Sleepy Eyed Jones

Sleep from Detroit

Sleepy Eyed Jones, also known simply as Sleep, is a Detroit rapper who has been putting out music independently since the early 2010s. On his own artist profiles he describes himself as a Detroit resident trying to network, make good music and be heard, and he lists his influences as lyricists first: Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Common, Joel Ortiz and Mos Def. His recent uploads are credited as Sleep Jones, "formerly Sleepy Eyed Jones."

Running on no sleep

Almost every project he has released is named for going without rest. He opened with Insomnia the Mixtape (2011) and followed it with No Doze, a 25-song tape released in December 2011. The run of titles continued through his debut album Sleep Depravation in 2014, No Rest 4 The Weary in 2016, and No Slumber in 2025.

Sleep Depravation

Sleep Depravation, released on June 26, 2014 under his own 365 Soulja Live'n imprint, is a 24-song, hour-and-a-half roll call of the Detroit underground. The guest list runs from Boldy James and Outlawz member Young Noble on "The Life" to battle rap veteran Marv Won and Sakred on "Hold Me Down," Big Herk on "Sumthin Outta Nuthin," Moe Dirdee on "Superman," and M-City J.r. and Rashad Morgan on "4 tha $." Singer Tiff Morgan appears on several tracks, including "It's Whateva 2nite," which he also put out as a single.

Still going

He came back with two versions of No Slumber in 2025, the single "Old and Grey" featuring Kaddy Rebos, and new singles through 2026 including "Can I Kick It" and "Different." He also appears on the 2018 posse cut "6 Minute Cypher."

Not to be confused with

Streaming services file Twista's 2005 track "Had to Call," with Snoop Dogg, under the Sleepy Eyed Jones name as well. The songwriting credit on that song goes to Richard Jones, the legal name of New Orleans rapper Fiend, who recorded under the alias Sleepy Jones in that era. It is a different artist from the Detroit MC profiled here.