8 Things To Know About Juicy J’s Stay Trippy - Page 5

Last night, the good folks at Columbia Records gathered a select amount of media and tastemakers to get a listen of Juicy J‘s long-awaited solo debut Stay Trippy at their New York City office.

After delivering noteworthy mixtapes and a slew of club heaters and popular anthems like “Bandz A Make Her Dance” and “Show Out,” many were left wondering if the veteran rapper could create the same magic for an entire project when the pressure is on. Or better yet, if he could make a well-rounded body of work that isn’t totally geared to “turning up” and his trippy lifestyle.

We at Hip-Hop Wired have the answers to all these questions and then some. Here are eight things you need to know about Juicy J’s Stay Trippy.

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Photo: YouTube

The Intro is Hard As Nails

It won’t take long to get familiarized with Juicy J’s brand of rap. The intro, “Stop It,” pretty much sums up what he’s about. The fact that the hard hitting record was produced by Mike Will Made It only reaffirms that the Taylor Gang affiliate wanted to make a statement right out of the gate.

The first words he utters is “Let me tell you broke n***as something” before he runs through a verse about his binder full of bad women, putting money of a hater’s head, his affinity for drugs and more.

Juicy has arrived.

R.I.P. Chad Butler

Like his “Show Out” remix, the Juiceman felt it necessary to feature a verse from the late Pimp C on his debut. Not sure if it was intentional on the Three 6 Mafia rapper’s part, but the Texas legend definitely takes the crown on this track.

The Pimp’s quick bars contain all of the playeristic lines that garnered him notoriety in UGK — he closes his verse with “She want to give me some a$$, but the d**k ain’t free.”

Production wise, the song is an ambient tune that contains a chorus chanting “I’m smoking, I’m rolling,” and appropriately samples The Weeknd’s “High For This.”

“Sequencing”

Listeners will notice the Juiceman’s production ear at work early on in the project. Tracks seamlessly transition into the next and most records build on the energy of their predecessors. That’s an ability one develops when they’ve been active in Hip-Hop for over two decades.

Juicy can’t take all of the credit, though. Wiz Khalifa and Dr. Luke were also executive producers for Stay Trippy.

“Money A Do It”

Any fan of Juicy J’s more street savvy records will love this one. It has no features and was co-produced by the rapper and his frequent collaborator Crazy Mike. The 808s knock as he brags about turning a “church girl into a stone cold slut” and the other things money can do.

We know what you’re thinking; this sounds like a bevy of Juicy’s other tracks. However, the beat switches about halfway through and immediately changes the mood on this standout cut. We actually wouldn’t be mad if he put out remix that sounded entirely like the latter portion.

His Collaboration With Justin Timberlake is a Hit In the Making

When Juicy J and DJ Paul contributed to Justin Timberlake’s 2006 album FutureSex/LoveSounds, he pretty much set himself up for the future. In turn, he cashed out seven years later with this smooth Timbaland-produced song featuring the fellow Memphis native.

One could say that the record sounds like a throwaway from J.T.’s aforementioned LP (and it very well could be) — think “What Goes Around…” with a trippy feel. But this is far from a bad thing. The crooner’s smooth vocals blend well with the soothing beat, and Juicy gets as lady-friendly as you’ll see him on the tune.

“Bandz A Make Her Dance” Reigned Supreme For a Reason

Juicy J has a few single-worthy songs on his debut, but none shined like his Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz-assisted jam. Despite being over a year old, Mike Will Made It’s production and the rapping trio’s emphatic stripper-friendly bars carried the cut to classic status. In other words, you’ll be throwing ones to this anthem for many days to come.

Feminist Will Not Approve

The Taylor Gang rapper likes to party, and is very candid in saying so. But that isn’t the problem; rather, it is the way he approaches it. Stay Trippy dons numerous songs that detail his s-xual escapades and affinity for running through multiple women at a time. He even wears his tricking ways like a badge of honor on the catchy tune “Scholarship.”

Each of the aforementioned topics are pretty much a red flag for feminists that see rap as an art form that demeans women. And, well, Juicy J doesn’t do much to combat those claims here.

Stay Trippy is What Fans Would Expect, But Better

Juicy J stays true to his brand of rap, as you will hear when Stay Trippy formally releases August 27. Lyrics about partying, using various drugs, and the like will fill your earholes for the entire 19-track experience. That’s what you expected, right? Well, sort of.

This debut will undoubtedly add to the veteran MC’s cult following, but we’d have to say that any love is warranted. Juicy honed the best facets from his music and accentuated it with solid production, (better) catchy choruses, and tons of fun-filled bars.

Don’t expect any Rhode Scholar rap, just an all-around good time.