Biography
Who is Bobby Shmurda?
Early life and background
Bobby Shmurda: Born Ackquille Jean Pollard on August 4, 1994, the artist grew up in Miami, Florida. His mother is from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and his father is from Jamaica. After his father was incarcerated, Pollard relocated with his mother to the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
During his time in Brooklyn, Pollard experienced several run-ins with local law enforcement. These incidents included serving 15 months in detention for a probation violation and facing gun charges that were eventually dropped. Prosecutors later alleged that he acted as the leader of a criminal enterprise known as GS9, which was involved in drug trafficking along Kings Highway and conflicts with rival neighborhood gangs.
Rise to fame and musical style
The artist first gained traction by remixing Crime Mob's track Knuck If You Buck, though he achieved little mainstream attention until the 2014 release of Hot Nigga. Using the instrumental from a 2012 Lloyd Banks song titled Jackpot, the track went viral on YouTube shortly after its release. The accompanying music video featured his signature Shmoney dance, which quickly became an internet meme.
This dance was replicated by major stars, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Drake, during various public appearances and performances. Following this success, he signed with Epic Records. The song eventually peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. A remix featuring artists like Fabolous, Chris Brown, and Jadakiss arrived later that year, alongside a reggae-infused version.
Legal issues and incarceration
In December 2014, police arrested the rapper and several associates from the GS9 collective, charging them with conspiracy to commit murder, weapons possession, and reckless endangerment. Prosecutors described his music videos as a real-life document of criminal activities. He pleaded guilty to third-degree conspiracy and weapons possession in 2016 and received a seven-year prison sentence.
While serving time, he faced additional charges, including promoting contraband after being caught with a shiv in Rikers Island jail. He spent his sentence in various facilities, including being moved to protective custody at the Clinton Correctional Facility. He earned credit for two years served while awaiting trial and was eventually released in February 2021 after serving over six years.
Post-prison career and recent events
Following his release, he returned to music, performing at the Rolling Loud Festival in July 2021 and releasing the single No Time for Sleep (Freestyle) shortly after. He eventually requested and received a release from his recording contract with Epic Records in 2022 after years of conflict. He has since expressed a desire to distance himself from the mainstream hip-hop industry and has worked on an autobiography.
In 2025, a planned 19-date tour titled the Still Alive Tour was canceled due to disputes with booking agents and low ticket sales. Later that same year, he was involved in an altercation at a Minnesota nightclub where he threw a microphone at a fan after a bottle was thrown at him. No injuries were reported during this incident.
Birthday and age
Bobby Shmurda was born on August 4, 1994, which makes Bobby 32 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Bobby shares the date with 44 other famous people.
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