Gorilla Zoe

by Jason Birchmeier
Gorilla Zoe is an Atlanta rapper in the mold of Young Jeezy, whom he replaced in the Bad Boy group Boyz N da Hood. Both Atlantans have raspy voices, slow flows, simple rhymes, and a shameless obsession with the illegal drug trade, in particular cocaine. Gorilla Zoe's first taste of commercial success came with "Coffee Shop," a 2007 hit by Bad Boy labelmate Yung Joc. Gorilla Zoe's debut single as a solo artist, "Hood Nigga," followed shortly thereafter, along with his debut album, Welcome to the Zoo. His first album as Jeezy's replacement in Boyz N da Hood, Back Up N da Chevy, was released next, also in 2007. The album spawned a series of singles, including "Everybody Know Me" and "We Ready."