BlocBoy JB, Look Alive | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 30th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we highlight “Look Alive” performed by rapper BlocBoy JB featuring Drake. 

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the 30^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we dive into “Look Alive”, the one-hit wonder by rapper BlocBoy JB.

“901 Shelby Drive, look alive, look alive / Niggas came up on this side, now they on the other side.” Memphis rapper BlocBoy JB tapped Canadian rap superstar Drake for his surefire rap hit, “Look Alive”. “Look Alive” is the second track from his 2018 album, Simi. A rousing success, it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.  In 2019, the single was certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Unfortunately for BlocBoy JB, “Alive” was his only hit on the pop charts, making him a one-hit wonder.  The good news is that the song is an unforgettable banger. Tay Keith produced “Look Alive.” Keith gives BlocBoy JB and Drake a striking minimalist trap backdrop set in a minor key.

Drake performs (raps) the chorus, excerpted earlier, with some ad-libs from BlocBoy JB. The chorus is wordy, but it remains enticing nonetheless (“Oh well, fuck ‘em, dawg, we gon’ see how hard they ride / I get racks to go outside, and I split it with the guys”). Drake also raps the first verse.  Notably, there are many lyrics borrowed and inspired by Project Pat (“If I fucked up, I’ma be downtown, man / Fourth floor bound, man, that’s if I get caught, man”). Drizzy’s cadence and flow are compelling.  His performance is hard-nosed, something he is not always renowned for. BlocBoy JB raps the second verse, bringing his own compelling cadence and flow. There are plenty of memorable lines, including “My-my-my weapon be a instrument / I’ll blow you like a flute (Rrah),” and, “That-that nigga brown like cinnamon / I got rounds like Sugar Ray Robinson / Shot to the chest have you gaspin’ for oxygen / I’ma spray ‘em, just like Febreze.” Ooh-wee! BlocBoy JB may have only conjured up one hit, but “Look Alive” is a damn good one, PERIOD.