SOHH NYC
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The Aftermath - Class Act Joell Ortiz Still Getting It In
Posted on September 9, 2008 10:00 AM
Written By SOHH Reckless
Joell Ortiz- "Memories"
After confirming his release from Aftermath in the beginning of the year, the Bronx rapper has only seemed to push himself harder and harder. This go-round, he got with the very popular Rik Cordero to get this video put together.
I'm still trying to understand what happened to Dr. Dre and Aftermath. As a legend in the game, I would have expected for him to be one of the firsts to represent artist development. Or perhaps it was that Ortiz couldn't make a hit song to save his life. Look at Cory Gunz, another top-of-the-line lyricist. He's been signed by both Hov and Tommy Mottola, and is still sitting below the radar. In other words, if you can't make a hit commercial record, your level of rhyming skill doesn't matter.
In any event, although I don't expect Ortiz to strike gold or sign to another major label-- which he probably won't do for his own good-- I do respect the fact that he hasn't let the downs of his career discourage him from the will to keep trying.
[Editor's Note: The views of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of SOHH.com]
I first heard of Joel Ortiz when he won some competion and JD wouldn't sign him. I thought it was great that JD didn't sign him because JD would of just held him back.
I to want to know what happend on Aftermath but I can almost promise you that it is the same story as the other artist sitting on aftermath's roster that have yet to put out a song. Dre and Aftermath may be the best thing on the Westcoast and they did miracles with Snoop, EM, Busta Rhymes & 50 but every one else got stiffed.
Joel Ortiz first CD on Koch was underated to me. I really enjoyed it. I thought his song with Joe Buddens (on Mood Music 3.5- Warefare) was hot as well. Hang in there Joel Ortiz your time is coming soon.
Joell Is heat but the problem is hip hop stopped being about the music over a decade ago.
He's simply not marketable. This is a business so if he doesn't sell or exhibit sales potential he's done.
Strictly from a business standpoint he looks too old to be just starting out. He doesn't have a compelling story as a backdrop to his talent either. The industry needs him to get shot, do time, or be connected to some gang that stays in the news, you know - make headlines.
It's sad but that's what hip hop has become. The successful artists need a gimmick. He has none. 50 had the best gimmick going next to death.
If you get shot and die you stand a chance of being the next Tupac. If you get shot and live you could be the next 50.
What will they think of next? The bar has been pushed to the limit.
Get it strait homie The kid is from Cooper projects which is in Brooklyn
Joel Goes Hard. That song "136 Grams" is nice, and the video is very well done and artistic.
I like the "Latino" song and video as well. This video looks bad compared to those two videos.
He'll probaly have more success doing Spanish rap...Regaeton or whatever.
I support him by rotating his videos on my tv show though.
Yo...Joel Ortiz is dat dude, znd I'm from the south.. I fux wit him. He hasn't sold out and his sound is still so fuckin old school and east coast. The south grew up on a lot of our own southern shit, but we know bout and like some of that gritty east coast shit, which Joel Ortiz simplifies. His sound and production wreeks of grit, grind, subway type of feel. Ortiz really has the ability to kind of bring the east coast back. I say kind of, because he can't do it by himself. Much respect out to Ortiz. Don't change for shit dawg. In my opinion he is like one of the top rappers holding it down for NYC, cause everybody else is just trying to go with the flow of the south right now. Stop swagg jacking us.
man as a fellow ortiz, i gotta give my man props he one of the realiest mc's in the game and his flow is sick, he has punchlines out the ass but accually flows too not like most rappers who rely on punchlines too much