Juice Lord
8:56PM 6/10/21 Saint Paul,MN at 2 Scoops Ice Cream, #005
Brief Background:
Juice Lord is a Saint Pauli through and through, as Saint Paul as they get. He started off with remixing songs and uploading them to Soundcloud. He was featured to rap on ‘Sway in the Morning’ in 2015. Juice Lord released his first music video in 2016 and didn’t release his first official project until 2019 titled ‘5/5’. A year later ‘6/6’ was released. The 25 year old emcee is making waves in the local scene and has big moves ahead of him.
What inspires you as a musician?
Life. The good, the bad, the ugly. If you pay attention to details there’s always something to talk about. Also, other artists like Jay-Z, Nas, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, Lauryn Hill Erykah Badu, the list continues.
If you could work with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
Juice was supposed to give me one name but came with five dead and alive.
Dead: Big L, Marvin Gaye, Nipsey, 2pac, Biggie.
Alive: The Roots. Full project w/ The Alchemist, Nas, H.E.R, Anderson Paak.
What do you think about our local hip-hop scene?
It’s gumbo man, a stirring pot, a volcano. For years its just been on the verge of just exploding. Big shoes to fill like Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Prince, Bob Dylan. Our scene is diverse, it’s clicky for sure but its not as bad as people think, maybe I’m looking at from my view because I rock with everyone and they rock with me. It’s filled with talent that is over-looked. It’s also inspiring, our core sound is revolved around funk. Minnesota is a funk-based state. Our scene is filled with OG’s who have done their thing on the scene, our scene is filled a lot of young cats, like right now it’s a renaissance of new artists that really have something to say. Its only a matter of motherfuckers really pushing shit bro, and that’s all. Artists everywhere are facing the same issues. As far as our scene man, its overwhelmingly dope. There’s a lot going on and a lot can happen, its boiling a pot. It’s a great question because people still don’t know, even people from here are uncertain on what our scene is like. We got some shit here. The time is right now, its just the matter of marketing.
How has COVID impacted you this last year?
That shit effected me a lot, lost connection, physical connection, conversation, hugs, man just you know, suffering from loss. Just adjusting. I had to create, I had to break-down to get to where I’m at now. That shit impacted me and the people I know a lot. There’s a lot going, its all about people focusing and paying attention cause a lot shit is plain sight. I learned that seperation, as much as I didn’t like it is cool. It’s good because it gives you time to think and analyze things. It taught me the importance of family, and whether they’re family or not you got to have good people around you. People change bro, some for the good some for the worse. Just have good vibes and energy, its a real thing.
Lets talk about your new projects:
Spread Luv, started off originally as an EP. It was me trying to get back in my zone after 6/6, kind of recovering from things I went through releasing it on paper which lead to an album. I got to work with a lot of people, met a bunch of new people. The back cover has all my little cousins, front cover highlights what was the Midway. Locked in with my brother Ethos. Locked in with a lot of different artists and producers.
Besides yourself, who do you think is putting out solid work in the Twin Cities?
Mac Irv really did his mothafuckin’ thing. You know dropped a dope ass project, dope-great visuals, really took advantage of Tiktok, shout out big bro. Knucky dropped a dope project, he's doing his thing. There’s a lot of artists laying down some shit, Reefa Rei, the whole iLL family, shout out Righteous too man. He dropped some great projects and I was a part of one.
What is your music making process?
My shit is mad unorthodox, I would say I just recently figured out my process. I use to just write to beats that people sent me. In March I just started locking in, just staying over at Ethos', just a collective of us making music, ordering food, all that shit. On some dungeon family type shit. Just locking in with the homies.
What are your go to sneakers?
I became so versatile, obviously some Mike’s (Jordan's), some Iverson’s, mainly mikes, I got a lot of 1’s but 2’s are my favorite. The OG’s red black and white ones. The candy pack is dope to me. I just like fly shit, Saucony’s. Whatever shoe’s I’m feeling that day. NMD’s, NB, Iverson’s, Mike’s, Forces, couple pairs of dunk’s. I got some shit!
Where does the name Juice Lord derive from?
My nickname is Juice, I had the Juice hair cut I got a high-top under this hat. I’ve had for like ten years, more than that. Juice Lord, it was laaawdd at first. So I pulled in lord. Juice Lord.
10. What’s next?
More visuals. Got the ‘Spread Luv’ release show coming up. I got Kaleem The Dream on there, Solostar, Pro Steve, Au Revoir, hosted by Mr. Peter Parker at Urban Lights. Shout out Tezzy, he really helped me with this shit. Also got a show the following month with Sole2dotz called the Vibes, I’m the headliner.
Stream: ‘Spread Luv’
