Most people who think about a hip-hop artist don’t think of an Italian-American. That demographic of U.S. Citizen doesn’t typically associate with that style of music. Joey Capo breaks the mold. As a second-generation Italian-American whose ancestors immigrated from Abruzzo, Italy to America, Joey is all about representing his heritage while also embracing new avenues of expression through music. In fact, his approach to music creation is to use the greatness of those who have come before and find new ways of presenting that style of music in ways that are original and entertaining.

“I think of it like if you were going to be an artist following someone like Michelangelo,” he said. “You might use the same paint brush that he used, but you’re going to use it in a different way. That’s how I view my style of music. I use vocals and styles of hip-hop that people would recognize because it’s been used before, but it’s different and unique and original. One of the main ways you would notice that difference is that I like to keep more of a pop-type radio-thing to my vocals. I also like to bring more of an atmosphere of jazz and almost an open-mic type of vibe. I’m more poetic. I like to talk to people through my music. And, of course, having an Italian background helps me stand out all on its own.”