Share

Jucee Froot is one of the hardest female rappers in the game… period!

Putting on for her hometown of Memphis, Jucee Froot is one of the realist to come out of the city. In fact, Glorilla recently shouted her out on Breakfast Club, when asked who else was dope out of the city.

Jucee Froot has tremendous support in the music industry, including cosigns and collaborations with Young Dolph, Juicy J, T.I., Moneybagg Yo, Bryson Tiller, and so much more. She’s also the official theme song for the popular TV show P-Valley on Starz, and was featured on the official Birds of Prey soundtrack. These are just a few of the blessings coming Jucee Froot’s way. 

But aside from all the success, Jucee Froot is also a mother of 3, and someone who’s been through hell and back to get to where she is now.

On the 71st episode of Shirley’s Temple, i sat with Jucee Froot to discuss her relationship w/ Young Dolph, her recent experience overdosing, getting unjustly arrested in Mississippi, collaborations w/ T.I., Juicy J, and Bryson Tiller, and more!

Since you’re from Memphis, do you get annoyed when people ask you to say “mursic?”

No. I get annoyed when folks be like, “you sound like GloRilla.” We from the same place. All of us, at least 99% of every female is gonna have the same type of way that we talk.

Speaking of Gorilla, though, I love that she said your name on Breakfast Club. 

On God, she caught me off guard with it. It ain’t nobody that ain’t heard from me from the city. Certain people will lift you up, other people won’t. So when she did it, I fuck with you, because it’s a female acting realer than a n*gga. There’s a lot of pussy shit going on, so I’ma fuck with her for real. I fuck with Gloss too though. Me and Gloss, I fuck with her. We got something together out there, and she a Cancer. You know how I am on the astrology baby, I tap in.

I love that you teamed up with Bryson Tiller and dropped a banger. Let’s talk about “Really Like That.” 

Man, random as hell. I swear to God.  It was random. It be a lot of big folks that be following. When he followed…

He followed you on Instagram? 

Yeah. He had liked something, then he followed. He had been following for a minute though. Where I’m from, we don’t really approach you. I’m like, this is fucking Bryson Tiller. If I fall in this man’s DM, is he gonna come through? And he came through. He replied back, but the second reply took that man about 3 months. I’m like damn!

But he’s on tour, all of that. It’s love period. The way that he fuck with my sound and I fuck with his sound, it was crazy. He told me where he was gonna be at, we linked up. I came out to LA, oh nah I’m popping out. We in the South, we finno go… what? We knocked it out. 

You made it from scratch? 

I had sent him 3 songs. He said, “send me what you want.” You know me, I don’t know what my style is. And this is Bryson Tiller. I sent that song with the open verse. He said, “send that one back. I want that one right there.” He picked it. I’m like, oh shit! Fucking kidding me. He turned up on that joint. He knocked that shit out.

He really be low key too. 

But still poppin’ like what’s up? Shit be crazy bro. 

It’s so dope, because this shit happens to you all the time. You got a lot of big-ass co-signs.

But humble about it. Because only the real fuck with me, and I stamp that. Real recognize real. Shit be genuine, but God blessed me. Because they pop in my life at the right time and they fuck with me genuinely. Wassup, it’s 8 in the morning. We locked in.

Rest in peace Young Dolph. I cried, so I couldn’t imagine how you felt. 

It hit different. Rest in peace to Young Dolph for sure, he changed my life. He came in when I was going through it. Everybody be watching me because you got the viral videos, so he already knew me. It was after my second song, father had passed. He hit me up and said “just come to the studio.”

Shirley’s Temple has a focus on mental health. You have been through so much shit, and I just want to commend you. Because you’re a mother of 3, you’re a rapper. You are Superwoman. You beat the odds to get here. 

I need that. Certain people need that in their life to keep going because it gets hard for real. 

And you’re independent now. 

Being independent different though. People need to understand what you put into the work that you do, that you give out to the world, that’s yours. Ain’t no money worth it. I got out of my deal, at first I was confused about it. Because I know I got it, how y’all gonna tell me I don’t got it? I got it. 

So they signed you and said that to you? 

I was dealing with Atlantic at that point in time. We just went our way, but that’s why I say it’s important to be independent. You’ll think that you need this machine. Man, you need you. And consistency. And it’s hard. My oldest son is gonna be 13 this year. I got a girl now. 2 boys, one girl. That shit get for real. Showing up to shows, my kids used to be right there with me. Y’all don’t know what I went through to get this. It means so much more now. On my soul it do.

I was listening to “Trap N*gga.” Bring us back to that studio session.

I just pulled up on some cool shit. We vibe. He had played the beat that night, I’m like that shit hard. The hook was done. He said “I want you to go and slide this bitch.” Let’s go! Put me in. 30 minutes, knocked that shit out. Let’s go. Stop playing with me. 

Do you freestyle everything? 

Everything. Oh no, because it’s good to write. I like storytelling. I like to go into depth about certain things, and it’s better when you write and you focused. But that freestyle just comes with it. 

You’re in the new Starz documentary about P-Valley?

The spin off, I’m in Episode 4. It felt good for me to be able to explain where I came from and my motivation in it, that’s what it was based off. They had different episodes describing different things. I ain’t get to go into depth about the story, but people still got to see me. You got to see where I came from. It meant something. When I called my mom: yeah mama, gonna check that out. She was like, “We saw it.” It feels good to know that support. I’m on TV mama. People joke about that shit, but that shit really means something. My mama on TV. Everybody seeing your baby, I’m a star. Look at me mama, that shit means something. My kids: “that’s my mama. 

That shit came out on your birthday. Are you spiritual? 

I believe in God. I stand on it. I ain’t get here alone. With me all through it. 

You got caught in Mississippi with shrooms and you’re facing 8 years? That’s wild.

And I really I don’t give a fuck because this is the truth, and this is what’s gonna get told anyway. This is me leaving a show. Swear to God, it’s not even over a gram. 

Why’d they put 8.96 grams? 

Man, I had so much other shit and they knocked all that other shit off. But weed legal out there. That’s Mississippi. But I don’t know if it had something to do with my gun, because they did take my guns too. Ghetto as hell! Them folks me and I said I don’t really want to talk about that. It was a news channel. I kid you not 5 minutes later, my sister was calling my phone like, “you on the news right?” It was ghetto as fuck, because y’all are only doing this cause y’all know tI do music. There’s no other way. When I denied it, I didn’t give them nothing, they went with their own shit. Put that shit out there, talking about 8t years fool? 

I was gonna ask you, because it didn’t seem accurate. 

No forreal, they playing with me. Tying to do 8 years for shake. I swear to God, they playing with me. It’s just to get that shit out there. You know how certain police things be like “oh, we need to get this in the media so we can bring in this…” Ghetto as hell. 

I think it’s important to hear your side of the story, to not believe everything you see online. One person will believe it, they’ll post it, and everyone will believe it. And it’s so far from the truth. 

And everybody had they own theory on that shit. You had people on there like, “we hope that she does the fullest.” You talking about mushrooms. I got babies, you playing with me. This shit was just left there. 

Did they arrest you? 

Hell yeah. I went to jail that night. Had the bond, I told you I was leaving a show. It’s like “oh yeah, give me that.” Yo ass finna bond out, yo ass finna go back. They played.

I feel like they do this with a lot of people. 

They’ll fuck with you, but it’s all about getting money from these folks. You see I’m a rapper, motherfuckers still think it’s Atlantic and all this other shit. No, this is me. Y’all fucking with me. So they gon’ try and test you anyway, because you made something of yourself. This what y’all gotta do to get attention, okay so be it. 

You’re from Memphis and you have two of the biggest rappers from the city, period. Talk about CMG hitting you right after. 

Everybody knows about me. They hit me,I talked to Gotti before. We sat down and talked to Jook. Being straight honest about this shit, when it come down to street shit, I stay out that shit because this music. We either gon’ get some money or we gon’ keep it G. With me knowing situations or what’s going on, I’ma hit who hit me. I’ma say so and so over here doing this, what you want me to do? Out of respect though, I’m a bitch. I’m a black woman, I’m all that. I’m that bitch. So, I’m coming to a man because I know what’s going on. Out of respect, this what’s going on, what you want me to do? You tell me go with my move… I ain’t never been signed to no rapper. I’m the rapper I’m signed to. 

On purpose?

But not on purpose though. You come with the right situation, this and that, I’m cool on it. I fuck with you, let’s get some money. But it don’t be seeming like that’s what n*ggas be on though. Shit be real different. Ain’t nobody gonna put me in between shit. If I fuck with you, I fuck with you. That go for bitches too. I got bitches that rap that I know they’ve been into it, and I stay out of it, but we all still stay cool. I can’t let that break me. It weird me out at times, because I don’t really know what be going on in this industry. But people know about me, they know what’s going on.  

You worked with Moneybagg early in his career, “Could Never” is my jam. He hit you to get on his song right? 

Yeah, he hit me and we pulled up. Once again, we pulled up and I knocked this shit out. I said n*gga, don’t go ghost. He didn’t go ghost though.Dealing with the label though, because I was with the label. Labels do shit different ways. He did the song. Now why we didn’t do the video, I don’t know. That’s me being honest about that shit because you have supporters that ask that shit and you have me that ask that shit. You asking me, so I’ a tell you. It was cool when we linked up the first time. That was that. But when it was time for me to get something from bro, it was that. It was busy. Now I can’t get mad at that, people go in their own direction. I do nothing to nobody. I stay out the way. 

Was the Juicy J play through the label or independent? 

I wouldn’t say it was either. The “Girls Kissing Girls”: we already had a beat, but it was sampled. Juicy J produced and then when he heard it…

He jumped on it! That’s the best case scenario.

And the shit was so hard! The man came with a new beat, new verse. Damn! Man just hit me with a two-piece. It was hard.

And he pulled up to the video.

On God, shot his shit and got up out of there. That’s my favorite video out of all the videos I ever shot. 

It’s crazy because you were pregnant in that video. 

That was my little girl. I was 5 months pregnant in that video, talking about titties on swole. 

Y’all do a good ass job because nobody be knowing. 

Baby it’s low key. We in a club, yu don’t gotta see too much. Then you got her, okay I’m chillin’. I had to keep working, wasn’t like I was gonna stop. The opportunity came and God blessed me to still move. She protected. She cool. What people don’t know when you carry a seed: what you do when you carrying them, you feeding that into them. I was pregnant with my son, 16. I was in school, that man smart as hell. It’s how you carry them. All my babies love music. She turnt and I love her. I love all my kids, but all them folks love music. They got their own little wave, that shit be different. 

How the fuck did you give birth at 16? 

I turned 17. I was pregnant while 16. Shit had to happen. 

I saw somewhere you said “my body wasn’t even fully developed yet.” 

I had a decision whether I wanted to go to the other route, but nah. If he don’t make it through, he ain’t gonna make it through if my body can’t take it. Even with her, I had a tummy tuck, lipo. Baby still came out with the milk. Still carried her. She was supposed to be 5 pounds. She came out 8 pounds, 22 inches. Stop playing.

She had an abortion and the baby stayed. God got you for sure. 

Blessings. I swear I needed her, but also damn! Now?! Of all times, you’re sparing me now? What do I do? I went through with it. After finding out, she was still there, fuck! What did I just do to her? After finding out, I don’t know what I’ma do. I probably just fucked her up. When she made it, I’ll never take this for granted again. 

Did you overdose recently? Or you almost overdosed? 

Nah, I overdosed. I was gone. I was dead for 30 minutes. 

When did that happen? 

After I started dealing with the label, I fell into depression. I was up. I ain’t even realize my world was spiraling. That shit had fentayl up in there. G was the one that made the call, he had to see me like that. He made the call. I just remember waking up like where’s my kids?

You’re so special. The shit you’ve gone through, nothing can stop you. 

I’m here for a reason. What people don’t realize, they’ll judge you like “oh, you a crackhead. You a junkie.” You making fun of this person, but you never know what a person’s going through. Because you picking on this person, this person can sit up here and do this and do what I did. Or a person can go and off theyself. I got babies. You gotta do what you gotta do. Rest in peace to Enchanting. You don’t know who’s going through what. 

I put that shit in my music. Y’all think y’all gonna make fun of me? Nah yeah, I did it. How the fuck you thought I ODed? I did it. What the fuck was you doing to help me? You don’t know what I done been through. You don’t know what I see. You don’t know how I feel. People be real deal fighting demons and you never know it. People don’t feel comfortable talking about this shit. Nah, I’ma put it in my music. ‘Cause one thing you ain’t gonna do is make me feel ashamed about it, because it’s already there. But this was helping me get through this. I ain’t finna shy away from that shit. People need to speak up about it because that’s what’s gon’ get you help. 

I ain’t been to rehab, but I didn’t have withdrawals. I didn’t have shakes. Can’t sleep. Can’t eat. Can’t do nothing. But this what I’m fighting  because I don’t want to be judged by y’all. Scared to talk about this shit. That’s why I respect you for that. That’s why I broke down because you said it with no shame. I fuck with you. People think it’s a one-sided thing. Nah, these females going through it and y’all don’t know it. You know certain dudes be on the street, now it’s more females. It’s our babies. 

Rest in peace Gangsta Boo.

I just met her. I swear to God, just met her out here. Rest in peace Boo. She pulled up on me at a studio and she got on a song. I got music from people that have been passed away. I don’t do this shit for clout. Got two songs with Enchanting. I don’t know how to put this out to the world. I’ma get in contact with they people though, before I do anything. I don’t do this shit for no clout. Just like when I listen to Zee, this shit motivation. Music really helps people, it saves people, and I think that’s why I’m here. Other than my babies. That’s how that shit go. I bounce back. I’m here for a reason.

I just want to say also: if you’re taking drugs, be careful. Fentanyl has taken a lot of people. 

That’s what I’m saying, that shit opens your eyes. I’m telling you what I was going through, that made me… fuck y’all. I’m hurting right now. I’m screaming for help, motherfuckers ain’t paying attention. It is what it is, but I ain’t gonna play with myself though. I know what I’m doing.

It hurts me too, just knowing that the music industry really takes a toll on your mental health. 

Hell yeah. And these folks talk shit, you can’t pull up. Drop your addy you gon’ talk shit. I can come through. I can do something. You can’t even react. It’s like, when you got a limelight on you, you can’t say certain things. You can’t be human. You can’t. Fuck that. I’m so out with it now, you either gon’ take it or leave it. Love me or hate me, I’ma be me. But that’s to everybody, because people will spiral off and get back into that shit. I’m cool on it. I’m doing good on my soul. No rehab. I pray. 7 days, 7 nights. Couldn’t move, depressed. I had to break through that shit. 

We gotta talk about you and T.I., “Step” is a banger. And Tiny told T.I. about you!

And Tiny a Cancer. Been fucking with mem been supporting me. Real deal, come pull up on me. Out of the blue, he called. I was in Memphis, because that was after me ODing. I didn’t know what the fuck I was finna do. She hit me up, he said “I need you to come out here.” So we went to Georgia. We sat down with him, and got this shit cracking. Within a week straight ,just working. 

Y’all made 3 songs in one night? 

Stop playing. Even the first song that he heard was fucked up, I thought he was finna get on that. But there was little shit going on on the internet, he said “Man I got some shit to say.” Yeah let’s go! We wound up pulling up some beat, he knocked them out. I’m talking about the second joint, damn you gonna fuck me up like that? He running this shit. He’s like, “catch up.” It’s straight, genuine love. Fuck with me. Real deal pick up the phone if I need advice. Pick up the phone for anything. 

He ever gave you advice? 

I wouldn’t say that it was for me. I was around somebody and a quote that he said was, “every storm runs out of rain.” I used it up in my song “Nonchalant” on Concrete Rose 2. You think about it, that’s hard. Because it do, and it be a rainbow. Beautiful type shit. 

 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Shirley’s Temple