Artist Database: J > Joe Blow Lyrics
Founding member Joe Blow of the welsh super group Squid Ninjaz has been putting in work since the days of the Golden hip hop era, pushing boombap vibes and oozing head nodding subject matter with every bar. Despite Joe's youthful appearance he's old enough to have picked up many classic albums which were soon engraved in his membrane and before he knew it, he was bearing the mic.
Joe was also a hit in the Jungle scene when he was 16 bagging a residency at Cardiff’s legendary Hippo club finding himself on flyers with the likes of Mickey Finn (Ratpack), Jumping Jack Frost as well as stints at both Dreamscape and One Nation. By the late 90's Joe Blow had been featured on many underground mix tapes and was introduced to Metabeats, Cesto, Cervantis and Skamma.
The crew Hurts So Good (HSG) then featured on a track from Optimus Prime (founder of Dial Up Records) titled 'Summer Time Vibes' on their 'Try B4 U Die EP' before they got their own release on Dial Up Records. Shortly after Joe hooked up with Cardiff rapper '4Dee' under the name of Undecorated Veteranz and in 2006 they released a stunning 12" of old school hip hop titled 'Music To Make You Stagger' EP with the production handled by Stagga and Optimus Prime.
Not long down the line and Metabeats dropped their album 'Metaphysical' featuring Joe Blow himself and the Squid Ninjaz entourage putting South Wales well and truly on the map for home grown hip hop. Shortly after it was Joe's time to shine with the release of his début EP titled 'Smoking Skills' which received positive reviews from any head who pressed the play button.
It was then Squid Ninjaz turn to drop their début album which is titled 'Revenge Of The Blowfish' featuring Joe Blow on several tracks and overseeing the whole project. In 2010 Joe featured on the now infamous DJ Stagga track 'Genik Riddim' on DJ Starkey's Slit Jockey Records and on the Juno Download chart it knocked Dizzee Rascal and P Money off their top spots cementing Joe Blow as one of the illest emcees on the rise.
During 2012 we saw Joe Blows debut album titled 'Dead Man Smoking' featuring boom bap bars, heavy hitting flows and rugged rhymes with great production. The albums subject matter ranges from hip hop, relationships, life observations and home truths delivered quickly becoming one of our favourite releases of the year.
Not stopping there Joe Blow has another immense release set to drop in 2013 titled 'Leviticus EP' with a fellow Squid Ninja member Ral Duke, entirely produced by Qred and Cardiff hip hop king DJ Jaffa supply the cuts. We've had the chance to hear a track off the album featuring US underground legend Diabolic and let's just say, you're in for a treat.
