Jo’zzy is good people. The chill R&B singer-songwriter represents a refreshingly humble hybrid of hot new artist and cool old soul. A talented Tennessee native, she possesses an angelic melody that lulls you to relax over pounding beats that compel you to react. Known to industry insiders for having a killer pen game reminiscent of a young Missy Elliott, Jo’zzy combines each of her gifts, talents, life experiences, and a sincere love of meaningful music to create an undeniably catchy bounce to her records. The 20-something chick with the hang suite vibe and bangin’ debut single - “Tryna Wife” featuring Timbaland and Ma$e - is in demand as both a singer and songwriter. She and her creative partner Wizz Dumb have already worked with the likes of Marc Ballas, Teyana Taylor, Sebastian Mikael, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, the aforementioned Timbo… and the list keeps growing. Her city of Memphis has contributed a number of talents to the Hip Hop and R&B genre, from rappers Juicy J and Yo Gotti to producers Jazze Pha and Drumma Boy. Jo’zzy is the latest in this long line of Tenn-A-Key hit-makers. Check out this fly style convo after her exclusive DOPE MAG photo shoot in New York City and get you a ‘lil music industry insight, wit, and wis-dom.
Written by ToneSwep
Creative Direction by Eve Chen of Melange NYC
Images by Tereza Janakova
Styled by Rock
Read the Full Length Interview
(ToneSwep: TS) Let’s start off with Memphis. Your city. I sat down with Yo Gotti last year for DOPE and he explained that not many artists come out of the city because, unlike Atlanta or Miami, there really isn’t a blueprint to follow. How is the music scene in Memphis?
(Jo’zzy: Jo’zzy) Gotti is so right. The whole idea of being an urban artist in Memphis can be elusive, almost like you can only get so big. 8Ball & MJG, Three 6 Mafia. They branched out to Loud and Suave House. Jazze Pha and later Drumma Boy both went to Atlanta. You know, to expand their careers. But once you take that money and talent to other cities it makes those other cities hot. The Memphis sound can be heard in a lot of other cities. Memphis is a very musical city. Everyone has a cousin, friend, or family member playing music in the church, or someone who plays an instrument in a band.
(TS) What’s up with the I Am Music concert a couple weekends ago? Is that like an annual thing in Memphis, similar to Summer Jam in New York?
(Jo’zzy) It’s pretty much just DOPE local artists. I know them all. Just great local talent. People look up to me in the city, especially for the new R&B. I’m like the first one after K. Michelle, so I have to rep for Memphis. And I always make a point to.
(TS) Both your sound and style are nods to the classic musicality of the 90’s. What is it about that era which draws you to it and compels you to extend it into now?
(Jo’zzy) Everything about that era, the golden era, just moves me; so impressive. Music was just so authentic then. You could tell Da Brat from Lil’ Kim; Eve from Foxy Brown; Queen Pen from Queen Latifah. Everyone had their own lane but they could also come together and vibe it out. And people were talking about stuff. The topics were there. And the versatility with the style. Women could be tomboys but still sexy. Da Brat and Missy sort of toned it down on being overly sexy, so it was more about their style. The 90’s was a renaissance era. I’m putting today’s sound, and my melodies and swag, and blending in the aura of yesterday. It’s going to take the right machine and label to get behind it.
(TS) Talk a bit about your creative partner Wizz Dumb and Dumb Drumbs productions. Why are you two the new wave? What projects do you have in the works?
(Jo’zzy) We’re the new high. I was telling Missy that. We’ve been around them for three years, so we’re following in the right footsteps. They feel what we’re trying to do. Me and Wizz are like an updated version of what Missy and Timbaland did. Like what Teddy Riley and Devante did. Wizz’ beats don’t sound like anyone else’s, which can be a great thing but also a scary thing. Because Radio can be like: “Where do we play this? What category? What genre?” Man, just play it (Laughs!).
(TS) Looking at the Hip Hop and R&B landscape of today, what do you feel is working? What do you think is missing?
(Jo’zzy) The whole idea is dumbing sh!t down for the public. That works and doesn’t work, you know. Because there is a fan-base for, say, a Jazmine Sullivan. She needs the right records. When she came out she killed. But does radio know who to get her records to now? I don’t know. Today there is another wave and sound that’s out. If the music is good and done the right way people will feel it. I don’t feel like there’s a blueprint or formula for it, because it’s not just music to people. It’s a brand, a total package. It’s not just music to the listener. There were so many DOPE singers in the 90’s, but they were branded differently. Take, for example, Nicole Wray. She was DOPE as hell, but Aaliyah was Aaliyah. Aaliyah was a bigger brand. You gotta separate yourself from the other ones with more than just the music.
(TS) What do you want from the music industry? What do you, in turn, feel the music industry wants from you?
(Jo’zzy) Tone, all I want is what I give it. That’s all. My blood, my sweat, and my good a$$ music. From the industry, I want to be financially good but I’m not all about the money. We want to change the sound of music. We have some stuff that’s crazy. The music is going to speak for itself. Change the sound of R&B.
(TS) You’ve stated that Missy Elliott has been a big influence on you and your music. What is it about Missy that you identify with and admire?
(Jo’zzy) Maaaan… I loved her on the songwriting aspect. I love her as an artist too, but Missy influenced so many. She taught me that there’s a difference between writing songs and breaking artists. She broke artists. And when she did it, she kept her style. She kept her identity. As a writer, she wrote for others. As an artist, she wrote for her. And the songs were completely different.
(TS) When you are a real person coming from a real place, the entertainment industry takes some getting used to – because you’re surrounded by fake-it-until-you-make-it phoniness and false promises. But every success story has had its own unique way of cutting through the fake bullsh!t to get to the real business. What is your approach?
(Jo’zzy) My approach is just having that right team. If your team is strong you can navigate anything. A fist, a family, a tribe. You have to be that. Missy told me, “people don’t come into the game as a$$holes. Something happened that made them that way.” Then, too, you have to consider we are dealing with multi-millions of dollars, millionaires… And let me add this: Even the people you started with can turn and become fake. Just because you started with certain people 10 years ago, who’s to say they’re supposed to be with you now? Keep your eyes open and stay righteous. Don’t trust too much. Keep your third eye open. Someone you just met may be the most genuine person. So the no-new-friends theory doesn’t always work.
(TS) In addition to writing for so many megastars, like J-Lo and Beyoncé, whom else are you currently working with?
(Jo’zzy) I just did a song with Sebastian Mikael on his album. That was a crazy record.
(TS) As an artist with a grand appreciation for golden era Hip Hop, what was your reaction to Remy Ma’s return to the game? Does she add an ingredient to the rap star gumbo that was missing?
(Jo’zzy) She brings the grit back. I feel she brings that grind, that grittiness. I love Nicki Minaj. She turns it on and turns it off. But we haven’t had that in the Hip Hop game, from a female rapper, in a while. That street vibe Remy reps. She adds to the different types of female emcees out today. We needed that. She’s back. Remy Ma!
(TS) Give DOPE readers the most underrated 90’s group, and rapper, of all-time. From a true 90’s era R&B and Hip Hop head.
(Jo’zzy) Whew! The most underrated R&B group is Total. Total! People argue with me about this, so let me explain (Laughs!). Their tone was everything. They don’t talk about Total when they talk about girl groups. Puffy had a lot to do with their success, but when a Total song came on you automatically knew it was them. I love those girls so much. Hip Hop wise… Man! So many got slept on. I’ma say Project Pat. I’m from Memphis and when “Mr. Don’t Play” came out the streets and the clubs was Turnt! He should be mentioned up there with Suave House, UGK, 8 Ball & MJG. Everybody’s flow today is so Project Pat and Three 6. He doesn’t get the love he worked for. He wasn’t a lyricist, but he was more about pimpin’. His flow was a pimped out flow. And that’s Memphis. A rapper’s style should represent their city.
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