Juelz Santana Interview

Was rap always something that you considered a legitimate career move?

I was doing it anyways, just something I love to do. Like you, if you love to take pictures, you’re gonna do it regardless. You’re working for yourself.

How did you link up with Cam and the Dipset?

I’ve got four older brothers, and Cam was actually friends with my brother. It started close to home, and my cousin brought Cam around on the music tip. I performed in the car for him and he just embraced me, like, “Yo, I like your style.” When we went to the studio, he let me know, “Yeah, you nice, but it’s not all about being nice. It’s a movement we trying to get started here.” He understood that I was down to move with the movement, so he kept it funky with me.

Did the respect come more from a musical standpoint, or was there a friendship first?

I think we clicked on both levels. Cam’s birthday is February 12th and mine is the 18th, so we just click on shit, we laugh together. When we first met, of course we clicked on the music tip. He recognized that I was nice, and I always knew he was nice. Once I got into the studio with him, though, it turned into some family shit. Yo, the Diplomats are different, man. We’re on some real crazy shit. We have a lot of fun and be buggin’ out a lot.

Your style is real similar to Cam’s, is that just your natural voice or do you think he influenced you?

A Harlem thing is a Harlem thing. It’s just the style. People say that, but in actuality, Cam is a lot different than me. Just listen to his album, “Confessions of Fire,” and you’ll hear it.

Aight, give me a little feel for your upcoming album?

Well, it’s a lot different from doing the group thing. And it’s not like some people’s albums where they sound like they’re chasing that one single. Or, some albums might be a party album, or a radio album. With mine, I feel like it was real well put together. I talk about my feelings, things I’ve been through with females, situations I’ve been dealing with. My grandmother passed, and I talk about that. It’s a beautiful album.

How do you deal with being in the industry at such a young age?

Even though I’m eighteen, I’m not a kid in many ways. I don’t want older people to look past me, like, what can he possibly have to say? The positive part about it is, kids understand me and love me. I know I’m going to get the female fans, too. But, the way I spit, is not at an 18-year old level.

With so many young fans, do you try to send a positive message?

I rap about my life. I’m not here to be positive or negative. I’m just Juelz Santana, that’s who these kids are looking up to. They’re not looking up to a positive person or a negative person, they’re just looking up to me and what I bring to the table. I don’t hide who I am. I grew up hustling. Like I said on “Hey Ma,” “I’m eighteen and live a crazy life.” A lot of young people, man, I swear to God, you wouldn’t believe how many people, across the country, everywhere, tell me, “Yo, I’m eighteen and I lived a crazy life.” That’s just how it is. Sometimes I’ve just gotta explain how crazy it is. Nobody’s a completely positive rapper. It’s not supposed to be a positive or negative thing, it’s all about how you feel. If I was lying to you, would you respect me? If I tell kids all positive messages, I’m lying to them. You’ll see me on the corner smoking a blunt, so why not just tell the kids the real and have them accept me for who I am? You can’t get away with lying anyway, they’re smarter than that. I’m just trying to make the best of my career and get out of the streets, I’m gonna do whatever I gotta do for my family. I make powerful music, I feel like I’m a young artist with a lot of potential, and a lot of people of all ages need to hear what I’ve got to say.

When you mentioned your “family,” who are you referring to?

My parents and my grandma, she’s battling cancer right now. I’m prayin’ for her. My grandfather’s still up and runnin’ but he’s about 80 and some change, so I’m tryin’ to get it poppin’ for him. Then, Cam and them, they all my family. I’m not the type of dude that like to see myself doing good, I like to see everybody doing good.

How do you feel about Jay not wanting to do the Roc Army tour?

He did what he wanted to do, and that’s that. Roc gonna move it anyway.

Have you ever been caught in the middle of the tension between Jay and Cam?

One thing Cam always says to me is, get my own agenda. Whatever he’s doing, I stay out of it. He’s a grown man. But, it’s no problems though. We’re all on the same label, but yeah, we’re different people reppin’ different things, and we’ve got our own crews. People think that just because they don’t hear Jay and Cam together on every song, there’s beef. There ain’t no beef between them, they walk by each other and it’s all, you know, “What’s good, what’s poppin’, much love.” It’s no beef.

Why do you think you’ve made it this far? Raw talent? Determination?

At first, I used to want to give everybody else the credit. I ain’t wanna take any credit for it myself. I ain’t never even used to think I was nice. I’m not cocky at all. You won’t see me on the block saying, “I’m that nigga,” you know? That’s just not me. I’m just trying to move forward every day. I live to make the best of everything.