Juicy J – “Live & in Color” review

This is the 9th studio LP from Memphis, Tennessee rapper, songwriter, producer & record executive Juicy J. Rising to stardom in the 90s as the co-founder of the seminal Three 6 Mafia alongside his Tear Da Club Up Thugs cohorts DJ Paul & the late Lord Infamous, he’s also had the most successful solo career out of everyone in the Mafia whether it be the Taylor Gang Entertainment/Columbia Records-backed Stay Trippy & Rubba Band Business: The Album or more recently Crypto Business & Mental Trillness. The latter & it’s sequel noticeably taking on a more serious tone than some of Juicy’s latest material, taking a good chunk of it’s time coping with Gangsta Boo’s untimely passing. Coming off the mature Ravenite Social Club, he’s having Logic fully produce Live & in Color.

The title track sets it off with a boom bap instrumental asking if you understand getting money with the rest of the hood whereas “Get Right” featuring Project Pat works in a psychedelic sample keeping his back against the wall. After the first of many “Discussion” interludes, “Big Bag Talk” finds himself back in the basement to show off his riches just before “The Problem” featuring Logic himself after the “Discussion 2” interlude soulfully brings the pair together to discuss coming from nothing.

“Shame” featuring Logic once again brings a trap vibe to the beat from Bobby Boy Records in-house producer 6 suggesting you watch them kick their feet up after rolling their weed up & after the “Discussion 3” interlude, “We Live” returns to the boom bap talking about striving for something better. After the “Discussion 4” interlude, “Kill For” heads for a dustily exuberant approach flexing that he’s lived a life many wish they had leading into the 2-parter “& Did” immediately following the Discussion 5” interlude focusing on motion instead of pussy.

Chipmunk soul & boom bap collide with each other during “Flowers” talking about the samples getting his daughters through college but after the “Discussion 6” interlude, “20 Years Later” featuring Logic & Project Pat swaps out the boom bap elements in favor of trap sticking to the codes to this very day like they did 2 decades prior while “Fame” suggests to not let the internet mislead you & allow him to do all the guiding since Juicy’s a product of his people.

After the “Discussion 7” interlude, “Black Rothstein” featuring Wiz Khalifa likens themselves to Arnold Rothstein of the Jewish Mob over an instrumental meshing soul & trap with each other 1 last time until the final song “I Need a Hug” ahead of the “Discussion 8” outro properly ending Live & in Color by telling his late mother to take a good look at him because he’s genuinely trying figuring out if she can even hear him from the pearly gates.

Saving only 3 verses, Logic takes a backseat on the mic for a good portion of Live & in Color in favor of opting to focus more on the production side of things & that to me is actually a great call because this is almost on the same enjoyability level as Juicy’s jazz rap album 10 months ago. Bobby’s production in spite of the ridiculous amount of “Discussion” interludes tightly balances boom bap, trap & chipmunk soul during the course of 13 tracks displaying both sides of the Three 6 co-founder whether it’s the maturity of his recent output for fun trap joints to play when you’re out having fun.

Score: 4/5

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Juicy J – “Ravenite Social Club” review

Memphis, Tennessee rapper, songwriter, producer & record executive Juicy J coming off the Mental Trillness duology to release his 8th solo LP. Rising to stardom in the 90s as the co-founder of the seminal Three 6 Mafia alongside his Tear Da Club Up Thugs cohorts DJ Paul & the late Lord Infamous, he’s also had the most successful solo career out of everyone in the Mafia whether it be the Taylor Gang Entertainment/Columbia Records-backed Stay Trippy & Rubba Band Business: The Album or more recently Crypto Business & Mental Trillness. The latter & it’s sequel noticeably taking on a more serious tone than some of Juicy’s latest material, taking a good chunk of it’s time coping with Gangsta Boo’s untimely passing. Further diverting from the norm, he’s going jazz rap in the Ravenite Social Club.

After the “Provider” intro, the first song “The Higher Ups” further sets the tone of what’s to come hopping over a jazz boom bap instrumental from longtime Griselda affiliate JR Swiftz dissing corporate America whereas “Don’t Go Out” works in some pianos as well as kicks & snares advising not to go out the way Paul Castellano of the Gambino crime family did. “That’s Gangsta” keeps it boom bap explaining how hard it is to be splitting 50/50 with his bitch, but then “Everything All Good” has a warmer trap approach telling us he’s been doing ok.

“Fucked Up Era” hooks up some horns describing what he was living in for the past year & a half or so that resulted in both Mental Trillness albums prior to “Thought It Was” strips the drums completely boasting his luxurious ways of living. “Deserve It” has this orchestral boom bap flare to the beat dedicating it to all the independent shawties ahead of “The Past is the Past” colorfully leaving everything behind him for approximately 116 seconds.

The self-produced “Consequence” mixes these pianos with kicks & snares reminding the listeners of the most valuable lesson a person can learn in their lifetime while “Payment” swaps the keys out in favor of synthesizers admitting The Notorious B.I.G. wasn’t lying when he said “Mo Money, Mo Problems” using his own experiences. “1 in 1,000,000” hops on top of more horns advising what a dangerous lie it is that you don’t have to work just before the soulfully drumless “Suicide Doors” featuring Cordae warns to get a bag before you beef since you’ll need money for war.

“The Bottom Line” continues to chop up the soul samples smoking & drinking 1 for old time’s sake while the 4 minute “To You” pays tribute to Lord Infamous, Koopsta Knicca & Gangsta Boo over Robert Glasper playing piano. “Sometimes” further pushes the closure of the Ravenite Social Club for the night soulfully asking if you needed someone to talk to & no one was there while “Things Changed” promising he’ll be there when his baby falls automatically telling her yes if she ever calls him.

Beginning the deluxe run, the drumlessly jazzy “In Plain Sight” disses the haters for wanting to see him torn down legalizing products to sell at the same price while “Fit the Mode” featuring Project Pat puts a mature spin on trap generally talking about the best thing in the world being a woman by your side. “Could’ve Been Worse” goes boom bap reminding that you only get 1 chance to make it while “Enemy Lines” angrily warns what happens once you cross a specific path.

“Just Listen” jazzily advises everyone who’s still tuning in for them to take care of their business while “Dizzy” drumlessly reflects on spending most of his time denying what the heavens planned & refusing to fake the funk anymore by letting the prophets come true. The final bonus track “Point ‘Em Out” featuring Remy Ma goes trap for a dedication to all the real women & not trying to risk being around the bitches who’re fake.

Both installments of the Mental Trillness duology were greeted to mixed reception although I personally appreciate them for being more introspectively serious than some of Juicy’s past solo material & now that we finally got Ravenite Social Club after 8 months in the making, it could very well be my favorite of his since branching out on his own & he’ll even tell you that himself. It’s a change of pace with its production building upon the sounds of jazz rap, boom bap, drumless & chipmunk soul focusing less on trap taking the overall maturity a step further.

Score: 4.5/5

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Juicy J – “Mental Trillness 2” review

This is the 7th full-length solo LP from Memphis rapper, songwriter, producer & record executive Juicy J. Rising to stardom in the 90s as the co-founder of the seminal Three 6 Mafia alongside his Tear Da Club Up Thugs cohorts DJ Paul & the late Lord Infamous, he’s also had the most successful solo career out of everyone in the Mafia whether it be the Taylor Gang Entertainment/Columbia Records-backed Stay Trippy & Rubba Band Business: The Album or more recently Crypto Business & Mental Trillness. The latter noticeably taking on a more serious tone than some of Juicy’s latest material, taking a good chunk of it’s time coping with Gangsta Boo’s untimely passing & was wondering if the sequel here would address personal themes once more.

“Serenity” starts with a drumless instrumental saying goodbye to Hollywood whereas the self-produced “Bury My Problems” continues by banging out a Memphis tinged 2-parter talking about his pain running deep. “Overseas” works in more minimalistic half-time drum machine programming & droning bass to flex his European guap just before “Desperate Measures” eerily asks why you think he scrapes the bowl tryna get all the extras out.

Hi-hats get mixed with chopped & screwed vocals throughout “4 Life” so Da Juice Man can represent his city until he can’t anymore, but then the decent single “Sukihana” featuring Sukihana herself has more of a cloudier trap flare talking about needing a freaky hoe. “My Hood” throws it back to the classic Three 6 sound advising the newer Memphis artists who been pimpin’ leading into the ominous “He Did” discussing those online claimin’ sets getting checked by goons.

“Fired Up” starts the 2nd leg of the album in the form of a 2-minute smoke break for everyone listening that’s working a 9-5 while “Dig” serves as a playful dedication to hard working bitches. “Cut Back” brings back the signature Memphis sound instrumentally talking about trying to get his life together while “Money Flippa” featuring Project Pat taking a soulful turn to the beat telling everyone to get their grind & shine right.

Nearing the LP’s final quarter, “Switched Up” chops up soul samples once again airing out those who turned on him while “On the Way” featuring both IDontKnowJeffery & Xavier Wulf of the East Memphis Boyz brings 2 generations of the Memphis scene together fondly. Xavier sticks around for the penultimate track “All It Takes” smoothly talking about your girl running to dudes like them & lastly, “Suffering from Realness” concludes Mental Trillness 2 morbidly boasting that he’s too real.

The predecessor last spring was a bit of a breath of fresh air that Juicy’s solo output needed since it was starting to feel repetitive lyrically & the Mental Trillnesssequel plays to the strengths from the album that we got from him over 13 months ago already. He tones down the amount of guests only by a couple notches, it’s mostly self-produced in comparison to producing a little over half last time & addresses further personal issues on the mic.

Score: 4/5

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Juicy J – “Mental Trillness” review

Juicy J is a 47 year old rapper, songwriter, producer & record executive from Memphis, Tennessee who rose to stardom in the 90s as the co-founder of the seminal Three 6 Mafia alongside his Tear Da Club Up Thugs cohorts DJ Paul & the late Lord Infamous. He’s also had the most successful solo career out of everyone in the Mafia whether it be the Taylor Gang Entertainment/Columbia Records-backed Stay Trippy & Rubba Band Business: The Album or even his last full-length The Hustle Continuesunder his new MNRK Music Group imprint Trippy Music. Last year he dropped Stoner’s Night with Wiz Khalifa as well as Space Age Pimpin’ with Pi’erre Bourne over the summer & the predominantly Lex Luger-produced Crypto Business in the fall, but is surprise dropping his 6th album out of the blue.

After the “Help You Need” intro, the first song “Going Thru Sum Shit” is a dark trap opener detailing the struggles of what Da Juice Man has been dealing with as of late whereas “Gettin’” takes a more chopped & screwed route talking about all the things he’s chasing. Xavier Wulf’s verse on “No Man” is underwhelming despite the slowed down vocal loop, hi-hats & theme of not being able to trust a single soul just before “I’m Stressin’” has more tense vibe sonically opening up about his stresses.

After the “Falso Reality World” interlude, Aleza comes into the picture for the vibrant “Ain’t Cool” to discuss how motherfuckers ain’t cool with one another hence the title even though they from the same hood leading into “Drink to Escape” returning to chopped & screwed turf touching on alcoholism as a way to cope with depression. “Memphis Made It” is a more heartfelt trap ballad paying tribute to the city that raised him, but then La Chat joins him for the bluesy “Deadbeat” portraying a toxic relationship.

“Different Type” weaves in some more hi-hats & a syrupy vocal sample to talk about the new times we’re in while “Demon of Addiction” symphonically tackles the complex disease that there is in fact hope of overcoming. “No Rapper” has a more rowdier vibes calling out the phonies even though Aleza, K Carbon & Slimeroni’s performances don’t do much for me at all with all respect until “Pay Attention” makes up for it with a cloudy trap joint about schizophrenia.

After the “Mental Health Crisis”, the song “Work Out” aggressively asks where the dollas at with a boring Finesse2tymes feature attached to it while the final song “Follow Home Robbers” prior to the “Juicy’s Pain” outro brings the late Gangsta Boo into the fold which is fitting because I’m sure the album as a whole was inspired by her unfortunate passing at the beginning of the to portray themselves as such so vividly over a morbid trap beat.

Some people including myself have felt like Juicy’s last couple solo albums tackle the same subject matter as solid as they all are, but I think Mental Trillness is the most personal we’ve heard from him in a while. The production plays to the Memphis trap sound that he helped popularize when Triple 6 broke out onto the scene & as he gives everyone a look at how he’s been handling Lady Boo’s untimely death throughout the past couple months.

Score: 3.5/5

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Juicy J – “Crypto Business” review

This is the 13th mixtape from Memphis, Tennessee rapper, songwriter, producer & record executive Juicy J. Rising to stardom in the 90s as the co-founder of the seminal Three 6 Mafia alongside his Tear Da Club Up Thugs cohorts DJ Paul & the late Lord Infamous, he also had the most successful solo career out of everyone in the Mafia whether it be the Taylor Gang Entertainment/Columbia Records-backed Stay Trippy & Rubba Band Business: The Album or even his last full-length The Hustle Continues under his new MNRK Music Group imprint Trippy Music. He just dropped Stoner’s Night with Wiz Khalifa at the beginning of the year & then Space Age Pimpin’ with Pi’erre Bourne over the summer, but is reuniting with longtime collaborator Lex Luger to surprise drop Crypto Business.

“Night at the Club” is an insane trap opener with Juicy describing the lavish lifestyle that he lives whereas “‘Cause I Live It” with Wiz works in some pianos & hi-hats talking about why they never talk it. Finesse2tymes’ verse on “Be Careful” is a little underwhelming to me despite the themes of watching out who you consider to be friends over more hi-hats & a creepy loop but after the “Big Triece Talk” skit, “Hit the Smoke” works in a soul sample talking about getting higher than a motherfucker.

Moving onto “Coinbase”, we have Juicy over a trap instrumental with some keys & horns calling money his league leading into the Lil Keke-assisted “Kill dat Shit” jumping on top of a repetitive “murder” vocal chop & heavy bass co-produced with BeatKing to get nasty lyrically suggesting they should be in the Endeavor Group Holdings-owned UFC. “Respectfully” laced some strings & hi-hats from Hitkidd admitting he can’t give bitches anything as well as giving a middle finger to those who be hating, but then “R.I.P.” gives condolences to a number of things ranging from Michael Jackson to the clothes he’s ‘bout to fuck up & the beat here has an uneasy quality to it that I like.

“I Got” however admits he has issues accompanied by some rattling hi-hats while “Send Her Down” returns to a more dramatic approach in sound talking about still being here in spite of those who want him dead for whatever their reasons may be. “Shrooms” with LXST CXNTURY finds the 2 tweaking out on the titular recreational drug with a more darker quality to the production while “Clap” with Trey Dizzle is basically an inferior successor to “Kill da Shit” down the raunchy lyricism.

La Chat though reunites with her former mentor on the self-produced “Mind Yo Business” warning not to stick your nose where it don’t belong over a misty trap instrumental while the bell-laced “Let It Go” betting that a sucka isn’t gonna play with him. The chopped & screwed sample through “Hot Sauce” is a really nice touch talking about being posted on the curb where he used to get rocks off & the final song until the outro “Know What’s In It” truly the ends the tape by charmingly detailing the shit that he got inside of his turn-up cup.

I already knew going into Crypto Business as soon as it was announced merely hours before it came out that it would be the best thing that would give us this year. Lo & behold, I like it more than both Stoner’s Night & Space Age Pimpin’ combined. There are most certainly a couple questionable features & production choices during it’s 47 minute run, but the joints with Juicy & Lex are some the highest points on the tape because of how well they continue to bring the best out of one a dozen years later.

Score: 3.5/5

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Juicy J & Pi’erre Bourne – “Space Age Pimpin’” review

This is the brand new collaborative mixtape between Juicy J & Pi’erre Bourne. One is a founding member of the groundbreaking Memphis, Tennessee outfit Three 6 Mafia & the other being a South Carolina recording artist who quickly became one of the most in-demand producers in hip hop today due his one of a kind sound. Juicy just did a verse for “Bubble Gum” off of Jelly’s latest album The Wolf of Peachtree 2 fully produced by Pi’erre, so they’re coming together for some Space Age Pimpin’.

“You Want It” kicks off the album with a grim trap banger that finds Juicy & Pi’erre bragging that they got all the shit others desire whereas “Smokin’ Out” works in some chopped & screwed influences talking about the lifestyles they both live. “This Fronto” returns to a more darker trap sound describing both parties being under the influence just before “Bring Them Out” reveals itself as a fun anthem to all the hoes out there.

Meanwhile on “Uhh Huh”, we have Juicy & Pi’erre delivering a symphonic trap banger getting materialistic leading into “B.B.L. (Brazilian Butt Lift)” comes through with a trumpet-laced ass-shaker’s ode. “Who Get High” shoots for a hazier aesthetic talking about being blowed, but then “Can’t Get Her” mixes a guitar with some hi-hats calling out dudes getting in their feelings because they stole their bitches.

“The Deep In” explains how bad they’re tweakin’ over a triumphant instrumental & even though I love the soul sample throughout the penultimate track “NFT”, the subject matter about the biggest scam in the world is just tiresome at this point. “Unsolved Mystery” ends the tape with a rugged banger reminding everyone not to bring any bullshit to them & that they don’t fuck around.

Compared to the Stoner’s Night tape that Juicy dropped with Wiz Khalifa at the beginning of the year, I happen to like Space Age Pimpin’ a tad bit more. That’s no disrespect to Wiz either because he & Juicy have always had a dope chemistry, but I really find it fascinating how a style as unique as Pi’erre’s collided with Da Juice Man’s in terms of overall sound.

Score: 3.5/5

Juicy J & Wiz Khalifa – “Stoner’s Night” review

This is a brand new collaborative album from Juicy J & Wiz Khalifa. One is iconic for co-founding the seminal Memphis, Tennessee outfit Three 6 Mafia with the other coming straight outta Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania gaining worldwide attention in 2010 off his classic 7th mixtape Kush & Orange Juice. These guys have been working with each other ever since Wiz signed Juicy to Taylor Gang Entertainment the following year & they even went on to form the trio TGOD Mafia with TM88 in 2016, dropping their only album to date Rude Awakening that summer. However, it was announced last fall that they were working on Stoner’s Night & now we’re actually being treated to the final product.

“Testin’” is an explosive opener pondering why anyone wants to fuck with them whereas “Weak” almost sounds like a parody of “Weak Azz Bitch” down to the redundant Big30 feature. “Pop That Trunk” however takes a grimier approach talking about having toolies in their whips leading into the nocturnal “Big Game” co-produced by 808 Mafia co-founder Lex Luger getting materialistic.

Meanwhile on “Backseat”, we have Project Pat joining Juicy & Wiz on top of a cloudy trap beat talking about being the realest dudes their women have ever been with just before the horn & chime-laced “Throw It” reveals itself to be a fun strip club banger. “Try It” takes a mistier trap route talking about fighting fire with fire, but then “They Wanna See You” keeps it rolling by angrily clapping back at those praying on their downfall.

“Ass for Days” almost has this symphonic trap quality to it talking about a woman with Cake who goes both ways while “Club Close” has a more vibrant tone speaking on acting a fool. The song “Blaze Up” of course comes through with a cloudy weed anthem while the penultimate track “Why Do I Stay High?” picks up where the predecessor left off except it’s more melodic. “Invest” then ends the album with a celebratory ballad about them investing the money they already have.

It’s always exciting when these 2 link up with each other & Stoner’s Night was definitely an enjoyable listen for me. It’s pretty much what I expected as far as subject matter goes, but Juicy’s production once again takes listeners back to Three 6’s heyday & his chemistry with Wiz Khalifa remains unmatched even a little over a decade later.

Score: 3.5/5

Juicy J – “The Hustle Continues” review

Juicy J is a 45 year old rapper & producer from Memphis, Tennessee most notable for being a founding member of the seminal Three 6 Mafia. He’s also had the most successful solo career out of everyone in the Mafia, releasing 4 full-lengths & a handful of mixtapes. But after being released from Taylor Gang Entertainment/Columbia Records & starting up his own E1 Music imprint Trippy Music earlier this year, Juicy is celebrating by dropping his 5th full-length album.

Things start off with “BEST GROUP”, where Juicy claims Three 6 as the greatest hip hop group of all-time over a sinister trap beat. The next song “GAH DAMN HIGH” with Wiz Khalifa is an off the wall weed-smoking anthem as one would expect while the track “SPEND IT” with Lil Baby & 2 Chainz finds the trio talking about their wealth over a piano inflicted-beat. The song “PO UP” with A$AP Rocky sees the 2 paying tribute to all the celebrities we’ve lost in recent years over a supernatural-sounding instrumental while the track “KILLA” with Conway the Machine finds the 2 talking about being posted with their gangs over a maniacal trap beat.

The song “THAT’S THE WAY IT GOES” talks about how hoes gon’ be hoes over an instrumental with some keyboards & rubbery bass while the track “SHOPPING SPREE” with Young Dolph sees the 2 getting materialistic over a tense beat. The song “1995” with Logic finds the 2 talking about whippin’ through their cities over an uptempo instrumental while the track “WHAT I NEED” is a well-transitioned 2 parter about getting high.

The song “SHAWTY BAD” reunites with Logic to get raunchy over a rambunctious instrumental while the track “LOAD IT UP” with NLE Choppa sees the 2 getting braggadocious over a suspenseful trap beat. The song “SHE GON’ POP IT” with Megan Thee Stallion finds the 2 coming together for a fun, atmospheric strip club banger while the track “MEMPHIS TO LA” with Jay Rock & Project Pat sees the 3 talking about having options over some snares & keys.

The song “DATZ WHAT IT IZ” talks about how he ain’t cool with fuck boys over a grim instrumental with some hi-hats firing off like gunshots towards the end while the penultimate track “IN A MIN” gets celebratory over an exuberant beat. The closer “I CAN’T STOP” then discusses how a big booty bitch makes him feel rich & the bass on here just hits so goddamn hard!

Overall, I thought The Hustle Continues was pretty solid. I think Juicy kinda overdid it on the features but at the same time, he shows listener that he still has it all these years later on the mic & on the boards.

Score: 3.5/5