Students stay up late studying or talking, wake up the next day, go to classes, and then its off to an internship or a job. But for one busy Howard student, the days only get longer and longer
Junior pre-physical therapy major, and Brooklyn native Joseph “Joey” Barnes, was recently given the opportunity to tour with well-known artist Sammie, but turned it down to continue his studies.
The Hilltop got the chance to speak with Barnes as he reflected on the situation.
When asked why he turned down the offer to go on a promotional tour with such a well-known artist, he insisted that his reasons were strictly academic.
“I need to make sure that I get this semester done the right way, and I’m also in the Mr. Howard pageant. So I just needed to make sure that I was focused.”
Believing strongly that his creativity differentiates him from other artists, he describes his beats as fresh, new, crisp and clean. Also noting that he can tell the difference between commercial and real music.
Going by the stage name Joey B., the Skewl Boy, Barnes has been writing poetry since he was 12. He eventually his turned poems into song lyrics, which he made into a mixtape when he bought the necessary equipment to put onto his computer to create his own studio.
“I couldn’t sing then,” he laughed “So I just worked on strengthening my rap flow. I think that now I am no longer just a kid that just does poetry or rap. I’ve grown and now I’m an artist.”
The son of a long-time disc jockey, he attributes his musical finesse to his father and gives him thanks for that.
Looking up to other New York City natives who made it big like Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G., Barnes says that his biggest influence would have to be Fabolous.
When asked about the possibility of going mainstream, a pause came before he responded “I want to do everything,” and after another long pause, he added “I have seen other people’s dreams come true and now it’s time for me to make my own dreams come true.”
Although he is still unsure of what the future holds for him, he defines fame as respect. “While someone may not be liked by everyone, as long as they are respected by everyone then that, to me, is what makes someone famous. And that is my goal in this business; to have my music be respected.”
On his drive to be famous, Barnes said that he feels that he should share his fame with the world.
“These days people get record deals for no reason. I have to break that barrier. I have to make a way for talented artists to be seen and to become an idol that someone else can look up to.”
“You can’t put a cap on someone’s creativity,” Barnes maintains. “I wish I could explain what it is that makes me creative, but I just think about something, and I feel a certain type of way, and that’s where the creativity comes into play.”
When asked about current projects, Barnes laughed and paused for a moment.
“My newest piece is called Dear Howard, and I’ll be performing it at the Mr. and Miss Howard Pageant next Friday. I wish I could say more, but you’ll just have to come out and see it.”
The Mr. and Miss Howard pageant that Barnes is in will take place on Friday, March 5.
Be the first to comment on this article!