We caught up with JW in Ft. Lauderdale while he was enjoying a little down time with his family. Down time is something JW rarely has nowadays – the CTE/Universal Motown rapper has been on the road, in the studio, and promoting himself constantly. Here he discusses what’s going on in his career, what’s next, and what makes a female “So Bad.” So you’re at home right now. What’s the support been like for you in Ft. Lauderdale? This is what it is! Broward County is behind me 1,000 percent. I’ve always been the man in my city, and I can say that with a lot of confidence. People always had a lot of respect for me, all the way from little league football, to elementary, middle school, high school, growing up the streets, in the hood, Section 8 housing, and I played ball and earned a degree. Everyone always respected me. I went to camp with the Miami Dolphins and earned my business degree. What happened with playing ball? That ain’t work out. I got into the clubs in ’05 and ’06, so my name been ringin’ before music. With the music, everybody knows when Dubb talk about education and earning a degree, I did that; when Dubb talk about following your dreams, I did that and continue to do that. Everybody supports me in what I do. I love my city, I got it tatted on my chest. They love me. What’s your label situation right now? I’m with CTE. I have my label Grade A Hustler Entertainment that I established in 2008. Now I have an album deal with Universal /Motown – shout out to Sylvia Rhone, Deshawn Harris, Kinky B, Young Jeezy, everyone that’s backing my project. I’m working hard so I can open up doors for others. There’s so much talent in my city. What songs do you have bubbling right now? We got this “So Bad” song tearing up Florida right now. Shout out to Duval County, Tampa, Gainesville, Homestead, every show we done had with this “So Bad” contest has sold out. We got Jeezy and Plies on it, and we’re shooting the video in June. What would be your definition of a chick that’s “So Bad”? I’ve got 3 sisters, no brothers, so I love women. Looks are good, but I love a strong woman like my mama. Growing up my daddy was in and out of jail, on and off drugs, and I seen my mama really support all of us working 2 jobs.
So I like a strong woman that’s gonna do what she gotta do to make ends meet and make life better. I love everything about a woman – big, small, short, tall, green, blue, mean, nice, it’s all good. I’ve been hearing some of your other songs in the club too. What other hits do you have? Shout out to Rick Ross and Jeezy for blessing me with that “Everyday” with Triple Cs. That video was on MTV Jams. “The Biggest Movie Ever,” and I got a song out called “Trap Trap.” That’s for the hood, that’s that motivation music. And they lovin’ “I’m So Arrogant.” That’s like how I tell people you gotta love yourself before somebody else can love you. Overall what do you try to achieve with the music you put out? I‘ve been blessed to make it from the streets and earn a degree, I’ve been blessed to go through a lot of things, so I make sure the music I present to the world is very universal. It’s got to be me. I’m not gonna get on and try and rock like Jeezy ‘cause the world already got Jeezy. That’s why they fuck with Dubb. I got love for the CTE artists too like 2 Eleven, BAMA, Boo Rossini, Blood Raw, and Slick Pulla, and everybody knows Dubb is gonna be Dubb and that’s why they respect me. If I feel like takin’ my shirt off and gettin’ live at a show, that’s what I’ma do. Yeah Dubb gangsta, yeah Dubb smart, yeah Dubb a business man, but Dubb gonna do what he wanna do. I’ma talk about love, pain, havin’ fun, women, a lil hustlin’, fulfilling these dreams, comin’ from the ghetto, ‘cause that’s what I’m about. Are you working on any mixtapes? Yeah, shout out to Bigga Rankin’s Real Nigga Radio. That was my first ever mixtape that put me on – Get It From the Muscle Vol. 1. DJ Folk had Vol. 2 hot in the streets, and now I’m finna drop Get It From the Muscle Vol. 3 with DJ Nasty from 99 Jamz for Memorial Day Weekend. I’ve also got something coming out with the DJs from Broward County, DJ Slick, DJ Famous Amos, and DJ Sco. What else do you have planned for Memorial Day Weekend? Dade County has been showing so much love. Right now I got Headliners and Mike Gardner is trying to book me, they’re trying to get me at LIV, Club Ink, and some other places. I’m getting locked in now. You’ll be seeing us storming the streets with posters, mixtapes, you will see them Grade A Hustler/CTE shirts with the state of Florida on the back. We goin’ hard Memorial Day Weekend. // OZONE MAG // B-29