"The 2nd"-Joshua (Full Album)

A long while ago, about a couple of months after I start Spotlight in fact, I had the opportunity to interview my first upcoming artist for the blog, rapper Joshua. I was impressed with his rhymes, drive, and passion for music. Joshua recently released his third album, The 2nd, which is dedicated to his unborn son, Joshua Watkins II, who is due any day now!

I had the chance to catch up with Joshua about this album, his favorite track, and how he's grown as an artist over the years. Read more and listen/download his album, The 2nd, after the jump!

In The Spotlight: Joshua

Well yall, when I started In The Spotlight, I started with the intentions of blogging on celebrity news. I also had the goal of promoting up and coming artists.

So today on In The Spotlight, we have Joshua, a rising hip hop artist. Joshua was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and was raised in the city of Decatur. His mom was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was nine, and he began to take care of her, while still going to school, working, and playing basketball. All of this began to take a heavy toll on him, and he dropped out of school to focus completely on taking care of his mom.


Because of lack of transportation and his own "poor judgement", Joshua says, he ended up losing his job. "That threw me into a depression and a lack of motivation for basketball and more into music, mainly just rhymes." he says. He had begun writing his rhymes at the age of 12, just to make it through the day. Joshua contemplated taking his own life, but came to the realization that he needed to be around for his mom. He got serious about his music, and was determined to have his dream realized.



After getting a job as a custodian at Emory University in Atlanta, Joshua met up with Emory graduate and professional photographer Carlton Mackey. Mackey has been helping Joshua get his music "to the masses" since 2006. Joshua's musical inspirations include Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z, Sade, Nas, and Stevie Wonder among others. He is also motivated by his father, Mackey, Malcolm X, and Denzel Washington.

So take a listen to some of his music. I've heard some tracks, and he's good, yall.
Also make sure to check out his blog Joshua: Hip Hop For The People and his MySpace!

Pavement Dreams-Joshua


The Rebel-Joshua


PEACE.

~Brittany Shawnté

Pictures courtesy of Carlton Mackey.