Uproxx’s Fresh Pair is back with a new season, a new studio, and the same unique insight into the world of hip-hop and sneakers provided by hosts Just Blaze and Katty Customs. This week, they present New Orleans legend Juvenile with a pair of custom Reeboks he prices at $70,000 while reminiscing on the dominance of Cash Money Records in the ’99 and the 2000 — including how big of a hit “Back That Azz Up” has become on the wedding DJ circuit.
After revealing the kicks, Juvie details his experiences with Cash Money building New Orleans’ rap scene almost from scratch, recalls the importance of Soulja Slim to both that scene and Juvie’s own career (he did write “Slow Motion,” after all), and reveals his favorite Cash Money records. Just, Katty, and Juvenile also highlight the creative mayhem and impact of the label’s album cover art, which was notoriously meticulously (and sometimes ridiculously) crafted by in-house designers Pen And Pixel.
Juvenile ranks his albums toward the end of the discussion, after sharing his thoughts on the viral popularity of his NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert. Finally, he shares his advice to creatives, which you don’t want to miss, even if you don’t think that includes you.
With Howard University celebrating its 100th Homecoming celebration in 2024, Director of Bands Chancellor Mills was searching for the perfect opportunity to impact the program in his first year on the job.
College bands are equal parts technical exhibition and pageantry and HBCUs like Howard are well known for consistently raising the bar with their “Showtime” Marching Band playing everything from Thanksgiving Day Parades to NFL games to Presidential inaugurations. But how high could they go for the 100th? Enter legendary hip-hop producer Just Blaze and UPROXX, who teamed with Mills to find out in a new series made possible by State Farm.
As you can see in the first episode which kicks off the series, Mills is feeling the pressure at the start of this mission. “You only get one chance to do the 100th,” he tells our cameras. But with Just Blaze supplying a brilliant blend of bombastic beats, the big band horns and chattering tenor drum sets ease any nervousness.
Even a seasoned icon like Just Blaze – who has worked with everyone from JAY Z to to Eminem to Beyonce – is pumped to see his hits reimagined in such a unique way, telling us that this collab was something his music was made for. See for yourself and keep an eye out for further installments in this series as Mills, Just Blaze, and the Howard band amaze and astonish.
Memphis Bleek and Just Blaze are legendary soldiers in the Roc-A-Fella army. They helped to define the first half of the 2000s alongside label boss Jay-Z. Bleek and Blaze have taken different career paths in the years since the Roc disbanded, but all that is just water under the bridge. The two artists are coming back together for a new single, and it will be their first in over two decades. The best part? Fans won’t have to wait long to hear it.
Memphis Bleek announced the collaboration on Instagram on June 10. The rapper posted the artwork for the single, which is titled “Durag Bleek.” The single artwork features photos of Bleek and Just Blaze from over the years, suggesting that the song will reflect on all the work the two artists have done together. It also came with a release date of Friday, June 14. That’s right, the two Roc icons will be releasing the new song the very same week it’s announced. The last time Memphis Bleek was heard over a Blaze beat was the 2005 album 5:34. Ironically, the most famous Blaze beat on the album, “Dear Summer,” doesn’t have any rapping from Bleek whatsoever. Instead, it’s a solo JAY-Z track.
Memphis Bleek and Just Blaze have had their differences over the years. The latter admitted this during a 2022 appearance on the Drink Champs podcast. He said that Blaze gave away the beats for Cam’ron’s “Oh Boy” and Joe Budden’s “Pump It Up” before he got a chance to do anything with them. “That’s cool he did do that, and I always want to f*ck him up for that,” the rapper said jokingly. “But I can’t, that’s my brother. I love him. N***as trying to say I passed up on ‘Oh Boy.’ F*ck out of here. I would have hit you in the head with an ‘Oh Boy.’”
The Roc reunion also tracks, given that Bleek is launching a label-themed podcast titled Roc Solid. The podcast will delve into the history of Roc-A-Fella and feature guest appearances from the likes of Young Guru and Freeway among others. A release has not yet been announced, but the teaser for the podcast suggests that Roc adjacent rappers like Ja Rule and N.O.R.E. will appear as well. Who knows, maybe Just Blaze will drop by and bless fans with some previously unheard stories.
A Joe Budden return to music is in the future. Speaking on the latest episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, the rapper-turned-broadcaster revealed he hit up iconic producer Just Blaze for a beat.
“I called Just Blaze the other day,” Budden said. “I’m done talking about these rappers. Imma do it myself. I’ll do it myself. Imma listen to what Just Blaze has in there that might make somebody wanna rap.”
Joe Budden calmed fan anticipation by stating he has a “real job” and would get around to it, but it will carry a nice price tag.
“I’m laying a 15-minute record for sale for $20,” Budden said. “Might be an EP but you get this first track for $20. Whenever that is I don’t want to hype fans up to think that’s coming soon. Me and Just Blaze have real jobs.”
Joe Budden hints at coming out of retirement to rap again
“I called Just Blaze the other day, I’m done talking about these rappers, Imma do it myself” pic.twitter.com/oQAKV7bVIn
Slaughterhouse has one of the biggest cult followings in Hip-Hop history, and their fans continue to look for any ray of light that could lead to a reunion and new music.
As far as fans are privy to, the tough news is still a dividing line between two sides putting Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked on one side of the aisle and Joe Budden and Royce Da 5’9″ on another. Then add in that Joe is quite happy podding.
Enter Just Blaze who gave fans the best shot they have at new music. Hitting Twitter, Just Blaze shared two unreleased singles. “I just found the slaughterhouse album,” Blaze wrote. “Jesus this is great. I might do the lords work.”
In light of the death of DJ Mark The 45 King, more music can be on the way.
You can see the messages from Just Blaze and hear the music below.
45 king didn’t die for us to hold on to a bunch of Music. More to come eventually.
A couple of years back, Ice Cube shared some of his storytelling inspirations with Uproxx for People’s Party With Talib Kweli. He popped back into Uproxx Studios in LA recently, this time, to sit down with Just Blaze and Katty Customs for Fresh Pair, and once again talked storytelling in hip-hop. This time around, he shared his five favorite narrative rap songs, which he called “the best hip-hop ever.”
Of course, Ice Cube himself wrote what has long been considered to be one of hip-hop’s top storytelling raps in his 1992 hit single “It Was A Good Day.” The second single from his third solo album, The Predator, “It Was A Good Day” peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and has been the subject of a running joke in internet culture of people trying to determine just which day Cube describes in the song (he maintains he had no particular day in mind, but that hasn’t stopped online sleuths from trying). It was also recently reproduced by Logic, drawing mixed reactions from fans — although the original artist liked it.
Somehow, Cube’s list of the best five storytelling songs does not include his own rap staple, but does have some old-school classics. Among them: Timeless, foundational hip-hop hits from Slick Rick, Dana Dane, Boogie Down Productions, and at least one left field take (it’s not really much of a story, after all).
You can find out which songs Ice Cube picked in the preview clip above; the full episode drops Wednesday, 7/26 at 3pmET / 12pmPT.
In the return of Uproxx’s Fresh Pair, Port Arthur, Texas rapper (and secret Swiftie) Bun B breaks down his career for hosts Just Blaze and Katty Customs as they break down the custom sneakers they made for him based on that career. One funny anecdote involves the filming of the video for “Big Pimpin’” and Bun’s reaction to receiving a personal phone call from Jay-Z.
Near the 11:30 mark in the episode, Just recalls his reaction to listening to “Big Pimpin’” for the first time, Bun recounts how he and his UGK partner-in-rhyme Pimp C were tapped to appear on the record.
“I thought the call was a prank,” he admits. “It was a blocked number. I was like, ‘Who’s this?’ He was like, ‘It’s Jay-Z,’ and I was like, ‘Yo, stop playing on my phone,’ and I hung up.”
However, Bun picked up when Jay called back and thanks to Jay’s distinctive voice, recognized that it really was the superstar rapper. It’s a great story about how the early rap business still had a personal touch.
Bun also recalls Pimp C’s initial skepticism about the song, the surprise of its success after a prior single flopped, and Pimp’s hilarious reaction to being told to take off his mink coat during the video shoot in Trinidad & Tobago.
UPROXX, the popular youth culture and music platform, has announced the highly anticipated launch of season two of its original series, Fresh Pair. The first episode is now available for streaming on YouTube.com/UPROXX Video and Uproxx.com, with future availability on WMX Hip-Hop on The Roku Channel (Ch. 1137). Hosted by Grammy Award-winning hip-hop producer Just Blaze and renowned sneaker customizer Katty Customs, Fresh Pair season two offers captivating interviews with some of the biggest names in culture, including hip-hop icons Bun B, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, and more.
Continuing the format that fans adore, each episode revolves around a unique “script” provided by a one-of-a-kind pair of sneakers. Katty and Just collaborate to design custom shoes inspired by the featured guest. The reveal of the customized sneakers sparks engaging discussions about the guests’ careers, personal journeys, and their deep connection to sneaker culture and streetwear style.
“One of the most compelling things about hip-hop as a genre is the sense of walking in an artist’s shoes through their storytelling and art,” says Just Blaze. “Fresh Pair goes the extra mile in its second season to deliver what fans look for across culture in that regard – emphasizing the music, the style and the stories of some of the biggest names in the game.”
Katty Customs added, “Fresh Pair challenges us in the very best way. We take every element of the design very seriously and dive deep into the culture to conceptualize, design and create personal classics for our guests. It’s the best feeling when they resonate and you get to hear their reaction. Then to get to hear the fan response – that takes it to the next level for me, as a creative.”
The greatest Hip-Hop artists could always associate themselves with a signature sound. Tupac Shakur defined West Coast rap, layering his vocals amidst alpha West Coast beats. The Notorious B.I.G did the same on the East Coast, acting as a rallying cry for New York’s rap scene. For artists like Kanye West, that defining sound would be discovered in a different lane. Spearheading the Roc-A-Fella era of the late ’90s to early ’00s, The Blueprint‘s influence lay in Chipmunk Soul‘s innovation.
It’s 2002, and Hip-Hop is being overrun by oversized pants and lavish jewelry. Rappers were filming music videos in crowded streets, seeking to mirror the chaotic life of their upbringing. Beats were heavy and menacing at their core, spearheaded by mainstream artists such as Tupac or DMX. In the underground, artists sought to counteract these menacing ominous soundscapes with a world that delivered simplicity and happiness. Consequently, this new sound would present itself as Chipmunk Soul. The production technique sampled Soul and R&B songs from the ’70s to the ’80s, speeding up the pitch of samples to create a squeaky effect.
“Chipmunk Soul” Encouraged Vulnerability In Hip-Hop
The largely accredited pioneer of the sound is de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA. RZA wasn’t the one to drive the sound to the top of hip-hop. However, he inspired the likes of Kanye West to experiment with the sound. RZA has acted as a hip-hop trailblazer throughout his career. With Wu-Tang’s Enter The Wu-Tang, the Staten Island group delivered a sound that curated a unique world between Soul and Kung Fu films. The group’s fascination with martial arts, Eastern philosophy, and urban street life proved that a less traditional subject matter could still appeal to hip-hop fans. The point is that Chipmunk Soul’s trend-setting era had its roots in more experimental records coming out of the early ’90s.
The Chipmunk Soul era of sound was derived from an innate desire to curate an aesthetic that better blended with the vulnerable sides of hip-hop. West wasn’t interested in rapping about his deep bank account or a desire to physically intimidate the people around him. Enamored with the worlds of anime and Haruki Murakami as a child, he searched for a sound that better complimented his personality’s light and dark sides. The College Dropout takes the listener into the darkest corners of his mind. By closing track “Last Call,” he’s rapping about “the night I almost killed myself in Lexus.” By implementing Chipmunk Soul, he could better reflect these emotions with the sonic direction of the record.
The College Dropout Is The Subgenre’s Biggest Album
Like any new artistic trend, the Chipmunk Soul style was met with initial hesitations from the music industry. In 2002 West walked into Roc-A-Fella Records with a CD containing “All Falls Down.” Without hesitation, he began blasting the song throughout the office. While the track would achieve immediate critical acclaim, Ye was met with sullen stares from everyone at the Roc-A-Fella label office. However, The College Dropout quelled any doubters of the movement, debuting at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200. The sound had been relevant for a few years before The College Dropout. Producers West and Just Blaze were in the basement with Jay-Z, curating the sound with various classic hip-hop albums.
Roc-A-Fella lived large in the early 2000s under the soundscapes of West and Blaze. The record label had dramatically gone from a small operation to arguably the biggest thing in rap, catapulted by The Blueprint and Purple Haze. The office that had scoffed at The College Dropout was all of a sudden head over heels for Ye, who’d contributed to the curation of the most popular subgenre of hip-hop along with Just Blaze. Many hip-hop heads had gone from icy hardcore raps to the sun-induced feel of Chipmunk Soul. By 2004, blasting Jay-Z’s “Song Cry” on a warm summer day had become the norm.
Chipmunk Soul Revived ’70s & ’80s Music
Chipmunk Soul did more than solely usher in a new era of sound in hip-hop. In addition, it delivered a newfound appreciation for the Soul and R&B of old. Hip-hop heads were hearing sampled loops of Aretha Franklin while driving home from school with their friends. Kids were returning to the music their parents likely listened to. It’s permanently impacted the genre, popularizing Soul sampling into the mainstream. Producers such as Swizz Beatz, Kanye West, and The Alchemist continue to contribute to chipmunk soul’s legacy to this day. The unique production technique represents one of the defining moments of hip-hop’s history.
With 2023’s SXSW events officially behind us, it’s time to look back on all the madness, chaos, and (above all) fun that went down in Austin, Texas last week. And no shortage of those memorable moments came via Fresh Pair co-host and all-around icon, Just Blaze. Backed by Twelve Rivers Realty and the video game company he cofounded, Brass Lion, Just went all-in this year with a four-day, three-night takeover of Native Hostel, including a live taping of UPROXX’s Fresh Pair with co-host Katty Customs and Texas hip-hop legend Bun B, sponsored by our partners Los Siete Misterios mezcal, STEPN, and WAGMI Beach.
Night one of the takeover opened with Just Blaze throwing a party in the Native Hostel ballroom which quickly turned into one of those nights that feels like it only happens in the movies. Over the course of more than seven hours (!!!), the superproducer was joined on stage by DJ Jazzy Jeff, Talib Kweli, Bun B, Redman, Jadakiss, Freeway, Beanie Seigel, and eventually even Dave Chappelle.
I mean… just look at this scene:
Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be there that night? Who wouldn’t have been geeked when Dave Chappelle pushed away his (incredibly tough-looking bodyguards) and waded into the crowd for photos? Or when Redman came out spitting absolute fire with the same intensity and speed he had on his fastball in ’99?
Steve Bramucci
The next day, Native Hostel, Brass Lion, and Twelve Rivers hosted Fresh Pair for their first on-the-road live taping, sponsored by Los Siete Misterios mezcal and STEPN. Katty Customs brought some killer fits to present to Bun B while he opened up about everything from his early hits to working with Jay-Z. That taping was followed by a cocktail party hosted by Los Siete Misterios who also set up a tasting table to sample their full line of mezcals while DJ Buck Rodgers spun and scratched, the crowd danced, and tacos circulated.
