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THIS SHOULD BE ANOTHER FAN FAVORITE~ BURSTING ON THE STREETS A YEAR AGO BY DROPPING "FIND OUT" STREET WAYS IS CONTINUING TO CLIMB FOR THE TOP. AFTER PERFOMING AT OPEN MICS AND COMPETING AT THE CYPHER AND WINNING SECOND PLACE, HE OPENED FOR PAUL WALL THE 28TH OF APRIL AT PALLADIUM AND SINCE THEN HAS SHARED THE STAGE WITH TWISTA, TRAVIS PORTER, AND LIL WHYTE MACHINE GUN KELLY. STILL MAKING HIS WAY TRHOUGHOUT THE TAMPA BAY AREA YOU CAN HEAR FROM STREET WAYS RIGHT NOW GENIOUSLY COLLABORATING WITH SOME UP AND COMING PEOPLE IN THE BAY AREA SUCH AS MS.BREEZY'S "JUST LISTEN" MIXTAPE,STRIZZO'S 2ND QUARTER COMPILATION MIXTAPE, AND CANADIAN DJ~ DJ BANKRUPT "THE AWAKENING" . LOOKING FORWARD, STREET WAYS HAS DJ HEADBUSSA'S BIRTHDAY MIXTAPE DUE TO COME OUT ABOUT A WEEK AND HAS A VERSE WITH SOULJA P AND HP ON SOULJA P'S MIXTAPE CALLED "BOOT CAMP" (ONE OF MY OTHER FAVORITES)COMING VERY SHORTLY. TO FOLLOW THE G.R.Q.C MOVEMENT YOU CAN GO TO youtube.com/strretways813 AND Follow ON TWITTER AT twitter.com/streetways - JoannaApplegate.blogspot.com
Street Ways, formally known as Michael Ortiz was born in Blue Island, IL. and raised in Tampa, FL. Street Ways is seen as an incredibly talented performer. His stage presence speaks for itself. Having a few bumps in the road here and there has not yet stopped him from pushing to where he wants to be. According to Street Ways, a year in jail made this young artist truly believe in his talent; allowing him to hone in on his skills and love for hip-hop. As all artists usually are, he has his egotistic ways about him. He says, “If I was a DJ or a promoter I would be looking for the artist that wants to raise the bar but instead they want the guy who can raise their bar and that’s not me!”
When asked about haters in the game Street Ways shrugged it off, merely saying “I will show love. Tag your shit on Facebook because I fuck with you. I will name drop and do a song with you because it’s an extra respect that came with it. If you’re humble around me then I will definitely be humble around you. If you show love I will definitely show love too, but haters come from all different angles I look different I sound different and that’s just me.”
When did you first start rhyming?
I started writing a long time ago, but by the time I got out of prison in 2007 I decided to start with “Miss America”. It was just a shot in the dark, but I wanted to just get it out there that this is what I do and I’m good at it. And hopefully it was something so commercial that someone would take notice and blow me up over night.
When I was a kid, I thought that our city was going to “blow up” back in the day. Now that I see [it] I’m putting myself out there to be that nigga, I WILL be that nigga!
How does the impact on hip hop today effect the way you put yourself out there?
I live a real life and my best biography would be my songs and how they play. There are too many gimmicks. Artists have lost the element of realness. Too many people in tight clothes and shiny shit. Everybody is so decorated now a days. I’m trying to be the one that you can tell my music, personality, and swagger, will match up with who I really am.
What artist is your biggest influence today? Past?
Past- Tupac. Right around the time him and biggie died is when I stopped listening because it started getting kinda gimmick. I’m an artist myself cause its all a competition. I cant sit here and name drop because everyone is about to be my competition.
How long have you been actually performing?
2008 is when I started at Murphy’s and Rice Lounge. I also opened up for 2 pistols at Strokers with Chuckie Boy, and that was my first performance. I also opened up for Paul Wall back in April.
-Only being in this game for 3 years… Do you honestly believe that you deserve the recognition as all the rest? What do you have that the fans want that other artists haven’t already given them?
What does a real fan look for in an artist? Is he who he says he is? Is his talent up to par.? Is his personality? Poll people and school them on my music and guaranteed 8 out of 10 people will say I’m right about myself.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years in the music industry?
In 5 years I’m going to be (hands over face) oh man… (silence) hmmmmm I can’t really say the details. But definitely 5-6-7-8 years of hard work WILL pay off!
Who would you like to colab with in the future? Anyone!
Anyone…. Anyone? Sade! She is a great musician with a beautiful voice. She sings like Pac …used to rap. She can change her mood, and I respect her.
Ultimately what message are you putting out there with your music? If any!
You could be yourself no matter what yourself is, and be able to make it far as long as you have morals and principles. If you posses all those things then you will receive just all around respect. You can be anything you want to be in life. And that’s a position of power!
Where do you draw your inspiration?
The extreme negatives that I try to make extreme positives in my life.
Have you heard of BootSlapRap.com?
I have. I see people posts on face book. Flyers. I think I seen maybe flyers around the area. - Boot Slap Rap
Discography
The Loud Pack mixtape coming 9/11/2012
Photos
Bio
Illinois born, but Tampa Bay raised Street Ways is a rap artist ready to set stages on fire. Street Ways was born on January 11th 1985 in Blue Island and is getting ready to release his first mixtape project titled "The Loud Pack". Street Ways has been building his buzz by performing all over the Tampa Bay area, sharing the stage with such artists as Paul Wall, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Whyte, Travis Porter, and more. He has also been featured on various mixtapes both from DJs in his market and overseas.
Street Way is not only a rapper; he also has been building his resume as an event host, thanks to his captivating charisma and bigger than life personality. He has teamed up with area promoters and is dabbling in club promotions and private parties, all of which allow him more venues to perform in, a chance to grow his visibility, and the opportunity to reach fans that may not have yet heard of him.
Street Ways is an artist that is very versatile with his lyrics. He can go from "I'm just fulfilling my beings cause, because that's all we can do until we see God" on his "Who Are They single, to "Ask yo girl, I bet ya bitch love me, If she ain't had me I bet she want every inch of me" off the "Make it love me" single. He gives his fans what they ask for and interacts on a daily basis with them to make sure that they know he is interested in what they have to say. He also keeps his ears open to industry feedback with djs telling him the music is top notch, A&R's have told him "your interaction with the crowd is great", and distributors who have had his music on the shelf saying that it is great work. Street Ways is not in this business with the belief that he knows everything and is the best artist around, he is here making music that he loves and his fans want. Street Ways is an artist that truly caters to his audience, both while recording and when performing.
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