It’s Jogota!

By Ty Hughes       

 Don’t be fooled by Joe Salem’s soft-spoken demeanor. Known around Tacoma’s Hip Hop circles as Jogota, he’s got a passion for music that carries people to the mountaintops! Jogota’s love of music nearly outweighs his necessity for oxygen.

When Jogota takes the stage, the audience stops and stares in disbelief. His talent on the mic picks you up and takes you for a ride. The raps that come out of this kid have heart, rhythm, and deep meaning.

Jogota is the hottest new sensation to hit the scene around the Tacoma area, but that doesn’t mean he’s brand new to the game. He’s been rapping since he was just a young boy in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was practically raised by his grandmother and mentor, Rosie Lee.

Rosie Lee was Joe’s greatest influence growing up, and when she passed away in 2008, he was devastated. Not only did he miss the opportunity to speak to her before she departed, due to being across the country in Tacoma, he also missed her funeral service.

Shattered by the loss of his mentor, he set out to record an album called The Rosie Lee Project. This is actually Jogota’s second album, the first, called Tryin’ To Eat, has sold over 3,000 copies and is still going strong. But Jogota believes his latest compilation to be even better than the last. And after listening to The Rosie Lee Project three times through, I can honestly say, this CD is going to blow people away! The Rosie Lee Project is available online right now via CDbaby.com, iTunes.com, Amazon.com, or simply Google Jogota.

Jogota starts out with a tribute to Rosie Lee that brings a tear to your eye, and would surely make her proud. It’s a heartfelt explanation of his love for her and his anguish over losing her without being able to say goodbye. From there, the CD begins to build with incredible tracks like Black Super Heroes, Jo2DaGota, and WholeLotta, reaching a crescendo when Shamaurie Lewis provides backup vocals for Gettin’ Big, and Outta You.

Jogota writes all of his own material, and is amazing on the mic. His raps are cutting edge, smooth and all-consuming. He’s also a strong proponent of the Tacoma hip hop scene, saying that Tacoma has gotten a bad rap in the past (no pun intended). He hopes to see more publicity and appreciation for local talent in the years to come.

Jogota’s early alignment with VHP Productions taught him about rhyme and beat complexity, exposing him to record labels and the ins and outs of recording. With his new album hitting the streets and a new manager, Gerze Entertainment, Jogota plans to promote his new CD with live appearances all over town and beyond. His enthusiasm and skill is undeniable, and will have the audience scrambling to their feet in excitement.

Check out Jogota’s upcoming schedule at www.jogota.com or call Ron at (253) 579-7253 for booking.

Jogota is excited about taking his career to the next level, and by the sound of The Rosie Lee Project, he’s well on his way to becoming our next homegrown hero!

“We want to invite everyone to follow our journey. If you can’t make it out to the show, check out “Jo2dagota” on Youtube and Twitter. There, you can check out live clips of my latest and greatest adventures.” – Jogota