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Joell Ortiz

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Joell Ortiz
Ortiz performing in Amager Bio, Denmark in 2007.
Ortiz performing in Amager Bio, Denmark in 2007.
Background information
Born (1980-07-06) July 6, 1980 (age 44)
OriginBrooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
GenresEast Coast hip hop
OccupationRapper
Years active1998 - present
LabelsE1 Music, Penalty (present)
Aftermath, Rawkus Records (former)
Websitewww.joellortiz.com

Joell Ortiz (born July 6, 1980) is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York, and a member of the group Slaughterhouse.

Biography

Joell Ortiz was born to Puerto Rican parents in Brooklyn, New York. Ortiz grew up in the Cooper Park Houses in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, formerly signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label. He was featured in the Unsigned Hype column of the March 2004 issue of The Source Magazine and was also selected as Chairman's Choice in XXL Magazine. During the same time Joell 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 went sour which caused Joell to start beef with Jermaine. Joell has since collaborated with KRS-One and Kool G. Rap. In 2006 Joell was featured on Frankie Cutlass' 2006 Remix of his classic hit club Anthem "Puerto Rico". Joell released his street album called "The Brick: Bodega Chronicles" April 24, 2007, on Koch Records. The album was recorded while Joell was trying to get signed and going through some tough times personally. Even though he was signed to Aftermath Entertainment, Dr. Dre allowed him to release the street album on Koch Records. The Brick features productions from Showbiz, The Alchemist, Domingo, Ho Chi from Killahertz Productions, Lil' Fame of M.O.P., Novel, and Moss, among others. Guest spots include Big Daddy Kane, Styles P, Big Noyd, M.O.P, Akon, Immortal Technique, Grafh, Ras Kass, Stimuli, and Novel. Joell Ortiz is 1/4 of supergroup Slaughterhouse who released their highly anticipated Slaughterhouse EP on February 8, 2011. The group released their second studio album, Welcome to: Our House, on August 28, 2012.

Music career

The Brick (Bodega Chronicles)

Though signed to Aftermath, Ortiz released an album titled The Brick (Bodega Chronicles) April 24, 2007 on Koch Records.[1] The Brick features production by Showbiz, Street Radio, and The Alchemist, among others. Guest artists include rappers Big Daddy Kane, Styles P, Big Noyd, Akon, Immortal Technique, Grafh, and Ras Kass.[2][3]

Departure from Aftermath and joining Slaughterhouse

Ortiz parted ways with Aftermath Entertainment on April 15, 2008.[4]

2009 was a very busy year for Ortiz, as he released a number of freestyles and remixes leading up to the critically acclaimed Road Kill mixtape.[5] Among these was "Stressful" a song that remixed Drake's "Successful."[6]

Joe Budden reached out to Crooked I, Royce da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, and Nino Bless for a track titled "Slaughterhouse" on his digital release, Halfway House.[7] Based on the reception of the track, they decided to form a super-group, minus Nino Bless, and named it after the first song they made together.[7] They released numerous songs throughout early 2009, building a buzz for their self-titled album which was released through E1 on August 11, 2009.[8] The album features production from Alchemist, DJ Khalil, Mr. Porter, Streetrunner, plus guest appearances from Pharoahe Monch, K-Young, and The New Royales.[9] In 2010 the group signed to Shady Records and left E1 Entertainment.

A remix of Joell Ortiz' "Hip Hop" featuring Jadakiss and Saigon appeared on a fictitious urban radio station in the popular video game GTA IV.

Free Agent and new label

Ortiz started to have problems with E1 Entertainment and after almost a year, Ortiz left the label on November 5, 2010.[10] In August 2010 Ortiz was in talks, about signing a deal with Steve Rifkind's label SRC Records. However the deal was never finished.

In an October 31, 2010, interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, Ortiz discussed his relationship with Eminem and the flood of record labels that have flocked to sign him after his Free Agent album was released. He also spoke of Eminem's excitement at working with him.[11]

In 2011, Ortiz became an unsigned independent artist, after failing to sign with SRC Records. His cousin, Alternative artist Christian "Modest Roots" Ortiz also became an unsigned independent artist, being called "America's Underground Alternative Artist" who is self producing his new album Beast Coast Thrilla'.

During Slaughterhouse 2012 tour, the group stopped in Las Vegas, Nevada at Bootleg Kev's radio show, where they talked about their upcoming album Welcome to: Our House, their work with Eminem, and was revealed that Ortiz is now signed to Shady Records as a solo act.[12]

To round out 2012 Joell as part of the group Slaughterhouse they released the highly anticipated album 'Welcome To Our House' on August 28[13] and also features alongside Kurupt of Tha Dogg Pound and Big Dave on the single 'Hey Girl' taken from Big Dave's debut album 'Self Made' due out September 25.

Controversy

Following the release of his 2011 song "Big Pun Back", Ortiz received criticism from Liza Rios (Pun's widow), along with former Terror Squad members Cuban Link and Tony Sunshine, claiming that the song was "disrespectful" to the late rapper's memory. Ortiz claims the song was meant to be a tribute, and later Fat Joe spoke up in his defense.[14]

Discography

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