Indies
Meet Hip Hop Reggaeton Producer JussLu
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The music game can be the flashiest of sports. Yet much of what propels your favorite tracks to the top of the charts happens out of the public eye. But you don’t need to see it, to believe that those working behind the boards are often the unsung heroes of a sensational record. A seasoned producer and mix engineer, JussLu is armed with the superior skills to do just that.
Working with artists from coast to coast to enhance their sound and vision, JussLu’s versatile catalog of beats and mixes often pushes artists to bring their A game each and every time they step in the booth.
Though growing up on a healthy diet of East Coast Hip-Hop, the New England native has a knack for bringing the best version of an artist’s vision to life, regardless of genre.
We caught up with JussLu on the heels of releasing his new instrumental project, CrossOver, Checkout our convo with the New England native and discover why his beats go crazy and it won’t be long before his name rings bells.
Hello, Thank you so much for sitting with us today and allowing us to meet the man behind the name JussLu.
Thank you for doing this, it’s an honor to be here.
What is your name/stage name?
JussLu
When is your birthday?
March 17th, St Patrick’s Day
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. “508”
What do you do?
I mix, produce and write Hip-Hop and Pop music. I also do Pop (Top 40) Remix.
How long have you been making music?
I started off as an emcee, but pretty soon after that I realized someone had to mix the joints. That’s when the switch flipped for me and I got behind the boards. I’m two decades in at this point!
What was your first song/project?
Man, working on music with my younger cousin Rugged. Believe it or not this was when people made music straight to cassette. Now you can record, mix and release a track to the world in under an hour!
Who’s your inspiration?
I’d have to say Diddy. Bad Boy growing up was everything to me. Who else you know can adlib a record and make millions!?!
What genre of music do you create?
I really honed my craft working with Hip-Hop artists, but my beats never really have a signature sound, like Swizz Beats, Mike Will, and Metro Boomin. I’m everywhere with it. That can be good and bad at times if I’m being honest. So my catalog has expanded into R&B, Pop music and Reggaeton.
What’s one of your favorite songs that you’ve produced?
I’d have to say, “See About Me” by my brother Ariez “Ari7”. It’s got this effortless, fun bounce to it and I think it’s one of the more unique tracks I’ve produced to this day.
Who are some artists you would like to work with?
I’m interested in working with artists who are the best at what they do, regardless of genre. That being said, my list would have to be Jadakiss, Jay Z, Nas, Drake, LISA, Joyner Lucas, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, JP Saxe, Nicky Jam, The Kid LAROI, Camila Cabello. But honestly, you don’t gotta have a ton of followers to peak my interest. So long as you’re an artist that brings something special to a record, I’m down to work together.
Who’s one person, dead or alive, that you’d want to work with?
Notorious BIG, 100%. Biggie was one of my first concerts. My mother took me to see Biggie when I was 13. That show legit changed my life. Sometimes I wonder what rap music would be like if he were still alive today.
Are you signed to a label?
I own my own record label called GroundUp Media Group, which I use to release my music.
Do you want a record deal, a distribution deal, or none?
I’ve never really been focused on that. But if the deal is right, it’s something I might want to pursue in the future though.
Who are your biggest supporters?
My family, friends, and fans. I just want to keep getting better and better. Not just for myself, but for them too. Easier said then done.
Where did your name come from?
I was tired of people mispronouncing my name. So I cut it short, made it Lu AKA JussLu.
What’s your favorite music to listen to?
These days I’m inspired by all style of music genres. So pretty much everything!
What are you currently working on?
I just produced the theme song for COMPLEX Brackets. FAT BIBLE jumped on the track and he always knows how to get the most out of a track. The show itself is kind of like a barbershop style Hip-Hop debate show and they’ve been killing it with some really dope guests and debate topics. If you like arguing about Hip-Hop, you should definitely check it out!
What is your latest release?
CrossOver. That’s my new project. It’s out on all streaming platforms. Along with a few other new Instrumentals I just released.
When is your next release?
I’ll be dropping a few new Beats and Remixes throughout May/June. Keep a lookout for those.
Are you the type to pull up alone or with a group of people?
I usually keep a small circle. Just myself and a homie or two.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Working with the best, making great music and continuing to level up. I’d like to see myself as an A&R at some point in the future.
Do you see kids in your future?
Yeah, I hope that’s in the cards for me one day.
Where did you go to high school and college?
I went to Catholic Schools my whole life. Guess that might be where some of my work ethic and discipline comes from. Shout out to my parents!
What’s your favorite place to travel to?
I enjoy traveling everywhere. It’s motivating, and you learn a lot about others and yourself. Plus, I’m trying to get those miles up so I can get upgraded!!
Did COVID change your career for better or worse?
As ironic as it may sound, COVID definitely helped my career. I was able to slow down and reevaluate what matters too me, and what I really want to accomplish and focus on going forward. I actually think the pandemic did that for a lot of people. Call it a silver lining of a real bad situation I guess.
JussLu, thanks for meeting with us today, it was great getting to know the personal side of you.
No doubt. I spend most of my time working behind the scenes, so it’s always cool doing stuff like this. I appreciate it.
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