Live a B.B King’s restuarant, the opening act for Ice-T and SMG, who’s currently signed to Motown Records, ripped down the nights performance. My interviewee, the Bronx born, Joe Summa. He was close to walking out the door, when I grabbed him for this interview, this is what he had to say, “I got something they don’t got yet, they’re not ready for me yet.” And I see why, performs with a veteran’s confidence and the appropriate selection songs. The twenty-seven year old from the Kingsbridge Road area, has been rhyming since the age of eleven. There was a set back, after his Father passed (God rest his soul) when Joe decided to put the music aside for awhile. Joe tells it, “I got into the business aspect, shopping a deal and everything…maybe about five, six years, had a set back when my Pops had died, I dead the music for a little while. Then I got back into it just to free my mind, you know what I mean. I got a deal last year on Motown and now I am waiting to get out.”
Rhythm: These songs you are performing, are they released via Motown deal or your indie move?
Joe: Well my situation with Motown. I am trying to get out of there! They are not really a rap label, and they are not making it happen too much with the rap! I have a pretty descent relationship with Kedar, that’s the CEO, so I am allowed to exercise my options to get out. So! basically in a nut shell this is independant.
Some of those songs were definite bangers, “Franky’s and Johnny’s” letting you know something about his heritage, and it also being his favorite restuarant to eat in the Bronx. “Introducing” which you had to be there to hear it for your self, showing some skills (can’t deny him) and Joe Summa also performed “We Don’t Play” being his finale, the more energetic, crowd participation song.
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Which gives you the best high, writing, performing or creating the material?
All three…It’s like stages, you know!! I light the blunt when I write, I start pulling it, in the studio, and I finish it on the stage. So that’s what it is for me, I just love music, in a whole nut shell it’s just good.
Rhythm: Who’s production work is presented? Are you producing, your camp or someone else?
I have people in camp, I am managed by Mickey Bentson Pay-Up Entertainment in his management situation he has producers, Tru-Styles, (some of Murder Inc.) Noodles (Terror-Squad work), which is all in-house. I try to keep inside my organization, feed our people before I feed people I really don’t know.
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Rhythm: From being in this at a young age where/who were your inspirations?
My Mother!! She been through it, ex-addict, former hippie. She was into Drama and poetry, and such. She coersed me into writing poetry, that’s my start. I grew up with Charlie Chase. Kurtis Blow lived around the way, Kid Capri, I used to see them alot. So it hit me, “they are doing the same thing I’m doing writing poetry, which I took to the streets with that.” But my Mother was the one that got me back into this!! There are artist I like, but none really influenced me.
Rhythm: Well who are the artist you like and which would you work with?
I Love Rakim, Biggie, Pac the typical!! No Doubt Nas, I love lyrics. Just for show material, but I am into topics and alot of stories that what I am really into, and that’s a brother I can relate to, I see the same vision sometimes. I am feeling DMX, I like that negative and positive, we all go through that, him. But that’s about it, there’s too much saturated sh-t out here.
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Rhythm: What’s it like being in the same managemant team with the likes of Ice-T?
I think that’s a bonus, a kat doing it for a long time, he knows. You learn somethings.
Rhythm: When you hear Joe Summa’s music, what will you expect from him?
Simply!! It’s outrageous. I have joints about f–king midgets, joints about my Moms, I got street joints, I say crazy sh-t sometimes. I say and do whatever I feel. I am a funny dude, so I just try to come up with some funny sh-t.
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Being this was one of those straight to the point fifteen minute interviews, and I was able to sample his material in a live performance. In whole Joe Summa, is more so a very underrated rapper, with a fresh creative perspective, material no to be over looked. Motown’s site is still available to see and hear more www.motown.com also look-up www.joesumma.com or via management www.payupentertainment.com let this artist and labels know what you think of their material. As always in closing When U.W.A.G. Rhythm damn sure delivers, more of the Nexx School.
