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Spotlights » Joe Buys, '07
Adrenaline surged through his body as Joe Buys, '07 performed his recent single in front of countless screaming fans at Rock the Rapids Music Festival on August 13. The aspiring hip-hop artist, actor, and model felt right at home in Grand Rapids.
One year after graduating from Grand Valley with a degree in advertising and public relations, Buys took a leap of faith and drove 2,280 miles from Michigan to the City of Angels, in pursuit of his dreams.
I fell in love with hip-hop music early on and never looked back. It's a feeling that runs so deep that it's almost unexplainable, almost like I didn't choose hip-hop, but it chose me.
Determined to jump-start his hip-hop career in L.A., Buys landed small gigs on movie sets, and TV shows, and had a reoccurring role as a model on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. However, he says his real passion is in music. He has been paying his dues and performing at clubs in California and Michigan, and returns to his hometown of Ionia to perform a few times a year.
Buys recently filmed his first official music video called Go Hard. The video represents everyday people who are making a big difference in the world. Buys encourages his listeners and his fellow Grand Valley alumni to give life everything they've got.
I want to be the best I can be at anything I do, he said. If someone is going to be better than me in something, it will never be because they outworked me.
His ability to rise above the ridicule of being a small town kid with big dreams is what drives the meaning behind his brand Dream Impossible.
Joe admits his latest performance at Rock the Rapids as the opening act for platinum recording artists T-Pain and Ludacris is his most significant gig to date. When he got the offer to perform, he was speechless.
This isn't the pinnacle for me yet, but I never dreamed I would even be in this position and be able to do these things. I had to overcome a lot of doubt.
His love for performing began at a young age, and his talent for promoting his brand came when he put his advertising and public relations major to work for himself.
With thousands of followers on Facebook, Buys started and grew his fan base at Grand Valley. He worked with friends to design and distribute flyers, sell CD's, and promote his latest shows.
Buys attends acting classes several times a week and on any given day can be found posting something to his music blog. He doesn't consider himself the typical hip-hop artist. When he isn't in the recording studio, or performing, you can find him relaxing at his home in Manhattan Beach, California and occasionally mentoring kids on the basketball court.
Buys said he has been blessed with the ultimate supporting cast, his family and friends.
It just hit me while I was driving in the car. I'm no longer chasing my dream, I may never have been. I'm living my dream. Wow.
Buys long-time friend and business partner Tyler Way, '09 of T.Way Collection documented his Rock the Rapids experience. The documentary will be available on Buys' website on September 13. To see the alumni relations video interview with Joe Buys just before he performed at Rock the Rapids, check out our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/grandvalleyalum
Photo Credit: Michael Cook - Grand Rapids Social Diary
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