Jelly Roll whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord is a well-known American rapper, singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence in 2022 after the release of his hit singles Need a Favor and Son of a sinner.
His music combines a variety of genres mainly Country, Hip-hop and Southern rock. Jelly Roll enjoys a blended appeal with his song Need a Favor becoming the first to feature in the top 10 on both Billboard Country Airplay and Mainstream Rock Airplay charts in June 2023. Additionally, in January 2023, his other top single Son of a Sinner achieved number one position on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
Some of his greatest music inspirations are Johnny Cash, Jim Croce, 8Ball, MJG, UGK and Three 6 Mafia.
In 2023, he won one CMA and three CMT Awards. He also received his debut Grammy Award nomination for the Best New Artist.
Recording labels
- Slumerican
- Bad Apple Inc.
- War Dog
- BBR
- Wyte Music
Age and Birthday
Born on 4 December 1984 in Antioch, Tennessee in the United States, Jason is 39 years old at 2024.
Jelly Roll Family
The rappers father Horance ‘Buddy’ DeFord worked as a meat salesman and side hustled as a turf accountant. His mother Donna labored with mental health issues and addiction. Regrettably, his parents divorced in 1998 when he was just 13 but he kept close contact with his father who passed on in March 2019 after an enduring fight with cancer.
He has three older half-siblings; A sister named Shelby and brothers Scott and Rogers.
Jelly Roll Wife
The rapper is married to Alyssa Bunnie Xo DeFord since 2016. Bunnie Xo is an American model, actress and media personality.
Jelly Roll Children
DeFord is a father of two kids both from previous relationships.
- Bailee Ann DeFord, a daughter (whose mother is named Felicia) born in 2008 who is a singer, celebrity child and social media personality.
- Noah Buddy DeFord, a son (whose mother is named Melisa) born in 2016.
Jelly Roll Career
Early life in crime
After his father left following his parents’ divorce, Jelly Roll felt he had to fit in his dad’s huge shoes of looking after his mother. In order to earn some money for their upkeep he resulted into selling drugs. He was arrested and jailed numerous times in his teen years for a variety of charges including aggravated robber and drug dealing. The first time Jelly Roll was arrested, he was only aged 14. The American artist obtained his GED while in prison.
Early career stages: 2009-2020
Jelly Roll’s talent in music was evident from his childhood. He wrote his first song at about 10 years of age. After he was released from prison he posted a video on YouTube about his past life in drugs and crime. The video attracted the interest of rapper Lil Wyte who at the time was establishing his own record label. Their collaboration Pop Another Pill released in 2010 achieved more than 6 million views on YouTube. They then teamed up with rapper BPZ to form SNO for the Album Year Round.
In the subsequent years, Jelly Roll dropped a number of mixtapes in collaboration with Lil Wyte, Haystak and Struggle Jennings. His 2011 album with Haystak Strictly Business charted at number 67 in the Billboard’s R&B/Hip-hop charts. In 2013, he partnered with Lil Wyte on album No Filter which attained number 17 on the Top Rap charts. Still in 2013, he as well released mixtape Whiskey, Weed $ Women. Moreover, in 2017, he made a collaboration with Struggle Jennings in the album Waylon and Willie.
Success and widespread recognition: 2021-present
He began enjoying widespread fame in 2021 after the release of his maiden major studio album Ballads of the Broken. The albums best singles are Dead Man Walking and Son of a Sinner. The latter peaked at number 8 on the Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
On 9 November 2021, Jelly Roll debuted at the reputable Grad Ole Opry.
In January 2023, Jelly Roll made an historic record-breaking 25 weeks number 1 feature on the Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart. Moreover, his single Son of a Sinner peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
Through the song Son of a Sinner, Jason won three CMT Music Awards. They include; Male Breakthrough Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year and Digital-First Performance of the Year. Furthermore, he bagged the 2023 CMA Awards’ New Artist of the Year in November.
Additionally, he embarked on his ‘Backroad Baptism Tour’ across 44 cities across the United States.
In June 2023, he dropped another album titled Whitsitt Chapel containing the track Need a Favor. The song became the first ever to feature in top 10 on both Billboard Country Airplay and Mainstream Rock Airplay charts.
In July 2024, Jason featured on the song Somebody Save Me one of the tracks in Eminem’s new album The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grace).
Jelly Roll Net Worth
The sensational artist has an estimated net worth of $4 million at 2024.