR FAVES
Sport: Skateboarding
Car: 1965 Mustang
Fast Food: Burger King
Colors: black, red, blue


STAR FACTS
Name: Robin Gregory Robinson Jr.
Nickname: Spank B
Birthday: August 7
Birthplace: Lynwood, CA

STAR FAVES
Sport: Baseball
Actor: Jim Carrey
Chewing Gum: Winterfresh
Ice Cream: Rocky Road

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