In retrospect, he hasn’t gone anywhere. If anything, the Atlanta platinum rapper, Gorilla Zoe has become a genre-jet setter while touring around the world’s largest stadiums and coliseums and even teamed up with The United Service Organization, USO to provide live entertainment for overseas troops.

Since Gorilla Zoe went gold in 2007 for his solo single “Hood Figga” — his debut album Welcome to the Zoo climbed to No. 3 spot on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums. The album also peaked at No. 18 on Billboard 200 and No. 8 on Top R&B/Hip-hop Albums.

Proving he could move solo units, Gorilla Zoe, whose real name is Alonzo Keith Mathis Jr., was named XXL’s “Leaders of the New School” in 2008.

His 2009 sophomore album Don’t Feed The Animals was bigger. Single “Lost” and platinum single “Echo,” No. 8 on the pop charts and sold more than 100,000 units in 30 days. It was also No. 2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 1 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums.

By 2010, the gold-and-platinum rapper went platinum again for co-writing Usher’s 2010 hit single “Papers” from Usher’s platinum-selling Raymond v. Raymond album.