Yo ima put this plain n simple! - this dude is one of the only yung bloodz doin it big for the east coast - if y'all heard Brick Bodega his 2007 album - y'all will mos def agree. I know im soundin lyk dudes street team right now but check that shit out! Early life
At the age of 17, Ortiz made the decision to pass on both an academic and basketball scholarship to stay in Brooklyn to take care of his mother who was, at the time, using drugs. He is Puerto Rican and hails from Cooper Park Houses. He was featured in the "Unsigned Hype" column of the March 2004 issue of The Source and was also selected as Chairman's Choice in XXL. During the same time Ortiz also went on to win the 2004 EA Sports Battle which earned his song "Mean Business" a spot on the NBA Live 2005 soundtrack. The same year he was offered a contract to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label. The deal quickly soured, resulting in bad blood between Ortiz and Dupri. In 2007 he signed to Dr. Dre'sAftermath record label. Joell has since collaborated with KRS-One and Kool G. Rap.
Music career
Debut album
Though signed to Aftermath, Ortiz released his debut album, The Brick (Bodega Chronicles), April 24, 2007 on Koch Records. The Brick features productions by Showbiz and The Alchemist, among others. Guest artists include Big Daddy Kane, Styles P, Big Noyd, Akon, Immortal Technique, Grafh, and Ras Kass. It sold 8000 copies in its first week.
Ortiz also appeared on Smif-n-Wessun's The Album, on the song "Stomp". In October 2007 Ortiz appeared on DJ Emz's remix of "Leyendecker", a song by the math rock band Battles. He also appeared in the music video for the remixed version of DJ Khaled's "I'm So Hood".
Departure from Aftermath
Ortiz parted ways with Aftermath Records on April 15, 2008. According to Ortiz, he asked to be released from his contract with Aftermath. Ortiz has stated that he will be coming out with a new album as soon as possible, and he will continue to work with Dr. Dre.
2008: Grand Theft Auto IV, The Brooklyn Bomber
On the radio station The Beat 102.7, Joell Ortiz's song called Hip Hop is featured on the radio station. This is the remix version featuring Saigon and Jadakiss. Joell Ortiz came out with a mixtape called "The Brooklyn Bomber" in June. DJ Nice and Legend host the mixtape.Emperor Chi has a single called "Black Spartan", featuring Ortiz and Saigon.
Joell Ortiz is planning on releasing an album with three other MCs (Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9", Crooked I) as a hip hop supergroup under the name Slaughterhouse.
Discography
- The Brick (Bodega Chronicles), (2007, KocH)
- Singles: "Hip Hop", "Brooklyn", "Latino"
- Free Agent, (2009 ???)
- Singles: Memories, Good Times
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