Juicy J sat down with Rock The Bells for an exclusive interview chronicling his history as a producer and rap artist, as well as his latest project, the Jazz inspired Ravenite Social Club. Jazz and other forms of urban music are not at all foreign to J, who came up on a plethora of different styles growing up in Memphis.
"I grew up on the Crusaders, Grover Washington, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, Prince, Barry White, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones," he shared. "I watched a lot of scary movies and that's where I got my Three 6 Mafia vibes from." J says further that as a youngster he really aspired to be a singing musician like Isaac Hayes and Barry White.
Ravenite Social Club coverart
As far as Hip-Hop, I definitely came up on Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, and KRS-ONE. I'm a huge KRS-ONE fan, and what I like about him is that he speaks consciously about poverty and everything that's going on in America, and just being real. I feel like I was supposed to be a conscious rapper. If you listen to the Three 6 Mafia stuff, I talked about it a little bit here and there. I also like Nas, he's my favorite rapper."
Juicy J's new album, Ravenite Social Club is a Jazz infused project that includes appearances by Emi Seacrest, Cordae, and Robert Glasper. As previously mentioned, Jazz isn't a new genre to J, and he cites DJ Jazzy Jeff's production as an inspiration. "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince used to sample Jazz in their music," he explained. "'Touch Of Jazz' and all that. I loved how they sampled Jazz over those hard beats with that smooth vibe.
I got the name 'Ravenite Social Club' from a little club in New York where John Gotti used to hang out.
Ravenite Social Club was a real life spit where mafia figure John Gotti used to hang out according to Juicy J. "I visioned it like a Jazz club where people hang out, smoke cigars, and listen to music, just a chill vibe. On the album I'm talking about my family, politics, and just things that are goin' on in my life. It's different, the music is different, the subject matter is different - there nothing ratchet on it. It's a different side of me that no one has ever seen, or even knew that I had."
J says that he had some hesitation initially about releasing a project that was so different from his previous work. "I've always wanted to do something like this. I was a little nervous to put it out. I thought people would think that its too different. Then I said fuck it, I'm doin' somethin' for myself that's on my bucket list. I got some other stuff I'm cookin' up too, don't be surprised when I hit em with this R&B shit. People don't understand, I have a crazy R&B ear."
"To You", the album's lead single features Robert Glasper and Emi Seacrest, and is a dedication to J's fallen musical comrades including Gangsta Boo, Koopsta Knicca, and Lord Infamous. "'To You' started different," he says. At first it was just a trap beat with a cool little melody that Robert played. Then we came in and revamped it. We were just makin' beats, we were doing something for Meg, and we went through like 10 beats, but there was something about that one.
I knew that I wanted to keep that one for myself, and to me it's some of the best work I've ever done in my life. It's a real song, its about the members of the Three 6 Mafia, and its from the heart. The second verse is about Gangsta Boo, and the last time that I saw her alive.
Ravenite Social Club also contains songs about family, societal ills, and where Juicy J is now in his life and career. Ravenite Social Club is available on all DSP's, also check out his bookChronicles of the Juice Man: A Memoir.
