Juicy J is known for popularizing a murky, lo-fi sound due to a limitation in the range of equipment that was widely available when he began making music. While plenty of high-quality musical devices exist today, younger rappers of the SoundCloud era strive to create a sound that recalls vintage Juicy J records. A lo-fi ambiance can be heard throughout much of Smokepurpp, Lil Pump, XXXTentacion and Kodak Black's arsenal, opting for muddy vocals and crackling white noise backgrounds. Juicy J is fully aware of the current movement in hip-hop and he likes where it is headed, recognizing that a broken sound is the wave that artists are aspiring to create.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, the former Three 6 Mafia member praised Lil Pump and XXXTentacion for extending a sound that he popularized, giving him further inspiration. Juicy spoke to the interviewer about both Florida rappers, saying, "They keep the music alive. They keep people interested in the music." While it is certainly a bold claim, X and Pump are two of the most popular artists among a younger audience, with the former's ? album expected to debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart.
Memphis rap in the 1990's was familiar with the murky sound that is often heard today and with two of the hottest Florida rappers catching on to a similar vibe, the sound could be around for a while. Do you agree with Juicy J's comments? Read the full interview here.