Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Breezzyy.
Hi Josh, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Growing up I always dreamed of becoming famous. So much so that even when doing assignments in elementary school, I was signing my name as a signature instead of printing it. I grew up raised by a single mom and my grandparents, so I knew I had to find a way out. The answer wouldn’t come until high school where I fell in love with making music.
Music was something I was active in as early as 5th grade. As a mixed kid with little to no friends, I used Hip Hop to find a way to fit in. Soon after writing my first bars, I found myself jumping into lunch table cyphers and quickly garnered the name “Josh Breezzyy”.
From there I would go on to record my own songs on a desktop my grandmother had in her spare room and pass out CDs in the hallway at school. Later I would attend Eastern Suffolk BOCES where I would earn 2 certificates of Mastery in Audio Production as well as creating my own record label “McKnight Records”.
As I graduated and went on to attend the University of Bridgeport for Music Business, I morphed my degree into what Dr. Frank Martignetti would call “The First Hip Hop Major”. Taking over the recording studio as Studio Manager while fitting in a tour while still attending classes regularly, I began to get my first real taste of success.
After graduating, and earning my bachelor’s, it was finally time to put everything I had into music. I began working on my most popular album “Third Dimension” which features both production and vocals from Eminem’s longtime friend and bandmate in the group D-12; Mr. Porter. To promote the release of that album, I embarked on my second major tour of the east coast and sold out all 5 shows. Third Dimension went on to do over 100,000 streams in the first week while gaining attention from media outlets all over the world. I was even awarded “Artist of the Year” at the Josie Music Awards which is one of the largest independent music awards shows in the country. I was also nominated for several other awards including, Record Label of the Year and Album of the Year. As the album was released, another tour was planned and on the way to another complete sellout. Unfortunately, COVID 19 had other plans and as the world fell into a pandemic, the tour had to be canceled.
During this time, with venues shut down, and everyone at home, I turned to streaming video concerts and “Verzuz” like Live Streams, which only did so much. This shutdown really took a toll on my relationship with music and drove me into a dark depressive state, to which I didn’t go into my home studio for almost a month. With there being no clear path to live music coming back any time soon, I looked to another outlet: Pro Wrestling.
Pro Wrestling was something that I grew up watching, every Monday and Friday. I had hundreds of action figures, I acted out storylines and moves with my brothers and friends and I was a complete mark as a kid. With all this free time I decided to reach out to a local Pro Wrestling School in North Carolina called “Fire Star Pro” in which I was accepted and invited down. Maybe a week prior to this, I had filled out an application to “The Nightmare Factory” based in Atlanta GA. Well, as I was driving to Greensboro NC, I received a call from AEW Star “QT Marshall” inviting me to their school starting in 2 weeks. I immediately pulled over, thought about it, talked it over, and decided, this is what I need to do. I called QT back and I told him I was in.
The program at the Nightmare Factory completely changed my life. For 12 weeks, I was completely sunk into Pro Wrestling. Morning strength and conditioning and late-night ring work, I was finally surrounded with a group of people who were just like me, and I loved it. I was able to create, have fun and be a Pro Wrestler. But this didn’t come easy. Countless nights I slept in my car, to be able to continue training. I had a house back in Fayetteville, NC, but that was 6 hours away, and it was easier to just sleep in my car. A few nights I was able to stay with some of my friends, who have since been featured on AEW programming, like John Grillo, Hunter Knott, and Carlie Bravo. Those guys became family to me. Once the 12 weeks were over, I was invited to continue training with QT at the Nightmare Factory and would train there for a few more months until it became a financial burden to keep up with rent in North Carolina, while driving to and training in Atlanta. I would return to North Carolina permanently with periodic training classes at the Factory.
Fast forward several independent matches in scattered cities, my lease was coming up and I had just started talking to the most beautiful woman in the world who as of recently just became my Fiance. She was living in Sanford at the time, and I knew this was who I wanted to be with, so I made the move and we moved in together. Since I’ve gotten to Florida, I’ve further developed my wrestling career and recently just main evented my first show in a Tables Match. I have also started a Landscaping business that has started to thrive in the Central Florida area.
I look back at my story, coming from a broken home, battling addiction, depression, and being on the verge of homelessness, and really am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish in just 26 years of living. I truly believe the 5-year-old version of myself would be proud and my biggest fan.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve battled addiction, and depression and have been on the verge of homelessness throughout my career. Recently, the loss of my grandmother, and my best friend, Carol Loper has been something I’ve had to overcome daily. While it hasn’t been easy, I’ve always found the strength to Hustle, Overcome and Survive.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Award-Winning Hip-Hop Artist, a Music Executive, Producer, Sound Engineer, Graphic Designer, Pro Wrestler, and newly a Landscaper.
I am most proud of winning the Artist of the Year award in 2020 at the Josie Music Awards as well as debuting at the first-ever Nightmare Factory Showcase in the Semi-Main Event.
What sets me apart from others is that every dream I had as a kid growing up, I’ve been able to go out and achieve to some degree. I wanted to be a famous Rapper; I was able to do that. I wanted to be a Pro Wrestler; I am that.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Florida as a whole has been very interesting. There’s a lot of opportunities here and I love that.
Contact Info:
- Website: ProWrestlingTees.com/JoshBreezzyy
- Instagram: Instagram.com/RealJoshBreezzyy
- Facebook: Facebook.com/TheJoshBreezzyy
- Twitter: Twitter.com/JoshBreezzyy
- Youtube: Youtube.com/JoshBreezzyy
- Other: Smarturl.it/ThirdDimension
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