The Immersion: Paying the Price for Integrity With Joell Ortiz Posted by Dharmic X on 12/13/12 | Filed under Opinion, Joell Ortiz, The Immersion

According to dictionary.com, the word “immerse” means “to involve deeply; absorb.” The Immersion involves absorbing a lifestyle from the surrounding environment. It involves listening to the lyrics and the beats of society’s underdogs on repeat, to the point where these songs are etched into the fabric of the attire. What does it mean to immerse yourself into the hip-hop culture as the son of Indian immigrants? This is my story...

“Internet Soliders” were a force to be reckoned with in late 2008. The phrase was used to describe fans of Jersey emcee (and ¼ of Slaughterhouse) Joe Budden, especially those who used his website, joebuddentv.com. These were diehard fans; they had ridden with Jumpoff Joe through his repeated false starts with labels, soaked up every moment of a mixtape series that has subsequently delivered sold-out shows with $100-plus tickets, and disrespected every opponent he has battled with (from Jay-Z to Raekwon).

I was never a full-fledged “internet soldier;” I didn’t understand the inside jokes between members (especially because I didn’t have an appreciation for Budden’s entire catalogue yet), and most of the threads on the boards revolved around insulting newer members like myself. But I had hopped on board the Slaughterhouse train from its beginning, and with the release of “Onslaught”, which cemented the group’s presence in the scene, I rode along as Joey continued to chronicle the intimate details of his life, supergroup included.



Each one of these videos was exhilarating. Listening to the music made me feel like I was teleporting from my bedroom and into a unique universe with its constructed setting and an adventure to follow, but watching the videos felt like I was ripping the mask off of the characters who I was listening to and getting an actual glimpse into their lives. Joe’s openness (which continues through his Twitter and Instagram accounts) was raw and refreshing, but these videos showed a humor in Joell that was open and disarming.



Slaughterhouse had just formed, just performed at a packed crowd at the historic SOBs in New York City, and had only released two songs (and while that is enough for Def Jam to sign Trinidad James to a $2 Million deal, that’s not enough for a lyrics-based group of industry outcasts to create the buzz necessary to secure a deal). As a result, each of the four individual members had continued churning out material for their solo careers.

Joell was especially prolific in this regard. Mr. Yaowa was blasting out freestyles, features, and singles such as the one above and “Bout My Money". Joell approached each verse with a hunger that I couldn’t appreciate when I had first heard him rhyme. “Morning” exemplifies the style Joell has always used when detailing the gritty crime scene of New York City: never glorified, never filtered or sugar-coated.

I finally understood the struggle in his voice. I understood the stories of crack-dealing in his songs and their foundations in his reality. I understood that Joell wasn’t just some artist who had signed a contract to work with Dr. Dre, but rather, he was a kid who chose to stay in the projects rather than go to college to help his mother recover from drug abuse, only to sell those very drugs she was abusing to earn his keep.

When I listened to Joell’s music in 2008 as compared to 2006, I understood the consequences of making the wrong decisions in life. Now, when I look back and listen to the music again, I understand that there are consequences for making the right decisions in life. Standing by principles and convictions comes with a price, and I’m ready to pay it.


(DJ Dharmic X is the host of This Culture Never Dies, 11PM-1AM Saturday on wnyu.org. Fans and haters, can follow him on Twitter and check him out on Facebook.)

See Also: The Immersion: Chuck D & Dead Prez “Refuse to Lose”