Boyz N Da Hood add new member

By: Yves Erwin Salomon

Atlanta-based rap outfit, Boyz N Da Hood, had been a member short since Young Jeezy left the group last year. Rumors quickly began to surface that he would be replaced by either T.I., Rick Ross, or Lil'Wayne but those reports ended up being false. Group founder and creator Block explained why the process has been so difficult to MTV.com. He said, "When I first did Boyz, it was built on me grabbing new artists, spring boarding their career, and they branch off. The whole movement was Big Gee, Jodie Breeze, Duke and Young Jeezy."

Block added, "Jeezy is up now, he's gone. I was gonna sign Rick Ross; Rick Ross couldn't sign with me. To keep it all the way real, it was paperwork, politics. Same thing with Lil Wayne; Wayne couldn't sign with me."

So Block has decided on adding newcomer Zo to the fold. He said, "So Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, T.I. are all honorary members of Boyz N Da Hood. But the official new member is Zo. Zo is in the group. He's gonna take it to another level then drop his solo album, Welcome to the Zoo. ... The new group album in February is called Back in the Chevy. Yung Joc is on there. Ice Cube is on the single."

Boyz N Da Hood released their self-titled debut in 2005.