Joe C.

Joseph Michael Calleja (November 9, 1974 – November 16, 2000), known by his stage name Joe C., was an American rapper, best known for being a hype man for fellow rapper Kid Rock.

Career Calleja first met Detroit-area musician Kid Rock at a concert by the latter in Roseville, Michigan, in 1994. Rock subsequently brought Calleja into his act as a rapper and hype man: "He's talking and I'm like, would you like a job? He's like, I can't do anything. I'm like, it's not important right now. I was like, you got attitude flying all over this room. I was like, I'll teach you everything you need to know," Rock said.

Calleja also appeared on television, including a guest role with Kid Rock in the animated series The Simpsons, in the season 11 episode "Kill the Alligator and Run". Calleja was a World Wrestling Federation fan and made various references to the WWF stable D-Generation X during concerts. He appeared on the May 18, 2000, edition of WWF Smackdown during a taping in Detroit to drink beer with The Acolytes, and on the May 29 edition of Raw is War, helping Too Cool win their only WWF Tag Team Championship in 2000 from Edge and Christian. He was also featured posthumously in the animated film Osmosis Jones as a part of Kidney Rock.

Death On November 16, 2000, one week after his 26th birthday, Calleja died in his sleep at his parents' home in Taylor, Michigan, of complications from celiac disease. Rock dedicated his 2001 album Cocky to Calleja.

Discography With Kid Rock Devil Without a Cause (1998) The History of Rock (2000) Live Trucker (2006)

Soundtracks South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) Osmosis Jones (2001)