Meet Jacquees: Cash Money's Next Up

When Jacquees signed to Cash Money Records in October 2014, many onlookers worried that Cash Money CEO Birdman would exploit Jacquees' vocal talents and strip him of everything that made him a budding star -- his carefree demeanor, bright smile, and model good looks.
A year and half later, Jacquees is still in his honeymoon phase with Cash Money. He showed off the Rich Gang handshake in his music video for "Like Baby," his ode to Birdman, and he's been logging long hours in the studio with Birdman plotting the  he's been tentatively slated for a late 2016 release.
A few weeks before the release of his mixtape Mood, Jacquees swung by HNHH HQ, his last stop in NYC before heading to the airport to catch a flight to Arkansas. The 21-year-old radiated an uncommon youthful charisma as he detailed his childhood years, his relationship with Birdman, and much more.


Your music has elements of ‘90s R&B. People like Tyrese, Ginuwine, Tank.  Did you listen to any of those artists growing up?
Oh, definitely.  All those guys.  But I remember the first song I knew how to sing was “Pony.”  That was like the first record I knew. Ginuwine. [Starts singing “Pony”]
What else were you listening to?  What else inspired you to get into singing?
I was listening to R. Kelly. What inspired me to sing was definitely Michael Jackson and The Temptations.  I could say those are like the first artists that made me want to copy them. I tried to sing one day at my cousin’s house. I bust out and did it.  He told me it was good, and I went back to the house and did it again.  My momma told it sounded good.  I got in a talent show and I won. So that kind of inspired me to do it.  The Temptations, Michael Jackson – of course other artists like R. Kelly, Ginuwine, Jagged Edge.
You collaborated with Jagged Edge. What was it like working with some of your heroes?
Man working with Jagged Edge -- it was legendary.  You know, Brian and Brandon [Casey], those are the twins.  Those are the ones who do a lot of the writing. I was in the studio with them for quite some time. We had a lot of fun.  It felt like I was working with legends, you know?  They’re like my big bros, so they schooled me on how to hit notes better, how to sing better, how to harmonize better. It was a great experience.
Do you practice singing a lot? Like do you have a warm-up routine and exercises to improve your vocal chops?
Well to get my voice started, to warm up, I probably just sing a song I like, like real low.  I got a song – its like a Boyz II Men song when I’m trying to get my false right. It’s “[On] Bended Knee.”  I always try to sing that real low just to get my vocals real warm like real quick.



Was that talent show your first time performing ever?
Yeah.  My first talent show experience was crazy.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was epic.  I remember I had the Michael Jackson boots – you know, like when he used to dress with the vest when he was in The Jackson 5 with the afro? The vest, the bell-bottoms.  Man, I had everything on. I remember I sung “I Want You Back”  It was the first time the school had did the talent show.  I was new to the school.  I was the new boy.
How old were you?
I was nine.  This was in the 4th grade.  I came over there in Decatur. I remember getting up there and just singing and dancing.  You know, I was moving.  I was up there doing the little kick.  Yeah, I remember being up there kicking and moving and everything.  I remember when they were calling the winners – ‘cause there was another girl and she could sing real good too.  I was just hoping like, “Man, I wanna win.”  And I won.  And after that, the rest is history.  That’s when I started winning every year.  
It seems you’re like 9 for 10 on talent shows.
Yeah, I won 4th. I ain’t do a 5th. I won 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th.  After 9th grade, I quit.
That’s great.
I had to give somebody else a chance.
How did you connect with Birdman? What was your first impression of him?
First time with me and Birdman – it was epic.  It was in Atlanta too.  I remember Stunna [Birdman] was out there working with Thug and Quan and I was looking for an opportunity.  I remember I called Corey – Corey is one of my managers now.  He was with Birdman at the time. [Corey] is Rich Homie Quan’s dad.  And I remember getting on Stunna’s tour bus. He wasn’t right there, he was in the back. I remember I sat down and waited for him to come [out].  Once he finally came out, he ain’t dap me up first.  He dapped Corey up first, you know what I’m saying? And then he turned to me, he looked at me. He was like [rubs hands together], you know what I’m saying? He was like, “Is this who you’re talking about?” He dapped me up then he sat down next to me.   He just stared at me.  For like a minute straight, didn’t say nothing.  Didn’t say, just staring at me.  And he starts shaking his head.  He looked at Corey and then he looked back at me.  He’s like, “We gon’ do it.” He was like, “You’re a superstar.” And he got up, you know what I’m saying?


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