In 2020, no one is dominating the R&B scene more than Jacquees.
With his debut album #4275 having recently went Gold alongside his singles “BED” and “At the Club” going platinum- Jacquees track record has shown that he is here to leave his own unique mark on the music industry. We caught up with him ahead of this Sunday’s BET Awards, to discuss the impact of the black lives matter movement, his BET nomination for Best Male R&B/pop artist, and a sneak peek of what we can expect from his upcoming 3rd project.
The Knockturnal: I just wanted to congratulate you first on your album, it just went gold how does it feel like how was that first moment when you just found out that it went gold?
Jacquees: It was crazy, you know, I was shocked, I ain’t gonna lie, I turned up with my dad and my brother, big ‘ol high five, like “man we did it,” and we smoked a big ‘ol cigar, you feel me, I was just feeling accomplished. That was my first album and it went gold, three platinum singles, one double platinum, it just was like you know, God is good. That’s how I felt, but I felt like, “I got way, way, more work to do,” you know? I didn’t look at it and be like “oh we made it, we done,” you know what I’m saying. I looked at it like “okay that’s one step, now with the King of R&B I’m done, okay what are we gonna do with the third album, I went right back into that mode.”
The Knockturnal: And that’s amazing because I was just going to say, I feel like you as an artist are very unique and you can see your growth between each piece. From 4275 to King of R&B, you can see it along each step. What was your creative process for both of those projects and how do you feel like it kind of grew over time?
Jacquees: Well the creative process for 4275 it was exactly like how I did all my mixtapes but it was a little different because I got to work with Darnell Jones, I got to work with a couple of the OG’s and that process right there was already different in itself. I remember working with Darnell Jones and he was making the beats and everything and it was cool working with him. As far as the King of R&B, I would say we kinda went into like, the industry and we kinda took pieces of the industry, like which could be good and bad. We went and got pieces and made a great album, but as far as 4275, that was the core. Yeah the foundation, King of R&B was still the foundation but we added pieces you know and I can say my third album, its the foundation, again you know, back to the foundation.
The Knockturnal: Okay, well we’re excited to see the third album, and I did want to ask you because you are nominated tonight for best R&B and pop section, what are you looking forward to most?
Jacquees: Winning, winning, winning, I’m looking forward to winning but its like, I got envision it but it’s like if I don’t win I’m just thankful that BET put the light on me. But I really do want to win, because I feel like if I win it’ll change the culture like I feel like it’s a new day. Like, if you give Jacquees the award it’ll open the door for new artists to believe that they can do it. If you give it to one of the OG’s it’s like “oh it’s another BET award,” you know what I’m saying? That’s how I feel, but whoever’s deserving I feel like, should win.
The Knockturnal: Yeah of you get it-it’s more of a statement for the culture…
Jacquees: Exactly! If I get it-it’s a statement, it’s like “what!?”
The Knockturnal: It’s a new wave thing being ushered in.
Jacquees: Exactly! I just pray to God they just give it to the one because you know we going up after that! On God.
The Knockturnal: Well as you know we’re here celebrating black culture, and it is the BET awards and given everything that’s going on, the current social and political climate, I did just want to get your thoughts, you know since you are here for BET and it’s all about celebrating our people and how we’re transforming the world, like, with the current social and political climate what is your thought on the movement that’s taking place right now?
Jacquees: I actually like what everybody’s doing, I like everything, you know what I’m saying because you go back and look at back in the day, we were trying to do this back then. But today we trying to go to the point where we’re like, “okay we not going back until something changes.” So I don’t, I’m not against the rioting, I’m not against burning stuff up, I’m not against none of that stuff because they not against killing us, so until they against killing us I’m a be with the burning stuff up, you know just burning it down. No justice, no peace, that’s honestly how I feel about everything, you know what I’m saying and I have no respect for racism, I have no respect for racist people. So, that’s just what I’m on, equality for everybody, whether a person black, blue, white, green, red, purple, everybody should be treated the same. You know we just ready for a change for sure, but like I said I’m with everything until something happens.
The Knockturnal: Yeah and I think most people are on that, I think things are breaking a little bit so, things are starting to come to fruition. They are giving me the notification that we have to wrap up but I just have one final question for you. What can we look forward to on this third project, like what can we look forward to in 2020?
Jacquees: The third project is all about the ladies, like strictly, like its a strictly ladies album. Like I should have called it “The Ladies Album.” But this album is for ya, like, I’m talking about for real. From 1-12 like, “he did that for me,” for sure. I’m telling you, it’s that one.
The Knockturnal: Alright well we can’t wait to stream it and share it and listen to it, so I just want to thank you for taking the time out to talk with us.
Jacquees: Thank you.
The Knockturnal: Good luck on Sunday, and keep doing what you’re doing.
Jacquees: Thank you, all love.
To see more of Jacquees, you can catch the 2020 BET Awards this Sunday, June 28th at 8:00 pm ET/PT on BET Network as well as simulcast across ViacomCBS networks including BET HER, and will make its national broadcast premiere on CBS.
The “BET Awards” 2020 aims to provide entertainment relief and support for the black community as we continue to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to celebrate the resilience and strength of the community during this unprecedented time.
