Joey D

GENRE

Joey D is the performing name of Joe Hagee, a Chicago-area rapper and songwriter.  His sound is based in Hip-Hop with R&B influences, and occasional forays into Rock-themed songs. Joe puts his own spin on the Midwestern “Chopper” rap style by blending it with conscious, street-smart lyrics and a solid underpinning of soul and groove.

INFLUENCES

Two of his biggest influences were Tupac and Twista.  These groundbreaking artists are known for their epic lyrics and signature delivery.  “Any rapper, anybody can rhyme words,” Joe says. “You might be able to put together some stuff, and the words rhyme and it even makes sense.  But both of those guys also know how to write to the beat.  They really play with the words and the rhythm, and match the flow of the song to the music.”

Joe fell in love with that musical journey — the way words combine with the music, and heighten the stories that the lyrics portray.  “When I started writing and creating songs, I always imagined doing it like that,” he says.  “I try to make it interesting to follow along with the story by not just rhyming -- I’m actually riding the beat with my lyrics.”

He acknowledges that he’s had tons of influences, but there was just something about Tupac and Twista that stuck out to him.  “They made it very easy to distinguish themselves to the top of anybody’s list, really,” he says.  These are the artists that he looked up to, who helped pave the way and gave Joe the confidence to pursue his own musical vision.