Joey the Jerk

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Joey the Jerk

| image = Joey_the_Jerk.jpg

| caption = Pictured in 2006

| image_size =

| birth_name = Sarpong Siriboe Boateng

| alias = Joey Lawrence Joey L. Joey's Dream

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|10|14|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| origin =

| instrument = Vocals

| genre = Christian hip hop, Christian pop

| occupation = Singer, songwriter

| years_active = 1997–present

| label = Illect

| associated_acts = LA Symphony

| website =

}}

Sarpong Siriboe Boateng (born October 14, 1976), also known by the stage name Joey the Jerk and formerly Joey Lawrence and Joey's Dream, is an American Christian hip hop musician. He has released two studio albums, Average Joe in 2003, and, Catch Me if You Can in 2015. He began his career as a founding member of the acclaimed Christian hip hop collective LA Symphony.{{cite web |first=John |last=DiBiase |title=Joey the Jerk Artist Profile |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/artists/JoeytheJerk.asp |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date=January 13, 2016}}

Early life

Joey was born, Sarpong Siriboe Boateng,{{cite web |title=Sarpong Boateng in the United States |url=http://www.intelius.com/search/people/Sarpong-Boateng |publisher=Intelius|access-date=January 13, 2016}}{{cite web|title=GONNA BE ALRIGHT Work ID No. 370465266 ISWC No. T0722495568 IPI No. 343309090 (BOATENG SARPONG S) |url=https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |author=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=September 25, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306032310/https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx |archive-date=March 6, 2013 }} GONNA BE ALRIGHT Work ID No. 370465266 ISWC No. T0722495568 IPI No. 343309090 (BOATENG SARPONG S) on October 14,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/iamjoeythejerk/status/654314333606797313 |title=Today is my birthday and I'd like to give a gift to you, a FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD |author=Joy The Jerk (iamjoeythejerk) |publisher=Twitter |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=October 14, 2015}} 1976, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Kofi Sr., and Phyllis Boateng, raised in Paramount, California with an older brother, Agyeman, a younger brother, Kofi Jr., and a younger sister, Amber.{{cite web |author=California Birth Index |title=Sarpong S Boateng, Born 10/14/1976 in California |url=http://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/sarpong_s_boateng_born_1976_12827437 |publisher=California Birth Index |access-date=January 13, 2016}} His parents married on June 15, 1974, in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web |title=Kofi S Boateng, Phyllis Lane Marriage |url=http://www.familytreenow.com/search/marriage/results?first=Kofi&middle=S&last=Boateng&dobyyyy=1946&dobmm=7&rid=0s0&smck=94uUkEVHjC7m-CAxRzLkow |publisher=Family Tree Now|access-date=January 13, 2016}}

Music career

Joey the Jerk's music career started in 1997, with the rap collective, LA Symphony, and he was known as Joey's Dream, for part of his music career in the early 2010s.{{cite journal |author=Sketch the Journalist |title=Joey The Jerk "Dreams" of a less hip-hop, more CCM sound with new album |url=http://blog.chron.com/jesusmusik/2011/09/joey-the-jerk-%E2%80%9Cdreams%E2%80%9D-of-a-less-hip-hop-more-ccm-sound-with-new-album/ |journal=Houston Chronicle |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=September 15, 2011}}{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Fryberger |title=Joey's Dream Interview, Joey the Jerk, Joey's Dream 2011|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/indiemusic/interviews/JoeysDream2011.asp |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=September 22, 2011}}{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Niemyjski |title=A Dreamer's Thoughts: An Interview with LA Symphony Member Joey's Dream (part 1)|url=http://www.sphereofhiphop.com/rap/2011/08/a-dreamers-thoughts-an-interview-with-la-symphony-member-joeys-dream-part-1/ |publisher=Sphere of Hip Hop |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=August 30, 2011}}{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Niemyjski |title=A Dreamer's Thoughts: An Interview with LA Symphony Member Joey's Dream (part 2) |url=http://www.sphereofhiphop.com/rap/2011/09/a-dreamers-thoughts-an-interview-with-la-symphony-member-joeys-dream-part-2/ |publisher=Sphere of Hip Hop |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=September 6, 2011}} He released Average Joe, a studio album, in 2003. The second release, Mold Me, an extended play, was released by Illect Records, on August 23, 2011.{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Fryberger |title=Joey's Dream, "Mold Me" Review |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/MoldMeEP.asp |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=September 7, 2011}}{{cite web |first=Matt |last=McChlery |title=Review: Mold Me - Joey's Dream |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Joeys_Dream/Mold_Me/118155/ |publisher=Cross Rhythms |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=November 24, 2011}}{{cite journal |first=Robert |last=Ham |title=Mold Me EP review |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/septemberweb-only/moldme-mini.html |journal=Christianity Today |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=September 13, 2011}} His subsequent studio album, Catch Me if You Can, was released on September 25, 2015.{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Fryberger |title=Joey the Jerk, "Catch Me if You Can" Review |url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/CatchMeIfYouCan.asp |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=October 4, 2015}}{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Hayes |title=Review: Catch Me if You Can - Joey the Jerk |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Joey_The_Jerk/Catch_Me_If_You_Can/158772/ |publisher=Cross Rhythms |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=January 12, 2016}}{{cite web |first=Timothy |last=Yap |title=Our Exclusive Interview with Rapper Joey the Jerk: "Being a Christian, Jesus is Everything" |url=http://www.hallels.com/articles/13608/20150905/our-exclusive-interview-with-rapper-joey-the-jerk-being-a-christian-jesus-is-everything.htm |publisher=Hallels |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=September 5, 2015}}{{cite web |author=Sketch the Journalist |title=Joey's Journey: Why the L.A. Symphony Co-Founder Left (and Returned To) Christian Rap |url=http://wadeoradio.com/joeys-journey-why-the-l-a-symphony-co-founder-left-and-returned-to-christian-rap/ |publisher=Wade-O Radio |access-date=January 13, 2016 |date=October 8, 2015}}