DJ Lil Jon

After collaborating on hits with Usher, Ying Yang Twins and a host of others since the release of 2002Õs double platinum plus Kings Of Crunk, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz were regularly greeted with the same question by fans. ÒEverybody always wants to know whatÕs in our cup and Crunk Juice is what we drink,Ó Lil Jon explains. As the sponsor of Crunk!!! energy drink, the trio of Lil Jon, Big Sam and Lil Bo felt that Crunk Juice would make a great title for their fifth album. ÒItÕs perfect because the album has so many different kinds of stuff on it that itÕs like a mixed drink, something thatÕs musically intoxicating.Ó Crunk Juice, a stirring 20-song collection that starts off strong with ÒGet CrunkÓ and sustains its explosive energy through the album-closing ÒGrand FinaleÓ with Nas, T.I., Bun B and Ice Cube will make long-time hip-hop fans remember hip-hopÕs early years, when an album was potent from start to finish. ÒItÕs back to where you like the whole album,Ó Lil Jon says. ÒThe sorriest song on the album is still a hit record. ThatÕs how sick this album is.Ó Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz remain true to their gritty, club-ready roots with lead single ÒWhat U GonÕ Do,Ó which features Lil Scrappy. Releasing such a hard-core record was important to the group because Lil Jon as a producer has enjoyed so much commercial success through his work with Usher and Ciara, among others. ÒMost people probably thought I was going to come back with something commercial instead of what we do, which is always come out with a street record first. ThatÕs our base. We just wanted to come with the same stuff that people know and love us for and keep it moving. ThatÕs why ÔWhat U GonÕ DoÕ is the perfect set-up. ItÕs classic Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz.Ó The same can be said for ÒRoll Call,Ó a rousing song with hip-hop icon Ice Cube. ÒCube is on there spitting like old Ice Cube from N.W.A, straight hard-core,Ó Big Sam (Eastside Boyz) says. ÒItÕs a gutter street track,Ó adds Ice Cube, who makes his first appearance on a crunk cut with ÒRoll Call.Ó ÒIÕm talking about, if you mess with us, stuffÕs going to happen, just basically rapping, bragging, talking trash. Whenever I get a chance, I like to do records like this that are built straight for underground hip-hop. ItÕs has that underground feel that makes you want to rhyme.Ó The songÕs eye-popping video is equally arresting. It features LisaRaye, Tamala Jones, Will Yun Lee (from Torque, Die Another Day) and Ice Cube, making it one of the best-cast hip-hop videos of all time. Crunk Juice keeps its rowdy vibe alive on ÒWhite MeatÓ with 8 Ball & MJG and ÒDonÕt F*** Wit Me.Ó The latter was produced by Rick Rubin, features a sample of rock group Slayer and is the first crunk song with a storyline. Working with Rick Rubin, who produced many of the classic recordings from LL Cool J, Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys, among others, was a special thrill for the East Side Boyz. ÒRick doesnÕt really get down with rappers,Ó Lil Bo (Eastside Boyz) says. ÒHe only worked with Jay-Z on Ô99 Problems,Õ thatÕs the only rapper he has worked with since back in the day. For him to work with us was an honor. We got together and the song we did is incredible. ItÕs going to reach out to the white kids and the black kids. The concept based on an old Suicidal Tendencies song and I relayed that into an urban setting.Ó Lil Jon reconnects with Usher and Ludacris on ÒLovers & Friends.Ó But it isnÕt a sequel to ÒYeah!,Ó UsherÕs smash song that Lil Jon produced and on which Ludacris appeared. Instead, it is a ghetto ballad with heavy thump. The trunk-rattling thump also appears on the Neptunes-produced ÒStick That Thang Out (Skeezer),Ó an up-tempo cut for the ladies. Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz then show their creativity by delivering blistering songs that cater to virtually every type of hip-hop fan. Screwed fans will enjoy the chopped ÒDa BlowÓ featuring Gangsta Boo, while players will revel on the pimpish ÒContract.Ó Go-go fans will eat up ÒAww Skeet SkeetÓ with DJ Flexx and club hoppers will storm the dance floor once ÒIn The Club,Ó featuring R. Kelly and Ludacris, comes on. For West Coast fans, thereÕs also ÒB*****s Aint S**tÓ with Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Suge Free and Oobie and lyric fiends will savor ÒGrand FinaleÓ with Nas, T.I., Bun B and Ice Cube. ÒGrand FinaleÓ was inspired by the legendary posse cuts featured on the final songs on albums on Eazy-EÕs Ruthless Records, whose roster included N.W.A, The D.O.C. and Above The Law, among others. ÒRuthless Records, they closed out with the hottest dudes in their click rapping,Ó Lil Jon explains. ÒSo we wanted to take it to the next level and take the hottest cats from the East, the West and the South and put them on one song. ItÕs no hook, just straight gangster lyrics.Ó Crunk Juice also includes a 10-track bonus CD with remixes of ÒLean Back,Ó ÒWhat U GonÕ Do,Ó Trick DaddyÕs ÒLets Go,Ó and ÒRoll Call,Ó as well as other material. ThereÕs also a bonus DVD that shows Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz in the studio with 8 Ball, Rick Rubin, Bad Brains and others, as well as the trio at the MTV Video Music Awards, on BETÕs How IÕm Living and performing at Hot 97Õs Summer Jam in New York. Crunk Juice is Lil JonÕs defining work as a producer. ÒYou can talk about him in the same breath as Dr. Dre, Jermaine Dupri, Pharrell, Timbaland,Ó Ice Cube says. ÒNow itÕs Lil Jon. HeÕs part of that click now. HeÕs one of the producers thatÕs going to be around for a long time. He knows what heÕs doing. HeÕs the man right now.Ó ÒIt seems like weÕre jumping 200 feet at a time,Ó Lil Jon says of his groupÕs progression since 1996Õs Who U With, Get Crunk: Da Album, its debut album. ÒEvery album is so much better than the last album. WeÕre doing the same thing that we did from the beginning. WeÕre just tightening it up more and more and more.Ó