- Joe C.
Infobox musical artist
Background = Red
|Name = Joe C.
Born = birth date|1974|11|09
Died = death date and age|2000|11|16|1974|11|09
Occupation = RapperJoseph Calleja (born
November 9 ,1974 in Taylor,Michigan – diedNovember 16 ,2000 in Taylor,Michigan ), better known as Joe C., was an Americanrapper . He became popular as part ofKid Rock 's band.Career
Calleja first met Kid Rock at a concert by the latter in Roseville,
Michigan in 1994. He was first featured on the demo "Cool Daddy Cool" in 1995. He went on to appear on television, including a guest role on "The Simpsons " and as a celebrity deathmatch competitor on MTV's "Celebrity Deathmatch " in 2000. In his songs he claims to be "3 foot 9 with a 10 foot dick".Calleja was also a World Wrestling Federation fan and made various references to the WWF stable
D-Generation X during concerts. He also appeared on an episode of "Raw Is War", helpingToo Cool win their only WWF Tag Team Championship in 2000 fromEdge and Christian .Health
Calleja had
celiac disease , anautoimmune disorder that can cause stunted growth and associated complications in some rare cases. As a result, he reached a maximum height of 3 feet, 9 inches (114 centimeters) by adulthood. His short stature caused a number of related medical issues, includingchronic pain . In a 2000 interview, Calleja told John Norris ofMTV that he took 60 pills a day and had to receive nearly constant medical monitoring in order to maintain his health. He also had to adhere to the samegluten-free diet that all celiac patients must follow.By November 1999, Calleja was forced to scale back his touring with Kid Rock, only appearing at a limited number of shows after that point. Calleja died in his sleep at his parents' house in Taylor on November 16, 2000. A full-length solo
album had been lined up before his death.Tributes
At Kid Rock
concert s since his death, a video showing Calleja'srap to the song "Devil Without a Cause " has been played while Kid Rock kneels in silence towards the screen and the crowd sings Calleja's part.Detroit rapper Paradime made a tribute to Calleja on his 2007 album "Spill at Will". On the track "People Who Died," Paradime raps about the morning he was told about Calleja's death.
Discography
* "Cool Daddy Cool" (demo) (1995)
* "Devil without a Cause" (1998)
* "Early Mornin Stoned Pimp" (2000)
* "Heaven" (demo) (2000)
* "Cool Daddy Cool" (2000)
* "Devil without a Cause" (live album "Trucker 2006", recorded on concerts in 2000)
* "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp" (live album "Trucker 2006", recorded on concerts in 2000)References
* " [http://archives.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/20/wb.news/ Kid Rock cohort Joe C. dies] ."
CNN , November 20, 2000. Accessed February 18, 2008.
* " [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430787/20001117/kid_rock.jhtml Kid Rock sidekick Joe C. dies] ."MTV News , November 20, 2000. Accessed February 18, 2008.External links
*imdb name|id=0127361|name=Joe C.
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