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S1 E15 | OJ da Juiceman

01:12:47

DJ Scream and Big Bank share nothing but “Big Facts” in their podcast, as they chop it up with today’s popular figures in the entertainment industry.

Big Bank and DJ Scream return with another episode of the “Big Facts” podcast with trap rap legend himself OJ Da Juiceman. The Atlanta native stop by to discuss a slew of things, including his friendship with Gucci Mane, getting shot and diagnosed with diabetes within weeks of each other, and much more.

It’s been a minute since fans have heard from the “No Hook” emcee, so what better way to start the conversation than with a game of catch up? Juiceman informed the group that after some failed business dealings with rap manager Debra Antney and learning the industry’s ins and outs, he chose to “start doing things independently.”

In turn, he revealed that making that decision to move about on his own also cost him his support from the label. Though the rapper didn’t elaborate, he has seemingly since moved on from the situation without any form of reconciliation with neither Antney nor his then business cohorts. However, he did clarify that his relationship with Gucci Mane remains “solid.”

The OG has since been releasing music as an independent artist, though he acknowledged that he has to push out visuals just as much as he does tracks, which is something his fanbase loves. Juiceman has also been running his vanity label, 32 Entertainment, that he founded in 2007 and named after a local bus stop.

Coming from streets, the artist divulged on the struggles of keeping at his craft of rapping when there were other quicker and more lucrative options available. “Sometimes that other thing can consume your time, and with the music, you got to load [up] with the music. You got to stay recording,” the rapper expressed. “There was one point in time where I was like, ‘Man, forget music.’ I like it, but from all the bad business and the money ain’t coming in like how it’s used to be… Rap, I’m cool with it, but it ain’t paying the bills.” However, he gave props to the Carolinas and his fans on social media. They encourage him to continue his craft despite some of the setbacks he’s endured throughout his career.

It’s no secret that the rapper has faced his fair share of battles. In 2008, he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Then, within days, he was shot eight times. Juiceman talked a bit about some of the lifestyle changes he made, including slimming down from an initial weight of 204 lbs.

“I just changed everything,” he said. “I went from regular drinks to diet drinks — everything diet. Damn near all the food baked. No salt got to season it with other shit, you feel me?”

He continued: “Really, it hit me out of nowhere. And then, in the midst of being shot, I’m coming from the hospital, and this new thing about the diabetes and then these folks telling me ‘You heal different. You ain’t gone heal the same, so be careful and watch your feet.’”

The rapper admitted that he wasn’t as disciplined initially as he should’ve been — still eating sweets — and subsequently advanced to Type 1. Juiceman later found himself pricking his fingers for blood samples daily. The process ultimately made him take his illness more seriously.

Speaking on his legacy, when asked what fans would remember him by, the rapper stated, “Majority of the people would probably remember me as the ‘Aye man Aye’ or ‘You talking about the quarter-brick man’ or something like that.”

Juiceman is perhaps best known for his ad-libs, and when he heard Soulja Boy use it, the OG confessed it took him by surprise. “It killed me. Bruh, I’m coming from I ain’t steal nothing from nobody to get in this thing [industry],” he explained. “I worked. Niggas might have thought that Gucci brought me in, but naw, I came in on my own. We was just homeboys, and shawty blew ‘fo I did.” The rapper noted that seeing Gucci’s success inspired him to get into the rap game following his release from boot camp.

Looking back, the option of joining a major label is not totally off the table for the 39-year-old at the moment. His only requirement is that “the paperwork gotta be right cause that’s where I fucked up the first go-round.”

To everyone’s surprise, Juiceman claimed that he made “not one coin” off his debut album, The Otha Side of the Trap, which was released on January 27, 2009 and featured songs such as “Make tha Trap Say Aye” featuring Gucci, “Cop a Chicken,” and “I Be Trappin’.”

“These folks hit me with, to let you out this contract, for you can be free, you gotta let us have everything from The Otha Side of the Trap for your life and ten years after your life,” the rapper claimed his record label at the time told him. He also revealed that he could not sue for royalties from his first album. However, 10 years after his passing, his children may be granted that opportunity.

Juiceman acknowledged his own carelessness when it came to signing his contracts, but maintained that he was telling the truth and that his departure from Mizay Entertainment —ran by Antney — was a result of stolen funds.

If you liked what you heard, stay tuned every week for another episode of “Big Facts.” Also, don’t forget to watch the latest show above!