Joe Driscoll (rapper)

Joe Driscoll (born April 12, 1979 in Syracuse, New York, United States) is a rapper/musician/beatboxer and politician who uses different styles and instruments while performing. Joe currently serves as a District Councilor on the Common Council in Syracuse, New York.[2]

For other people with the same name, see Joseph Driscoll (disambiguation).
Joe Driscoll
Driscoll performing in 2009
Common Councillor of Syracuse, New York
In office
2018–2022[1]
Constituency5th District
Personal details
Born (1979-04-12) April 12, 1979
Syracuse, New York
Political partyDemocratic

Career

Driscoll was born in Syracuse, New York. He performs solo, and uses recorded loops of his own beatboxing, and live looping using a sampler to fuse hip-hop, reggae, soul, folk and roots rock.[3][4] He began performing as a solo folk artist around the age of 14, and became a full-time musician in his early 20s. His first real band was "The Groove Merchants" and his first album was "Straight Butta Hits." Although the band was more of a high school band in nature, they took a lot of influence from The Dave Matthews Band and Bob Marley. They also sampled from The Rolling Stones along with many other artists during their live performances.[5]

Driscoll was signed by 3rdegree Ltd while touring the United Kingdom in 2004. He was then signed up to London label Buttercuts Records and subsequently went on to record the album Origin Myths. Origin Myths combines beatbox drums (oral percussion) with layers of guitar, mbira, bass, verse, and rhyme, which means that he is often described as a "one man band".[5][6]

During 2007 and 2008, Driscoll has toured with Dirty Pretty Things, Regina Spektor, Coldcut, and The Sugar Hill Gang at events in the US and Europe. He has performed at UK festivals including Big Chill, Bestival and Glastonbury Festival, and at the Lake of Stars Festival (Malawi, Africa).[7] He received an INDY Award for Best Solo Act in 2007.[8]

His newest album, 'Mixtape Champs' was released on 20 December 2010.

Discography
  • Faya (together with Sekou Kouyate)
  • Mixtape Champs (2010)
  • Origin Myths (2006) Buttercuts (CD + DVD)
  • Life as a Monkey (2006)
  • Little Beat Big (2003)

References
  1. Connolly, Abby (June 22, 2022). "Driscoll leaving Syracuse Common Council to become I-81 City Project Director". WRVO-TV. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  2. Shepperd, Walt (June 20, 2018). "District Councilor Joe Driscoll moves from beatbox to political soapbox". Syracuse New Times. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  3. Platt, Hugh (2008) "Live:The Rage Sessions, Tuesday, March 25, 2008 ", Music Towers Archived June 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Betts, Darren (2008) "A funky night at Rogues", BBC
  5. Joe Driscoll interview, Leeds Hip Hop Scene, 2008 Archived July 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Hands, Steve (2006) "Joe Driscoll - Origin Myths", MusicOMH
  7. Potton, Ed (2008) "No sleep till Lake Malawi", The Times, January 5, 2008
  8. "Indy stars shine at awards", Metro, May 17, 2007

Bondi, John D. "The Groove Merchants"

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