Biography of Shop Boyz

Referring to their style of rock-fueled rap as "hood rock," Shop Boyz -- cousins Demetrius "Meany" Hardin and Richard "Fat" Stephens, along with longtime friend Rasheed "Sheed" Hightower -- came up in a western Atlanta area called Bankhead, the same area inhabited by the likes of T.I., Dem Franchize Boyz, and D4L. The trio began making tracks while they were car mechanics, and through a couple associates, they had their first single, "Party Like a Rockstar," solicited to area radio stations and clubs. By the end of June 2007, the song was in the Top Ten of the Billboard 100, and their debut album Rockstar Mentality (distributed through Universal) was in stores, making the group one of the year's fastest successes. ~ Andy Kellman