Darion Crawford and Shawn Timothy Johnson are from Albany, Georgia.  Eventually, Darion and Shawn became Smoke and Shawn Jay, and they formed Field Mob.  Late in 1999, the duo signed with a small record label called Southern House records and released a single, Project Dreamz.  

Field Mob

Down in Albany that's actual slave land that used to be land from the fields and the plantations. Slaves worked in the fields there so we try to represent that to the fullest ‘cause a lot of people have forgot where they're from.

Hip Hop with Roots in the Country

Darion Crawford and Shawn Timothy Johnson are from Albany, Georgia.  Eventually, Darion and Shawn became Smoke and Shawn Jay, and they formed Field Mob.  Late in 1999, the duo signed with a small record label called Southern House records and released a single, Project Dreamz.  

At the end of December, Field Mob released their debut album, 613: Ashy to Classy, which received accolades from critics, with Hip Hop magazine The Source calling it the best album in 2001.  The album’s success drew the attentions of Trick Daddy and Big Boi of Outkast and collaborations with these artists served to boost the duo’s fame even more.

Proving Themselves

Their second album, From the Roota to the Toota did not receive the reviews its predecessor had, but sales were another story.  The album certified gold, and their single Sick of Being Lonely peaked at #5 on the US Rap charts and #10 on the R&B charts.  It remains their second biggest hit.    MCA Records was absorbed into Geffen, leaving Field Mob with no label.  This ended up a blessing in disguise, because it attracted the attention of Ludacris, who signed them to his label, Disturbing the Peace.

In 2005, they appeared on Ludacris Presents: Disturbing the Peace, a compilation album of young rap and hip hop artists.  They recorded Georgia with Ludacris and Jamie Foxx, and the song was an instant underground hit.   Their third album, Light Poles and Pine Trees was hugely successful.   The single, So What, was included on this album.  Recorded with Ciara, it became their biggest hit.

Here and Now

8th Day of the Week, Shawn Jay’s solo endeavor is due to be released sometime this year.  Smoke signed a record deal with Mpire Records, and, as Chevy P, is working on a solo album, Caprice Classics.  Both artists deny that these solo projects mean that Field Mob is over, although they have no specific date for any new release.  Their singles and albums remain available at their website as well as other music sites for purchase.  Songs can be downloaded in mp format; videos are available for viewing as well.

Much of the credit for the unprecedented success enjoyed by Field Mob has been attributed to the aggressive promotion activities of Ludacris and DTP.  Neither artist denies this and even gives tribute to their promoter in interviews.  According to Smoke, the artistic freedom afforded to them by Ludacris, combined with his talents, led to the success they experienced.

Did you know . . .

1. Smoke met Shawn Jay in high school when he challenged him to a rap battle.

2. Field Mob had to fight for credibility in the rap circuit because they were from the country.

3. The name Field Mob refers to the country (field) and their power as a two man army (mob).

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