Gorilla Zoe

Alonzo Keith Mathis Jr. (born January 27, 1981), better known by his stage name Gorilla Zoe (/ˈzoʊ/), is an American rapper originally from East Point, Georgia. He is best known for being a member of the rap group Boyz N Da Hood. His solo debut album Welcome to the Zoo came out in 2007. His next two albums, Don't Feed Da Animals and King Kong, were released in 2009 and 2011. In 2015, he released two mixtapes: Recovery and Raised in the Jungle.[3] He has been an independent artist since 2018.

Gorilla Zoe
Mathis in a press photo, 2017
Mathis in a press photo, 2017
Background information
Birth nameAlonzo Keith Mathis Jr.
Born (1981-01-27) January 27, 1981[1][2]
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, songwriter
Years active2005–present
Labels

Career

In 2006, Mathis replaced Young Jeezy as a member of Boyz N Da Hood. He first saw success in collaborations with Yung Joc's "Coffee Shop" and "Bottle Poppin'," which charted on several Billboard charts.[4] He was then signed as a solo artist for Block Entertainment and Bad Boy South.

On April 24, 2007, Gorilla Zoe released his first single, "Hood Figga", which was a success, peaking at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut solo album, Welcome to the Zoo, was released in October 2007, peaking at #18 on the Billboard 200, #8 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and #3 on Top Rap Albums.[5][6][7] In 2007, Gorilla Zoe was chosen for the 2008 XXL Freshmen cover along with rappers Saigon, Plies, Rich Boy, Joell Ortiz, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Boosie, Crooked I, Papoose, and Young Dro.[8]

On October 7, 2008, "Lost", Gorilla Zoe's first single from his second album, was released.[9] The full album, Don't Feed da Animals, was released on March 17, 2009, topping the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart.[6] It sold 29,000 copies in its first week, peaking on the Billboard 200 at #8. A second single from the album, "What It Is", featuring Rick Ross and Kollosus, was later released, and a third single, "Echo", followed.

During February 2010, Gorilla Zoe released a mixtape every day on the mixtape website DatPiff.com.[10] He released an EP, I Am Atlanta 3. He also worked on a mixtape with Die-Verse City member Qu1k.

On June 14, 2011, Gorilla Zoe released his third solo album, King Kong. Although not as successful as his previous albums, it charted on the Billboard 200 at #56, selling 10,300 copies in its first week out.[11] Allmusic rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five.[12] A single from the album, "What's Goin' On", was released on December 14, 2010,[13] and peaked at #99 at the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.[14]

On May 6, 2014, after a two-year hiatus, Gorilla Zoe released a new mixtape, Recovery, and it was revealed that he had signed to rapper Flo Rida's label International Music Group.[15][16]

In July 2018, Gorilla Zoe released "Fat Jesus", his first single as an independent artist.

Discography
Main article: Gorilla Zoe discography
  • 2007: Welcome to the Zoo
  • 2009: Don't Feed da Animals
  • 2011: King Kong
  • 2017: Don't Feed da Animals 2
  • 2017: Gorilla Warfare
  • 2019: I Am Atlanta 4ever
  • 2020: 31 DAYS OF COVID-19
  • 2020: Summer of the Flying Saucer
  • 2020: Vaccine
  • 2020: Don’t Feed the Animals 3

References
  1. "Gorilla Zoe". Prime Source Productions. March 15, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2015. Now 25, Zoe is spitting over beats from Jazze Pha, Sha Money XL, Drumma Boy, Dee Jay Dana and Chris Flame for his solo debut Welcome To the Zoo.
  2. "Gorilla Zoe". MySpace. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2015. Now 25, Zoe is spitting over beats from Jazze Pha, Sha Money XL, Drumma Boy, Dee Jay Dana and Chris Flame for his solo debut Welcome to the Zoo.
  3. "Gorilla Zoe". MTV.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  4. Birchmeier, Jason. "Gorilla Zoe > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  5. "Gorilla Zoe > Charts & Albums > Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  6. "Gorilla Zoe - Chart History - Rap Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 11, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  7. Fear, Danielle (July 3, 2008). "Gorilla Zoe". BritishHipHop.co.uk. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  8. "Where Are They Now?: 2007 Freshman Recap". XXL Freshmen. March 27, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  9. Reid, Shaheem (March 17, 2009). "Gorilla Zoe's 'Lost' Video Targets Your 'Deepest Depression'". MTV News. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  10. "Gorilla Zoe 28 Mixtapes 28 Days". datpiff.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  11. Langhorne, Cyrus (June 22, 2011). "Eminem & Royce Da 5'9 Raise Hell, Gorilla Zoe Climbs High, Random Axe Slices Into The Chart". SOHH.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  12. "King Kong - Review". Allmusic.com.
  13. "What's Goin On - Single by Gorilla Zoe". iTunes.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  14. "Gorilla Joe - Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  15. "Recovery Mixtape by Gorilla Zoe". datpiff.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  16. "Gorilla Zoe - Recovery". livemixtapes.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
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