By YOKIPROMO
Bryce Waters, better known as The Boondocks Boy (formerly B3), is an independent artist from Van Buren, Arkansas, whose career has taken one of the more unexpected turns in independent music. While many listeners know him today for his Southern rock sound, that’s not where his story began.
Before stepping into Southern rock, B3 was making a name for himself in the rap scene. One of his biggest collaborations came with Paris Shadows, an artist known for working alongside names like Trippie Redd and Travis Barker. Another standout release came with Sacramento rapper 916 Frosty on “The Key to the Quest,” a song B3 still considers one of the biggest records of his career.
“That’s another rap song. That’s probably my biggest song right now,” B3 said.
Although rap helped launch his career, it wasn’t the music B3 ultimately felt represented him the most. Growing up, he was surrounded by a wide range of music thanks to his parents. His father introduced him to artists like N.W.A, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Three 6 Mafia, Hank Williams Jr., Randy Travis, Keith Sweat, and Joe Diffie, while his mother raised him on Southern rock and classic rock bands including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Whitesnake, and Journey.
“I’d probably give the flowers to my parents because I had a very wide range of music between my mom and dad that I grew up on,” B3 said.
Those influences eventually led him to make the biggest decision of his career—leaving rap behind and embracing Southern rock. Since making that transition, B3 has released songs like “Smiling Through the Trauma,” introducing fans to a new side of his music while blending the storytelling of country with the energy he developed during his years in hip-hop.
The change wasn’t limited to the music itself. After spending years performing as a solo artist, B3 officially formed a full band to bring his songs to life on stage. One of the band’s members is bassist Andrew Carey, formerly of Treaty Oak Revival, adding experience to a lineup that continues to grow.
Now, B3 is entering one of the biggest moments of his career with the release of his latest single, “I Just Wanna Ball.” The song marks another step in his evolution as a Southern rock artist and is a release he had been looking forward to for months.
”‘I Just Wanna Ball’ drops July 31st. That’ll be probably the most exciting single that I’ve ever put out,” B3 said ahead of the release.
With the single now available, B3’s attention shifts toward his debut album, Glass and Dominoes, a project he says has been years in the making and will feature several guest appearances.
“My first, I guess the debut album is what you’d call it. But also I’m going to have some pretty good features on that album,” B3 said.
With “I Just Wanna Ball” now out and Glass and Dominoes currently in the works, B3 is entering a new chapter of his career. After making the jump from rap to Southern rock and building a full band around his vision, he’s betting on the music that feels most authentic to him. Whether you’re hearing his name for the first time or have followed his journey from the beginning, The Boondocks Boy is an artist worth keeping an eye on as his story continues to unfold.
YOKIPROMO 