24: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesnt already know who you are?

Joka King: Aw man this ya boi Joka king comin straight outta Melbourne, Florida. I’m 22 just workin hard man giving a piece of me to the world everyday.

24: Before we get into your music, can you describe your history about how you got into and what inspired you?

Joka King: I would never forget the time back in 2002 when I heard 50 Cent, 21 questions. It was like the beat was tellin me to idk the beat just caught me. Anyways, my boy gon kill me for this, but my boi Young Calico used to rap with a sock on the mic n back then i was like hell yeah cause I didn’t know shit about studio equipment. We started doing a few songs here an there after school.i started doing my own thing evenually at my grandparents house and back then my family lived with them so it was like 8 people in the house and when your recording with 8 people moving in and out the living room its fustrating tryna complete a song, so i delt with that for a few years.2005 was the era were i thought i was doing something. I had a few people from school liking what i was doing. i linked up with boi Phelony n started writing more lyrics and painting pictures with the words. so that changed my whole state of mind from then on i stopped the bullshit and got my hustle on. Shot a wack ass freestlye video on eau gallie blvd, started realeasing mixtapes like Big Business and all i see is clouds on datpiff.com then started a series called chronicles of crack so back then it was a must to have a soundclick and a tjsdjs or a myspace account.now that i think about it i need to drop vol.3. god blessed me with plug in’s for shows and other gifts to make me the artist I am today.

24: What was the Hip-Hop scene like when for you growing up in South Florida?

Joka King: Everyone sees things from a different perspective. Back when I was growing up the people I was growing up with listened to Ludacris, Cash Money, Jay-Z, Mystikal, 50, D12, Nelly, and all that good. I know other people would have said, Trina, Trick Daddy, Lil Boosie, but I was really always attracted to the different sounds of music cause I wanted my mind to stimulate and explore. You can imagine how I felt surrounded by the majority of the people in your area bumping that shit that you hear 24/7. No disrespect at all, it’s just how my head though every couple of years music would change, like the South would go hard then the North talent would show and Westside hit the scene hard when Em and the game got that exposure. So like I said, I seen the scene different.

24: What makes you unique as a artist and different from other rappers emerging from the South?

Joka King: I think what makes me unique not only a hard working plus being consistant with music, and hustling like every other artist that wants to put there heart an soul into there craft. I’m humble, so it makes give me the ability to meet and interact with other artist tryna make  it like me. Any material I put out, it doesn’t matter how hard it is, I make it better then the last and promote it better. I don’t know what it is, but i just feel like I belong with the artists I see on tv every time I’m crafting my craft or just in the studio with other artists, other then me or even in my daily life cause Hip-Hop is a lifestyle and alot of people don’t understand that. I put my thoughts an feelings into a music form so others that are going through what I’m going through whether it be partying, struggles, in your tiger woods mode, money mode or even gettin high, but I try to explain it in a different way. Creating a wave to be the next trendsetter, I just show mad love to everyone that’s got the same mind state as me.

24: Tell us about what you are working on.

Joka King: Before I tell ya’ll what I’m working on you need to go get a copy of that ‘Underdawg,’ ‘All I See is Clouds,’ and all my other old shit, so ya’ll can see how I evolved. I’m always working on something it could be finding inspiration to develop a new concept being a feature on someone’s record.  Yeah, finding what’s hot before everyone else. What I’m thinking about working on is that ‘Chronicles of Crack Vol. III,’ like I was telling ya’ll about earlier, get a couple of beats from my boy MQ and other talents that I got plug-ins with cause I like doing original shit. I like creating original music and with the different styles of talent I can be versatile. You need to keep your eyes out for my other mixtapes I’m in the process of, but I don’t wanna give away any names. Just be focused on COC Vol. 3 (Chronicles of Crack 3). Expect to see a better quality of material from somebody thats trying to turn nothing into something.

24: What producers have you worked with and who would you like to work with in the future?

Joka King: There’s so many talented people in this game. First off, I gotta shout out my boy MQ for blessing me with fire beats for my rollin stoned and other joints we did back in the day. Can’t nobody forget the talent, soundclick, there’s alot of programmers and producers on there. I feel like there’s just so many talented and nice talent out, I can’t really choose, but what I can say is anybody in the game that I can vibe with, like to hustle hard, and like to put a picture in a frame, let’s exchange emails.

24: Are you happy with the feedback you have been getting from people on the material you have released?

Joka King: From digital download all the way to hustling 2 dollar mixtapes and reflecting off others, that’s understanding my lifestyle. I’m satisfied, but like I always say there’s still more room in the car. So for the most part my fans riding with me until I get that right plug in. I’m excited for whoever plans on following my new steps.

24: In today’s free download age, what do you need that to make yourself a household name?

Joka King: You gotta have that mentality to get from behind the computer and wanna be different just stay one step ahead. to be honest I like hands on from the printing process to in the streets posting flyers and hustling 2 dollar mixtapes. Don’t get me wrong internet is the new thing, but i wanna bring it back to when the fan met the rapper or that rockstar behind that line that impacted your day, ya know?

24: How do you feel about the current state of the southern Hip-Hop scene?
 
Joka King: Right about now, the sourthern talent is goin in ya feel me? Ricky Rozay has put a dent in the game, Bun B, Ludacris, Ciara, T-Pain, I can go on forever. The new southern talent coming in, I have a good feeling they gonna open more doors for the artists like me.

24: Outside of the music what else are you currently working on?

Joka King: Just learning how to grow up and be the man I’m suppose to be. Learning positive knowledge, so I can pass it down to the next person.

24: Where do you see yourself going in 2011 and how do you plan to separate yourself from the other artist out today to get the recognition you feel you deserve?

Joka King: I see myself having more knowledge on life so I can move in the right direction and having more plug ins to do the things I wasn’t doing 6 months ago. I’ve always had my own type of hustle with keeping me current, so I’m just keep doing what I do and hopefully come across a blessing. One big thing most rappers forget is why would someone waste there money to help your future when you don’t even wanna spend money on your future.

24: How can fans go about contacting you?

Joka King: Fans can always follow me on twitter.com/JokaKing, so they can know what I didn’t or what Im about to do. I have a few of my mixtapes on DatPiff.com and YouTube.com, all you have to do is type my name in the search bar. You can probably get in touch with me better at jokakingsd@gmail.com and www.facebook.com/people/Joka-King/740179702

24: Thank you for providing 24hourhiphop with this exclusive interview, do you have any last words for your present and future fans?

Joka King: Yeah, just keep rockin with ya boi and keep showing that support and that love cause I’m doing it for ya’ll.

Here is the official video to ‘Rolling Stoned:’