Gucci Mane (feat. Keri Hilson & Three 6 Mafia) - Medicine (unreleased, 2009)
why did Keri sell this song to Plies?
Juicy J - Been Gettin’ Money (Mixtape, 2011)
Sonny Digital is the fucking man. He seriously re-created Phillip Glass’ “It Was Always You, Helen” (the end credits for Candyman), with 808s and hi-hats, then let Uncle Juicy rap over that shit about his cash flow. Thank you, thank you so very much.
Juicy J - Blue Dream & Lean (Mixtape, 2011)
Uncle Juicy stays trippy with features from Wiz Khalifa, Spaceghostpurrp, and ASAP Rocky, among other blog favorites.
Juicy J’s solo career is at an all-time high after the (somewhat unexpected) success of Rubberband Business 2. The sequel to a mostly underwhelming mixtape, RBB2 managed to bring out Juicy’s creepy uncle tendencies in a very endearing manner. The tape may’ve been a little overlong, and a little over-Luger, but it still managed to succeed thanks to more than a dozen tracks of restless Luger and Sonny Digital beats and Juicy’s natural charm. Blue Dream & Lean will be hosted by DJ Scream, and feature the aforementioned producers, as well as Southside, Juicy himself, and more. Dropping in December, this’ll certainly be a strong way to close out the year.
Juicy J - Stoner’s Night (Hypnotized Minds, 2011)
Juicy J’s Rubberband Business 2 mixtape was everything we could’ve hoped for with its predecessor. A combination of Lex’s trademark bombast and Juicy’s play me sum pimpin’ vibes created a large collection of mostly great tunes, and arguably the strongest mixtape of the year. Hidden amongst all the rattling bass and menacing synths is Stoner’s Night; a song which samples Wiz Khalifa for the chorus, but drenches the rest of the song in an aura that’s reminiscent of the score to Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke. Juicy J is in rare form here, displaying that sophisticated ignorance that Kanye coined on a far less appealing soul-sampled song.
Unfortunately, this video is in black and white, which is a stark contrast to the vivid colors the music is presenting.
Dissapointed by the new Lil Wayne tape? (really? you were expecting something worth repeated listens?) Then look around for Project Pattaaaah’s newest release, Loud Pack, which is circulating in unspecified circles of the internet. Make sure to cop it July 19th if you do, and support a veteran who still sounds as great as he did over a decade ago.
Juicy J - Hustle Till I Die (Hypnotize Minds, 2009)
With the increasingly steady and consistent output of mixtape Juicy’s put out since he released this album in early ‘09 (including the most recent, his Lex Luger collaboration, Rubba Band Business), I always find myself going back to this album. Easily the most profound body of work from Three 6 since Most Known Unknown, Hustle Till I Die touched on every aspect of what makes the Memphis group so appealing to rap nerds and helped them score their Oscar. Their old-soul Play Me Sum Pimpin’ side is represented thoroughly here, with the extravagent Gucci Mane-assisted 30 Inches as well as, coincidentally, That’s What A Pimp Does. However, more so than anything, this album harkens back to their buck-music days more often than not, with Juicy carrying most of this violent, macabre bow throwing music by himself, with sporadic appearances by V-Slash and his brother Pat, as well as some appearances from modern-Southern staples like Webbie, Gorilla Zoe, and the aforementioned Gucci.
Juicy J is probably one of the most overlooked rappers of his ilk; even though he’s grown more relevant as a solo artist since this album and his solo mixtapes/collaborations with Pat-ahhhhh, he’s always been the my personal, biased favorite in the Triple Six collective. His flow is versatile as hell; able to adapt to any beat, with a voice that’s essentially designed for this type of harsh sonic terrain. His personality shines through everywhere like a glimmering, green-skull shirted beacon of light in a haunted labyrinth; almost like the cartoon character that Pimp C and Gucci have made famous. The production present, mostly the product of Juicy J and less so DJ Paul, is absolutely perfect, with obscure samples (everything from oddball M.I.A. vocals to the horror-variety flick from 1982, Creepshow) reign abroad over the heavy 808s and gothic-strings.
Even though this album got a bit of press during its time of release, it was quickly forgotten about as 2009 progressed further with bigger releases. Now with 2011 drawing closer, I find myself revisiting this more than most of the albums that were released that year. Even though Juicy’s releasing great mixtapes seemingly every other month and rap’s getting increasingly harder once again thanks to Lex Luger and Waka Flocka, Juicy J is one of the key figures to revitalizing this hardcore Southern rap shit, and Hustle Till I Die is his grand statement.
Wiz Khalifa (feat. Juicy J) - In My Car (Tha Puff Bus)
Wiz Khalifa (feat. Juicy J) - In My Car (Tha Puff Bus) (Rostrum/Atlantic, 2010)
SHUDDFUCKUP
probably the weirdest collaboration we’ve gotten since, uh, Kid Cudi and Cage, Wiz Khalifa recruits Juicy J for his dopest song in a long time. Juicy J’s inclusion here is such a welcome change of pace from most Wiz songs, adding that NORF NORF energy that stoner rap severely lacks (to be fair, energy shouldn’t be expected from a genre that’s built upon recreationally smoking cannabis). Juicy J’s inclusion on the chorus takes it to another level, and the instrumental, surprisingly not produced by Juicy, is smooth as a motherfucker. I see people complaining already about the TGOD x Triple 6 connect here, but fuck ‘em. Wiz is thankful that someone like Juicy is sharing the studio with him. More of this and less of those other dudes Wiz is usually chilling with, plz.
Project Pat (feat. Lil Reno & BPZ) - Salute You (Hypnotized Minds, 2010)
It’s been slow lately, hence all the photos and old songs. Here’s something new from THAT NIGGA LEX LUGER and Project Pataaaaaaaaaaahhh, as well as some white dude named Lil Reno who kinda sounds like Vinnie Paz meets Bone Crusher *cringes* and a dude named BPZ who I’m pretty sure is a crackhead; he also handles chorus duties. Three 6 has been so quiet lately, at least in the mainstream, while steadily cranking out Mystic Stylez-esque shit on the internet, where they’ve become most relevant. Project Pat has always been that weird crossover for HCP, being one of the first Southern rappers that hipsters and ironic heads alike both fell in awe over, for one reason or another. Pat sounds great hear on Lex’s signature production, but these other guys are hot garbage.
