Known for his ability to develop his own style and writing skills, Kentucky-based music producer and recording artist Joko Beatz has proven his abilities. His skills have enabled him to land numerous music and producing placements that have gained him many fans, as he has demonstrated with the release of “Late Night.” We had the pleasure of interviewing Joka Beatz, and here is what he had to say:
Q: How did 12-year-old Joka Beatz feel about rapping?
JOKA: At 12 years old I was helping my older brother sneak out of the house to attend a Public Enemy concert. Him and Flavor Flav formed a bond back then, so I had the privilege to be around a lot of early 90’s hip hop artists and got a glimpse into the rap world early so rapping was in me at an even younger age than 12.
Q: Can you give us the behind the scenes of how you and Sean Kingston collaborated in the studio?
JOKA: To be honest, I was able to license unreleased vocals from him and I created the music around it. I felt I was missing a female present on the track, so I got the first lady of Hard Hustla Muzik “Shanna Hustle” to add some vocal chops and then you have the finished product “Late Night” my goal was to make you feel as if we were in the studio actually recording it together. I hope I achieved that!
Q: One of the songs that really hits me from your latest album Diary Of A Hustla is “Peace Of Mind”, in terms of the lyrics and overall musical tone. I’d love to know the story behind that particular song.
JOKA: Again I was able to license an unreleased verse from the legend Fredro Starr, someone I looked up to in hip hop and respected as an artist. When I am creating music I don’t really have a direction. I just let the music guide me. I don’t like being put in a box. I love combining different genres and sounds that you don’t normally hear together. When creating music, I aim to strike emotion, and that’s what I strive for every time.
Q: Along that continuum, as an artist who’s admired, how do you navigate personal relationships when there are so many demands on you?
JOKA: Being my own boss helps. I call all the shots and can always make time when needed!
Q: You’ve worked with some of the hottest hip-hop celebrities in the game. If you could pick your top 3 favorite moments, who would you choose?
JOKA: The first moment was opening up for Memphis rap group 8ball & MJG in 1999 in a dirty nightclub across the street from our housing project called “The Velvet Rose” in Louisville, KY. They were one of my favorite groups at the time. My second moment was recording my first group album consisting of my two brothers over the weekend in Bowling Green, Ky early 2000, with the Grammy award winning group “The Nappy Roots” who had just gotten a record deal but were still unknown to the world at that time.
Thirdly, the moment was in the early 90’s when my older brother (RIP) was sick and unable to attend the Public Enemy concert in Louisville Gardens that night. Flavor Flav heard about it and after the show he and two S1W’s caught a yellow cab to our apartment in the projects. This was to see my brother while he was sick. He hung out with my family and it was Thanksgiving night so my mother gave him a plate of soul food lol. It was a special moment. Always respect those guys because not many are as real as them.
Q: Joka, what would you say is one of the greatest challenges you’ve overcome in your career?
JOKA: My biggest obstacle was being able to see my music on TV & film. Now I get placements on a regular basis and it feels a rush every time I am watching TV and randomly hear my music! Never gets old lol!
Interviewed by Shertara Brazil
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