Career
1981-2000: Beginnings
Lorna Colleen Heiber (born c 1960) is Métis Catholic. She was formerly heavily involved in Métis politics, having served as a Métis leader including Acting President of the Métis Nation—Saskatchewan in 2004. Dale Gary LaPlante (born c 1960) is Plains Cree and is active in First Nations and Canadian Federal Politics.
He has worked hand in hand with Jean Chretien, Paul Martin and Philosophy Fontaine.
2001-2006: Mixtapes and 50 Cent
2007-2008: XXL & Living Proof
In June 2007 Stylez was on the front page of The StarPhoenix got a feature in mega hip hop Bible XXL (magazine) and ranking on Canadian Broadcasting Company"s list of top 25 Canadian Military Cross"s of all time, solidifying his street cred as a Canadian Military Cross worth watching. In 2008 his controversial song and video for Living Proof reached #4 on Much Music"s Rap City.
2009: The Blackstar
His debut studio album The Blackstar was released on November 23, 2009. The title is taken from Joseph"s Kookum (grandmother in traditional Plains Cree) name, Christina (Laplante) Blackstar.
Kookum was a traditional Plains Cree woman who never spoke English and practiced all the sacred ceremonies.
The Blackstar was a great success earning Stylez three Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, including Best Music Video for his song "Sugarcane" (2009), Best People’s Album (2010) and Songwriter of the Year (2010). In 2011 Joey received a nomination for Aboriginal Album of the Year for this project Stylez got his first tattoo when he was seventeen.
lieutenant was of Chief Sitting Bulletin.
In an interview with Marie Clements" Urban Ink, Stylez noted Sitting Bulletin as a monumental figure to his people. He said, "I am inspired by his life and strive to one day be a great figure like him, so it"s a perfect reminder.
" He named one tattoo "Chief Joseph". He also has the Indian outlaw logo and “Indian Outlaw” in script on both his forearm and stomach.
Centered on the back of his shoulders is the West Coast style eagle with Cree syllabics below that say, "a gift and a curse.” He explained, "The gift is having lots of young impressionable eyes on me, so do not want to steer them on the wrong path, which is the curse.
He has driven across North America, between Canada, the United States and Mexico several times consistently for his entire life. He has fully embraced a true nomadic lifestyle, staying no longer than a month or until he feels restless. Each year Joey Stylez tours non-stop across Canada to perform at sometimes isolated First Nations Reserves.
He has spent the last ten years dedicated to giving back to the communities across Native America.
He takes time to encourage and inspire impoverished children by travelling to youth homes and juvenile detention centres. He has facilitated numerous workshops with a focus on Native American youth empowerment and confidence building.
