Profile - J-Nicks

Most 23-year-olds are stuck in a job they need to make ends meet. Not J-Nicks. Since age 18, radio’s been his primary gig. So after making a lot of noise in his native St. Louis, the young jock, born Joshua Nicks, landed in the ATL this past summer where he helps hold down the Durtty Boyz on Hot 107.9 (WHTA-FM) from 6-10 p.m. weekdays. He also hosts “Rap City” on BET from 4-5 p.m. weekdays.

To attract the pretty girls in St. Louis, J-Nicks began throwing parties. Soon he had the hottest parties in the Lou. One of the radio personalities he promoted parties for asked him to read a radio spot. The programming director heard it and gave him three days on air during his high school spring break. Six months later, J-Nicks was in the coveted 6-10 p.m. slot.

Radio One in St. Louis fired him two weeks before Christmas because the station changed formats, so he was understandably hesitant when an Atlanta branch offered him a gig. J-Nicks took it, then also landed on “Rap City,” making him the show’s first non-East Coast permanent host.

While Atlanta shows him a lot of love, he rides for St. Louis. “I’m from St. Louis. On BET, I have a St. Louis hat on and I shout out ATL all day. ... My city needs me. ATL is already established.” He even wears a blinged-out chain representing Nelly’s Derrty camp.

He was once signed to Def Jam, so one day he may follow in the footsteps of former Hot 107.9 radio personality Ludacris, then known as Chris Lova Lova.

The self-professed pretty boy averages about four hours of sleep a night because between radio and television, he and main Durtty Boyz co-host ET are busy hosting parties: Body Tap on Wednesdays, Strokers on Thursday, Magic City and Chocolate on Fridays, and Platinum on Saturdays, but the list keeps growing.