Madd Joker "Keepers of the Light"

In a money hungry, violent Hip-Hop world dominated by music full of gun talk, sex, and drugs, Madd Joker surfaces as a welcomed change. One of Hip-Hop’s most socially political and controversial lyricist in the industry, Madd Joker is an artist who breaks the stereotype of the money flossin, bling-bling, gangster rapper that has become so popular amongst the masses today. Madd Joker is known for his fight for political and social equality, and has dared to take Hip-Hop and Reggae music to a new level of mental consciousness and political awareness. Madd Joker is a dedicated MC, devoted to his music with a passion. He has an uncanny method of grabbing your attention, and his ability to entertain, and educate makes Madd Joker the unique artist he is.
Born in Livingston, New Jersey, Madd Joker moved to California early in his childhood. He grew up in San Diego throughout most of his adolescent and teenage life. Some of his earliest influences and inspirations were artists such as KRS-ONE, Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, Yellowman & Fathead, RUN-DMC, De La Soul, EEK-A-Mouse, Toyan and Brigadier Jerry to name a few. He began performing at the age of 19 strictly as a dancehall artist, but he also was inspired by Hip-Hop.
Madd Joker’s talent was first noticed by a local reggae sound system named Revelation Hi-Power. From 1992-1995 he performed with them doing shows in San Diego and LA. In 1995, Madd Joker hooked up with his producer, King Jahzzy, who was the sound man for Revelation. He offered to start producing him under his company Madd Kulcha. Madd Joker immersed himself in recording and did many shows in San Diego, LA, and the bay area with his crew Madd Kulcha. Together, they quickly became one of the most popular Hip-Hop and reggae crews representing San Diego.
In 1999, Madd Joker and King Jahzzy released his first 12” single entitled “Gotham Takeover”. He created a buzz with it, selling units at Phat Beats in LA, Tower Records, a brief tour in Europe, and mom and pop stores up the west coast. Truly Odd at Heavyweights Record Pool helped in his exposure to DJ’s in the Los Angeles area.
In 2000, Kulcha Records released Madd Joker’s first full length album entitled “Death Inna De Arena”. The album featured members from Madd Kulcha, and on an independent level, it did very well. “Death Inna De Arena” won the San Diego Music Awards Best Rap or R&B album of the year in 2000 and was distributed on a national level. Shortly after, Kulcha Records released a second 12” with songs taken from the album “Death Inna De Arena”.
2004, Madd Joker’s back with his second full length album entitled “Shootout in the Capitol”. The tunes are politically aggressive and the beats are slammin as usual. All production was done by Kulcha. If you thought “Death Inna de Arena” was dope, don’t sleep on “Shootout in the Capitol”.
There is not an artist or lyricist in the industry who sounds like Madd Joker. His foundation as a dancehall artist paved the way to the formula for one of the most unique lyrical styles and sounds in Hip-Hop and Reggae music. Madd Joker became an MC to exercise his rights of freedom of speech and to expose the injustices done by the United States Government to people in America and the world.
Basically, Madd Joker can be best described as a revolutionary, lyrical soldier, and his music reflects a militant, socially conscious message that needs to be heard.