Joe C.
| Joe C. | |
|---|---|
Joe C. in 1999
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Calleja |
| Born |
November 9, 1974 Taylor, Michigan, U.S. |
| Origin | Taylor, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | November 16, 2000 (aged 26) Taylor, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, rap rock, rap metal |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1994–2000 |
| Associated acts | Kid Rock |
Joseph Calleja (November 9, 1974 – November 16, 2000), better known by his stage name Joe C., was an American rapper and musician. His popularity and fame were based on his relationship as hype man and comic relief for fellow rapper Kid Rock.
Calleja was born in Taylor, Michigan. He had coeliac disease, an autoimmune disease that may cause stunting and dwarfism and some complications in rare cases. Because of this, he had a maximum height of 3 ft 9 in (1.1 m) at adult age. His dwarfism resulted in multiple medical problems. In 2000, he said in an interview with John Norris from MTV that he had to take 60 pills daily and required constant medical treatment. His Los Angeles Times obituary stated Calleja's medical regimen had required taking 65 pills daily, in addition to undergoing daily kidney dialysis.
Calleja first met fellow Michigan musician Kid Rock at a concert by the latter in Roseville, Michigan in 1994. In a backstage interview conducted by disc jockey Julie Slater of New York FM radio station K-Rock (WXRK) on July 24, 1999 after Kid Rock's performance at , the artist said Calleja "used to come to all my shows, he'd be standing on tables in the front row singing the lyrics."
Kid Rock said in the interview that he mistakenly thought Joe C. was a child. Calleja asked a mutual acquaintance to tell Rock he wanted to smoke a joint with him, Rock said, after which the pair formally met and Rock learned Calleja was actually a 21-year-old adult. "He's talking and I'm like, would you like a job? He's like, I can't do anything. I'm like, it's not important right now. I was like, you got attitude flying all over this room. I was like, I'll teach you everything you need to know."
Joe C. was first featured on the demo "Cool Daddy Cool" in 1995.
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