What inspired me as a child is the same thing that inspires me now: being nice. I always try to one up everybody with verses and be lyrical and just stand for the art.
Joell OrtizI'm really, really, really, really conservative with money. I got to give myself a lot of excuses to spend money, because I come from nothin'.
Joell OrtizBack in the days the great emcees made singles, had great shows, won battles, had all the girls and dressed fly. That¹s what I'm about...the total package emcees.
Joell OrtizI don't hate any sort of music but I just think that the lyricism needs to be in the forefront.
Joell OrtizIf you can perfect the booth, the stage and just your persona, like maybe in interviews and when people talk to you, then you're a full well-rounded emcee in my opinion.
Joell OrtizI've always been able to write rhymes and that would be like when you consult with your girl. When I'm mad and s - t like that I would throw headphones on and close my room door, when I'm mad I just close the door with my girl and f - k her. In so many different ways hip-hop has been like my girl and it's always been there to hold me down.
Joell Ortiz