Joe Streetz is the name and spitting heavy bars is his thing. Coming from the streets of Niagara Falls, NY. (The dirty waters), the east side to be exact. Here is where he learned to hustle or starve! Joe Streetz is focusing on keeping real hip hop alive, and to make sure the bars, the work it takes to create them, remain respected. He grew up doing music, his family is very talented with a long line of musicians. Streetz’s father is amazing on the guitar. He grew up listening to a wide variety of music from Gospel, Rock, R&B, Blues and Hip Hop.
Streetz fell in love with Hip Hop as a kid. He loved it so much that it was hard for him to pay attention to his school work because rap was on his mind. Streetz worked hard at perfecting his craft, structuring his music, taking time to find his place within himself and in the music business. He currently has 3 Albums out, The Illest Intentions, Hunger Pains, and his latest Get Rich or Die A King, all of which you can hear the growth in each album.
We caught up with Joe Streetz to talk more about his career and his new single off Get Rich or Die a King “Man Up”
Introduce yourself to our readers, let them know your name and where you’re from.
What’s up y’all my name is Joe Streetz better known as A-class I am from the eastside of Niagara Falls New York.
When did you know that music was actually going to be your career?
I knew music would become my career after the first time I stepped on a stage, the feeling I got from performing was something that I had never felt before, especially being shy around others, once I found a way to break that, the stage became my comfort zone. It’s addicting.
If you could get advice from any artist in the industry, who would it be and why?
If I could get advice from any artist in the industry it would be most likely be 50 cent simply because I admire his business mind and decisions he has made over the years that kept him elevating as well as his career musically it’s almost unmatched as a whole salute to 50
What or who influences your music?
I don’t like to use other artists as inspiration real life events and situations are the real push behind my music , but I do have artists I zone out to like Nas, Jadakiss, Dave East, Styles P, etc but my strongest inspiration comes from my environment
What’s the process of creating music for you?
Creating is fun. I like to find challenges and new things to do during the creative process. I might go sit on the bathroom floor and write two songs … Sometimes I sit at the kitchen table and write the catchiest hooks I can think of , it really just matters how I feel at the moment…Hell sometimes I write bars with no beat playing just the feeling from inside you know it’s all about the vibe you have at the moment I think
Has anyone helped you or guided you in getting your foot in the industry?
Ans: Along the way I’ve had plenty of help from my support system people I’ve been connected with such as Explicit, Gifted716, Casiem NY, 290 Jones, Ma home boy zig , my sister Shizay money, big KCARMA CEO nothing but love for those people. Most importantly my mom she always kept music in my ears as a kid her and my father honestly I was born with this gift I believe lol
Tell our readers what to look out for next from you?
Be on the lookout for the upcoming videos off the get rich or die a king project, I like to be different it’s always fun making videos because I try to think outside of what everyone is used too it’s gets creative and I think ppl will enjoy the videos as well as the music , I also have a joint project with Gifted716 in the works and other music as well
What differentiates you from other artists?
What makes me different from other artists is my versatility. I don’t stay in one realm of content. I make good music in general but it’s always bars no matter what song you listen ima talk to you on it, If I made music to be like everyone else what would be the point ya know lol. I like to be me and show my talent while I’m doin it at all times, I’m ready to rap even when I don’t feel like it. I’m at my best lol. It didn’t happen overnight either I worked hard to be different and consistent
Name your top 5 Emcees
Top 5 NAS, BIG L, 2PAC, LL COOL J, JADAKISS
Name your top 5 producers
DR DRE, TIMBALAND, KANYE, HAVOC, RZA
How can promoters looking to book you get in contact with you?
If you are a promoter looking to contact me you can get with my manager 290 Jones or email me at [email protected]
What do you hope to get out of your involvement in the music industry?
I hope to succeed and make a way through the times we living in and not that I don’t care too much about the bad things but I wanna focus on the good and change the way people think about each other I guess that’s the overall goal I mean we all wanna be somebody and be famous or known but it’s more to it then just fame for me, I wanna leave my mark in a way it can’t be forgotten. I wanna be something that lasts forever.