Ozone Magazine

We all know Juicy J as one half now of the legendary Hip Hop crew Three Six Mafia. Still relevant after all these years, and coming from the city of Memphis, TN, Juicy J and DJ Paul have faced their trials and tribulations. From former crew members dishing off to do their own thing, to the changes in the music biz, staying in the game is something Juicy J and DJ Paul can speak on.

For that matter alone makes Juicy J a hustler. Gearing up for the release of his new project Hustle Till I Die, the energetic, down to earth, and charismatic Juicy J is for ready for a conversation. The man is a music maniac, he loves music so much he even breaks down his favorite artists from all genres. Making music that’s obviously influenced by sex, drugs & rock n’ roll, Juicy J sat down with us talk about all three.

Your album is titled Hustle Before I Die, why the title?
Well, I’ve always been a hustler, man, and it just stuck together, Hustle Till I Die. I’ve always been a hustler. I hustle until I die, even when I’m sleep I’m hustling. All day I’m hustling. I’m even hustling in my dreams, man. Every time I turn around I’m doing something. Some days I’m doing things I ain’t go not business doing.

Oh, word? So, talk about those days, too?
[Laughs]. You funny. We ain’t gonna talk about that. Getting back to the album though, we got some guest features. We got Gucci Mane featured on the album, Gorilla Zoe, I got Webbie on the album. It’s a lot different working on a solo project, because we put out underground solo projects before. It’s just a grind, you know, this is what we do. We always make that good underground music to make that extra money on the side. We’ve won an Oscar, we’ve been blessed, man. We try to keep our ear to the streets, keep grinding, hustling, keep putting out good music and getting this money.

Looking back at your career, did you see winning an Oscar as something y’all always wanted to accomplish or it was like, “Fuck it, we got it so let’s take it?”
Back in the days, nobody thought about what was going to happen in the future. We just thought we was always gonna be a local underground group from Memphis, that would sell 100-200 thousand copies out of the trunk. Most people in the South try to put music out themselves, instead of waiting on a major label, and that’s what we did. We grind and grind, it was real tough man, real tough. We won an Oscar, but we gotta struggle and grind to get another one.

Would you say independent is the best route for artist now?
Yes! Don’t go major, stay independent. Anybody that’s a new rapper, singer, or whatever just go independent and let it build. Sometimes you got to let it build first before the majors pick you up. Sometimes let them pick you up after a couple of years. After you put out a few albums. Get that independent money first.

As a veteran in the game how you feel about these new 360 deals?
Well the major labels are not making the money like they used to because of the downloading and all that stuff. I guess the 360 deals are a way for the majors to make a little bit of their money back after all the promotions and stuff they put out. I don’t have a 360 deal, but if I did one it will be for a lot of got damn money [laughs]. I think the 360 deal is all good, because they pay you a lot of money from what I heard. Go get your paper, man, and do what you gotta do.

One of the biggest hits that Three Six Mafia had was “Sippin on Some Sizzurp.” Do you think that record made more people want to try Sizzurp?
Nah, because they’ve been doing that since the ‘70’s. They was doing that before we was even born. They’ve been doing that, man, muthafuckas been doing that shit. We didn’t start that. Muthafuckas been doing that shit. I bet anybody that been criticizing it probably wanted a bottle of the shit.

Do you like drinking Sizzurp?
I mean, you know, here and there.

What was it like when you first tried it though?
I mean, I drink so much liquor, man, I was mixing it back then [laughs].

What’s your favorite drug you like to use?
Back in the day when I was younger all I did was smoke weed, weed was good.

So, let me ask you, once you got in the game did you see any other celebs do stuff and be like “Man, I’m not trying that?”
I never seen nobody do no crazy drugs like that. I don’t even pay attention, man. I don’t be in other people’s business. I just mind my own business. I don’t really be looking to see what anybody else is doing.

Juicy J. – “Violent”

But I know it had to be times when you was exposed to stuff and was like “Nah, man, I’m not gonna say no names, but I’m not touching that?”
[Laughs]. Nah, I don’t be paying attention, man. A lot of times when you so drunk and high you really don’t be paying attention. Ya dig [laughs].

I feel you. So what’s your favorite types of liquor you like to drink?
Man, it’s so many liquors. Vodka, Tequila, Jack Daniels. It’s so many Vodka’s out right now it’s ridiculous.

So, what’s the most amount of money you ever spent on a bottle of liquor and kush?
Man, that’s kind of hard to answer. Maybe if I can get a time machine going and remember back in the day to now.

Well you have been in the game for years, so you probably had all the best.
[Laughs]. I hope so. A free drink right now would be great. On you would be great.

Well when we meet in person one day, I’mma make sure I hook you up.
[Laughs]. Fasho.

Just make sure you tell me what you like, so I don’t give you no bullshit.
Actually, I’ve been drinking Patron.

So, is that required when you in the studio recording?
Sometimes, sometimes not. Some days it just depends on the vibe, man.

So, when is the times when it is and the times when it’s not?
Man, it just depends on the vibe, but these days, man, the best songs come up when you sitting on the toilet taking a shit. When you taking a shit the best songs pop up in your head.

Oh word? [Laughs]. I’ve never heard that one before.
Man, I’m telling you a lot of times when you taking a shit, songs that dope just come in. Either a chorus or just a damn flow is just running through my head.

Well, you need to make a song about taking a good shit?
[Laughs]. I may make a song called “Shittin’ On Niggas,” man. I’m shittin’ on these niggas out here.

Juicy J feat. Webbie & Project Pat – “Ugh Ugh Ugh”

As far as the music out right now, who is Juicy J feeling?
I listen to pretty much everything, man. R&B music, Rock n Roll, I listen to everything, man. My CD player is full with cats like Metallica, Guns N Roses, everything.

Do you listen to the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync?
I think I got one of their CDs somewhere around here. When I’m trying to make a poppy track or something that gives me inspiration that make that sound of a pop track. But yeah, I got some of they CDs somewhere around here, though. I even got a Britney Speaks CD somewhere around here. I just love music, man. So, I listen to all types of music. I love drums, kicks, snares. That’s what a musician does. Even when I’m making love I listen to music.

Oh word? What’s your best song to make love too?
[Laughs]. You are a funny dude, man. I need to go ahead and flip it on you. You got some funny ass questions.

That’s my job, that’s what I do. So, what’s the song? [Laughs].
“Me So Horny” by Luke Skyywalker. I love banging a chick to that song.

I bet you put your best moves on that one [laughs].
I bet you do, too. [Laughs].

Juicy J’s album Hustle Till I Die is available online and in stores today.

-Interview by Quinton Hatfield

Juicy J Hustle Til I Die in stores today.