While seniors are preparing for graduation and scrambling to find jobs, Marquette men’s basketball forward Joe Fulce already knows what he’ll be doing. And it doesn’t involve the hardwood.

Instead, Fulce has decided to pursue a career in the music industry.

Since the Golden Eagles were bounced in the Sweet 16 at the hands of North Carolina, Fulce has put in work in the studio and recently released a 19-track mixtape, and his Marquette teammates have taken notice.

When asked, via Twitter, which track was his favorite, senior guard Dwight Buycks tweeted back: “the whole album is my (favorite). Joe’ s verse on number 11 is ridiculous!”

Fulce also said the rest of the team has supported him through everything, telling him music was the route he should take going forward.

“My music is in all their iPods, and it’s not because I’m their boy or anything like that,” he said. “They really, genuinely, back up my music. They listen to it in their cars, and so far with the mixtape, people who listen to it say they really like it.”

Starting with a $12 microphone and average sound equipment to use in his bedroom, Fulce has now transformed the closet in his Humphrey Hall apartment into a $10,000, state-of-the-art recording booth. But just as it was when he was 15 years old in Plano, Texas, Fulce still puts every dollar he earns into improving his equipment which, in turn, improves his music.

Fulce insists he wants to have his own style of music, which he describes as a mix of East Coast lyricism with Southern beats, and he likens himself to Pharrell Williams and The Dream when describing his work ethic behind the mic.

“The studio sessions I watch of them and the creativity that they use, they’re very hard workers in their craft,” Fulce said. “And it’s not the music they put out, it’s their work ethic.”

Fulce has also made the transition from freestyling in his school’s cafeteria to writing passionate lyrics about what he has gone through in his life.

“I try not to dream when I write my music,” he said. “I try t0 be more of a realist as much as possible because I don’t want my audience to be dreamers. I want them to live in the present and enjoy what they’re doing. Whatever comes to them comes to them, and if you do it well, you’ll be all right.”

As talented as he is behind the microphone, Fulce also doubles as an “engineer,” producing music for himself and his friends.

“Everyone that comes around there, everybody has their own style, and he knows that,” Fulce’s friend B.J. Block said. “But when it comes to the studio, he just sets it up and lets us do our music and do it our own way.”

For now, Fulce admits he is at the networking stage, getting his mixtapes out to as many people as possible. His goal for now is to have a new mixtape every week, which he prepares two weeks in advance to “stay ahead of the game.”

Fulce has a handful of offers for a label but is keeping his options open for now. Wherever he winds up, he knows what he wants.

“I just want to have a name for myself,” Fulce said. “I want to represent my family, my friends, my crew and everybody that has been around me and really knows Joe.

“I want to be an example, and to look into my kids’ eyes and tell them, ‘I’ve done my best,’ and that they can grow up (into) a great woman or man if they put their heart into it.”