(Album cover via Juicy J)
Juicy J has never been one to shy away from reinvention. Known for pioneering crunk anthems with Three 6 Mafia – arguably one of the most influential rap crews ever – and carrying that raw Memphis energy well into his solo career, the rap veteran now finds himself exploring rather unexpected territory: After 2024’s Ravenite Social Club, which flirted with Jazz already, his most recent work Caught Up In This Illusion is a full-blown jazz album and cements what at first seemed like a playful experiment into a serious artistic pursuit.
The result is a fusion of smoky arrangements and Juicy J’s trademark delivery – a pairing that, while surprising on paper, feels effortlessly organic in execution. And it doesn’t stop there: he even takes to singing, while handing over the spotlight entirely to the many guest instrumentalists on several tracks. Just do yourself a favor and check the behind-the-scenes footage below: Juicy J in the studio with a tap dancer wasn’t exactly on our 2025 bingo card. But we’re absolutely here for it.
The album, produced by Detroit jazz artist Endea Owens, not only expands the Three 6 Mafia founder’s own catalog though. It also broadens the conversation around artistic freedom and longevity in hip hop: Rather than revisiting well-worn formulas, but instead choosing new paths over play-it-safe nostalgia, Juicy J uses jazz as the soundtrack of the freedom of having nothing left to prove – while still pushing oneself creatively.
