JokaNoJoke

Joka (JanArt Brendan Sterling Winfrey) is a proud native of the Westside of Chicago. Born on a hot August in 1987, Joka was a child that wasn't a stranger to church. His father was the Minister of Music at a number of churches and funeral homes around Chicago. When Joka was about 11 years old he became the sound engineer at his church. At the tender age of 12, Joka started to rap with friends at his elementary school. When he wasn't actually rapping for his friends, he provided beats for them to rap off of by drumming on the desks. These were all early signs of what was to come.

All throughout high school, Joka rapped in home studios. While attending the University of Illinois at Chicago, Joka started to produce tracks in his dorm room.

Joka No Joke released two albums in 2010. [Beginner's Luck & Pursuit of Happiness] These works created a small local buzz. Unfortunately at the time, Joka did not know how to capitalize off of his momentum. Social media was on the rise. You Tube was a new phenomenon. The maturation process of becoming a man was in full force. These were just a few examples of some of the things that Joka had to adjust to. Life events caused him to take a step back from being in front of the camera and to study the music industry from behind the scenes. After more than a decade of crafting his unique sound, Joka has returned with a NEW & COOL outlook and is ready to share it with the world. Stay Tuned.