Josh Martinez | |
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Josh Martinez performing in 2005
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Background information | |
Birth name | Matthew Edward Kimber |
Born | August 6, 1977 |
Genres |
Alternative hip hop Indie hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer |
Labels | Camobear Records Bella Union |
Associated acts |
The Chicharones The Pissed Off Wild |
Website | http://www.joshmartinez.ca |
Matthew Edward Kimber (born August 6, 1977), better known by his stage name Josh Martinez, is a Canadian rapper, record producer and record label executive. In the early 2000s, Martinez started his own label, Camobear Records, to which fellow rap artist Moka Only is signed. Josh Martinez was once named by Urb Magazine as one of its "Next 100 Rising Stars".
In addition to pursuing a solo career, Josh is a founding member of both the Chicharones and the Pissed Off Wild. The Chicharones is an underground pop and hip hop project in collaboration with rapper Sleep of Oldominion, following a chance meeting between the two at South By Southwest that led to the eventual formation of the group. The Pissed Off Wild, (or the P.O.W.), is a live rock band which Martinez fronts. Musically the band draws from artists such as The Black Keys and Beck.
Martinez' 2005 solo album, Midriff Music, produced by Southern California DJ Samix won the "Best Rap Recording" award at the 2005 Western Canadian Music Awards. After the success of his many solo albums and Chicharones material, he proceeded to work on material for his follow-up solo album, World Famous Sex Buffet. Working with some of his regular production partners, he also enlisted the help of some notable guests artists whom he had met over the years. These include Devin The Dude, Classified, Pigeon John, indie rock band Mother Mother, Sleep and Awol One. Touring the world, Martinez has shared the stage and road with acts such as Sage Francis, Sole and Alias of Anticon.