Joey Stylez
| Joey Stylez | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Joseph Dale Marlin Laplante |
| Born | May 14, 1981 |
| Origin | Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Genres | Hip hop, Rap, Street Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, rapper, producer |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | Universal, Sony, Stressed Street, Flight Academy Music |
| Associated acts | Swagg Boss, Ty Dolla Sign, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, A Tribe Called Red, Moka Only, Winnipeg's Most, SDK, The Weeknd, Michael Rushden |
| Website |
joeystylez |
Joseph Dale Marlin LaPlante (born May 14, 1981), better known for his stage name Joey Stylez, is a First Nations Canadian singer-songwriter, rapper, hip-hop artist, First Nations activist, fashion designer.
Early life
1981–2000: Beginnings
Lorna Colleen Heiber (born c. 1960) is Métis Catholic.[1] She was formerly heavily involved in Métis politics, having served as a Métis leader including Acting President of the Métis Nation—Saskatchewan in 2004. Lorna is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. Dale Gary LaPlante (born c. 1960) is Plains Cree and is active in First Nations and Canadian Federal Politics. He has worked hand in hand with Jean Chretien, Paul Martin and Phil Fontaine.
Career
2001–2006: Mixtapes and 50 Cent
His break came when he was asked to open for 50 Cent in Saskatoon, only one night after his uncle, Isho Hana,[2] was shot and killed in a drug related killing on Preston Avenue in 2004.[3]
2007–2008: XXL & Living Proof
In June 2007 Stylez was on the front page of[4] The StarPhoenix got a feature in mega hip hop Bible XXL (magazine) and ranking on CBC's list of top 25 Canadian MC's of all time, solidifying his street cred as a Canadian MC worth watching.[5] In 2008 his controversial song and video for Living Proof reached #4 on Much Music's Rap City.[5]
Joey Stylez was featured in the Star Phoenix with his friends Trent Duff and Sean Horse to show off his fashion success and billboard at Idylwyld Drive and 20th Street, downtown Saskatoon.[6][7]
2009: The Blackstar
His debut studio album The Blackstar was released on November 23, 2009. The title is taken from Joseph's Kookum (grandmother in traditional Plains Cree) name, Christina (Laplante) Blackstar. Kookum was a traditional Plains Cree woman who never spoke English and practiced all the sacred ceremonies.[8]
The Blackstar was a great success earning Stylez three Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, including Best Music Video for his song "Sugarcane" (2009), Best Pop Album (2010) and Songwriter of the Year (2010).[9] In 2011 Joey received a nomination for Aboriginal Album of the Year for this project.[10]
Discography
- Trap Famous (mixtape) (2006)
- Chief of the North (mixtape) (2007)
- The Blackstar (2009)
- "The Lost Filez" (2010)
- Red Makaveli (2012)
- Feather + Rosary (2013)
Studio albums
| Title | Year | Details | Songs | Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trap Famous | 2006 | Mixtape | ||
| Chief of the North | 2007 | Mixtape | XXL feature | |
| The Blackstar | 2009 | Studio Album |
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| The Lost Filez | 2010 | LP |
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| Red Makaveli | 2012 | Mixtape |
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| Feather + Rosary | 2013 | Independent Release |
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Awards and nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards[11] | Sugarcane, The Blackstar | Best Music Video | Won |
| 2010 | Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards[11] | "Kool Runnin" | Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year | Won |
| 2010 | Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards[11] | "The Blackstar" | Best Pop CD | Won |
| 2010 | Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards[11] | "The Blackstar" | Aboriginal Male Entertainer of the Year | Nominated |
| 2010 | Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards[11] | "The Blackstar" | Best New Artist | Nominated |
| 2010 | Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards[11] | "Kool Runnin" | Single of the Year | Nominated |
| 2010 | Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards | "The Blackstar" | Entertainer of the Year | Nominated |
| 2011 | Juno | "The Blackstar" | Aboriginal Album of the Year | Nominated |
Tattoos
Stylez got his first tattoo when he was seventeen.[8] It was of Chief Sitting Bull. In an interview with Marie Clements' Urban Ink, Stylez noted Sitting Bull as a monumental figure to his people. He said, "I am inspired by his life and strive to one day be a great figure like him, so it's a perfect reminder.[8] " He named one tattoo "Chief Joseph". He also has the Indian outlaw logo and “Indian Outlaw” in script on both his forearm and stomach. Centered on the back of his shoulders is the West Coast style eagle with Cree syllabics below that say, "a gift and a curse.” He explained, "The gift is having lots of young impressionable eyes on me, so do not want to steer them on the wrong path, which is the curse.[8]
Nomadic lifestyle
Since he was three years old, Joseph began travelling across North America with both his mother and father to different political and business events. He has driven across North America, between Canada, the United States and Mexico several times consistently for his entire life. He has fully embraced a true nomadic lifestyle, staying no longer than a month or until he feels restless.[12]
Community work
Each year Joey Stylez tours non-stop across Canada to perform at sometimes isolated First Nations Reserves. He has spent the last ten years dedicated to giving back to the communities across Native America. He takes time to encourage and inspire impoverished children by travelling to youth homes and juvenile detention centres. He has facilitated numerous workshops with a focus on Native American youth empowerment and confidence building.[13]
References
- ↑ "Saskatchewan Native Rapper Joey Stylez Nominated For Juno". First Nations Drum. admin. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ↑ "Saskatoon Killing Tied to Hells Angels". Gangsters Out. Gangsters Out. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- ↑ "Metis Rapper Rising". Canada.
- ↑ "Metis Rapper Rising". The Star Phoenix. The Star Phoenix.
- 1 2 "Joey Stylez". Aboriginal Peoples Choice. Aboriginal Peoples Choice. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ↑ "Star Phoenix". Canada. Saskatoon Star Phoenix.
- ↑ "Joey Stylez Living Proof". hiphopcanada. hip hop canada. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 "UI Features Joey Stylez". Urban Ink. Urban Ink. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ↑ Aboriginal Peoples Choice. "Joey Stylez". Aboriginal Peoples Choice. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ↑ "2011 Juno Award Nominations Announced - Drake leads nomination count with six". Hip Hop Canada. Hip Hop Canada. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "APCMA". Aboriginal Peoples Choice. Aboriginal Peoples Choice. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ↑ "Joey Stylez parties with Hugh". News Optimist. Jayne Foster. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ↑ "Performers are Getting Ready to Shine". Whats Up Yukon. Retrieved 15 June 2014.