|
It's Ortiz, boy please, you ain't ready listen..
Brooklyn, NY native Joell Ortiz knows that being anointed hip-hop's "next big” thing comes with unreal pressure and expectations that only a few people can ever realize, but he's not really sweating it. See, according to Joell, the worst is already behind him and the way he sees it, and according to statistics, he wasn't even supposed to make it this far in life, let alone rise to the level of prominence on the underground that he currently holds, that has some of the game's hottest producers and label executives checking for his upcoming project, "Total Package, Vol. 1" "See this rap shit is easy to me, it's like breathing air or drinking water to me, it's what I do. It's the other shit that's associated with the game that are the obstacles; getting out and finding the right situation where I can grow and prosper as an artist and keep feeding the world this fire I got inside of me."
Joell's introduction to hip hop started as a youngster when he was at an elementary school for gifted children. A prodigious writer and athlete (basketball), Joell was sitting in the proverbial catbird’s seat, constantly on the receiving end accolades and awards, with one eye looking towards a career as a novelist. “I was always drew praise from all my teachers for my writing and the way I was able to articulate. They said I had a gift for words and that I would be a lawyer 'cause I was always able to argue and debate in class at a high level.” At the same time that Joell was sowing his scholarly oats, he also began chasing a different muse: rap music. “I was probably in the seventh or eighth grade when I wrote my first rhyme. Next day when I was in the hood after school I spit my little verse and niggas went crazy. Even then I started believing I could do it.” His basketball court epiphany helped Joell realize that his talent with words could help his life in many more ways than just getting him out of trouble with teachers or macking the neighborhood cutie. “After I got my little validation on the block, you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t as nice as Kool G. Rap and KRS One. It was only a matter of time before I would be at their level.”
As Joell reached high school, his life changed dramatically as a serious family problem led him away from his promising future as a scholar/athlete and part-time rapper and instead thrust him into the streets. It was then that a young Joell discovered that his mother had, very quietly and rapidly, developed a serious cocaine addiction, often leaving Joell at home for days at a time. “I don‚t really like talking about those times. I was going through it watching my moms abuse herself like that. It was a lot for a kid to deal with.” Soon Joell’s interest for school was replaced by his survival instinct, as he had to hit the streets and ply the very drug that was tearing apart at the fabric of his family. “I felt fucked up cause I had to go out and sell that same shit that had my moms fucked up so me and her could eat and pay rent. That really fucked with me at nights, but I was the Man of the house now and I had to take advantage of that opportunity at that time.” The situation lasted for some years, and as time went by, Joell turned gradually focused more energy towards writing rhymes. “I started getting at my moms more and more to clean up and at the same time I noticed I was hittin’ the pen harder. Seeing and hearing my development as a rapper not only was therapy and a distraction for what was going on in my life, but gave me something else to aim at besides helping my mother get drug free.”
Through persistence, prayer, and a whole lot of arguing and sleepless nights, Joell was eventually able to help his mother get sober and refocus her life in a positive direction. At that point, unhindered by what had become a great weight in his life, Joell decided that he was going to even harder at his burgeoning rap career and accomplish one of his childhood dreams. Joell spent several years on the streets of Medina, battling and roasting competitors from project to project, and quickly earning a rep as a superior wordsmith with an uncanny eye for detail and a myriad of flows. His street fame brought him to the attention of renowned producer and former Rawkus A&R Mike Heron (Big L, Kool G. Rap, Soundbombing) who quickly indoctrinated him into his camp. According to Mike, hooking up with Joell was a no-brainer. "Joell is one of the hottest mc's to come around in years. The combination of his skills, work ethic and personality jump out at you. Everybody’s gonna love him once they hear his music and see him perform. We had to get to work with him before someone else did."
And work they did, in the four short years that they've been working Joell has put in his grind. He has had a single, “Brooklyn” get significant run on Hot 97 from with notable mixologists like Cipha Sounds, DJ Enuff, and DJ Absolute spinning his record faithfully on their mixshows. He has released a mixt-ape called “Who the Fuck is Joell Ortiz” hosted by Big Mike that has solidified his status as the next up and coming star. He has been featured on mix-tapes by such renowned DJ's as Tony Touch, Stretch Armstrong, DJ Whoo Kid, Tony Touch, and DJ Kay Slay. He's also been featured on The Tim Westwood show, Future Flavors with DJ Marley Marl and Pete Rock, and the Source Magazine's Unsigned Hype column in March 2004." As well, Joell parlayed his childhood love of basketball into a major career achievement by winning the 2004 EA Sports NBA Live Battle and having his song “I Mean Business” appear on EA Sports NBA Live 2005 edition currently in stores. However, according to Joell the biggest achievement of his young career has been the opportunity to write and record choruses with rap legends Kool G Rap and KRS One. “Not many rappers my age get the respect from the legends and no matter where this ride takes me can’t nobody take that away from me.” Still, not unlike other BK lions that have come before him, Joell is not easily satisfied and openly relishes the hard work that is still ahead of him. "So far it's been great and I'm glad people are feeling me now but I know I have a long way to go before I’m running with the big boys like Jay-Z or 50 Cent. That's where I'm trying to reach, nothing less." If his past work is any indication of his future success, expect "Total Package Vol. 1" to make a big impact and bring Joell Ortiz to the spotlight he so richly deserves.
© 2005 Lushlife Music
|
Anmelden
FAQ
Suche
[/center]