Jessie Reyez recently joined a Q&A (question and answer) session with a Lil Wayne Discord server, which you can read in full below!
During the interview, Jessie shared how her single “RIDIN” featuring Wayne came together, gave insight into her relationship with him, and reflected on her experiences working with both Weezy and Eminem.
The Canadian singer-songwriter also opened up about collaborating with Tunechi on “Love You, F*ck You” in 2020, appearing on Young Money Radio, and even what Tune smells like. Check out all the details below!
Q: How did the new record Ridin come about? Did you always intend for Wayne to be the feature or how did you decide on making him the feature for the song?
A: I actually have the voice note of the day I made it. I think I’ll post it online this week. It’s funny.. just starts off as mumbles and the sentences start coming together. Also, once the song was done and my squad and I started talking features Weezy was a no brainneerrrrrr. I was so amped when he said he was down.Q: What was it like working with arguably two of the biggest names in the rap game Eminem & Lil Wayne?
A: Honestly I’m honoured. Like honored. The fact that I get to work with legends I’ve been looking up to and listening to since I was little is insane. Also, for ridin, obvi I sung, but I never decide in advance what I’m gonna do on a record. Like I never decide if I’m gonna sing or rap in advance. I kind of just open my mouth and whatever comes out comes out. When he sent me the beat for “Love You F*ck You” I made and a rap verse popped out of me, I was a lil nervous to send it over. But then Wayne heard it and hit me back and said it was dope, and then he sent me a voicenote saying “u killed it, u f*cking killed it” and I treasure that voicenote lololol.Q: Can you tell us what you look for when you select beats to write and record too?
A: My body just needs to react. Also, it needs to be instant. It needs to be emotive. Make me feel off rip, and then the rest just flows out. I know very quickly too, which is dope if I have a dropbox link filled with beats, but it’s funny when the producer is in the room playing beats cuz then part of me feels bad cuz it takes me literalllly 5 second to know, and usually ill hear the beginning and if I’m not enthralled, then I’ll fast forward half way into the beat, and if it still doesn’t make me feel something, then I click next, and next and next, till I feel.Q: How many songs do you have in the vault with Wayne queen?
A: *Shrugs shoulders* *smirks*Q: What’s your relationship like with Wayne? How did you get in contact with him? How was it like working with him?
A: It’s a gift n e time I get to work with him man. A lot of it is long distance cuz I’m on the move a lot, but shooting the video was a f*cking gift. A pro too. He killT it.Q: What artist haven’t you collabed with yet that you would like to?
A: Frank Ocean and Jazmine Sullivan.Q: What does Wayne smell like? Does he smell glorious like I imagine?
A: Roses, good vibes and money.Q: Is the Ridin music video meant to be a continuation of the Shut Up music video? I noticed its the same car in both videos? Also the snippets on both ends of the videos, are those other songs for your upcoming album?
A: *side eyes*Q: Jessie I know how much of a big Wayne fan you are. For the smaller artists coming up, any advice on how they would secure a feature with the goat? & How involved is Mack Maine in your creative process working with Wayne?
A: GET your following up, build a buzz, learn to love the internet if u don’t and make it work for u. Also, take advantage of how familiarity perks up someones ear, by that I mean, if ur just getting started, I’d suggest freestyling over beats or songs that are currently popular as f*ck or absolute classics. It’s a big risk in terms of “painting the mona lisa again” cuz your f*cking with something that’s already great, but also, for the listener who has never heard your sh*t, if you rap or sing over something that’s already familiar to the general population, there is more of a chance they’ll actually stop scrolling and listen to you for a second. NOW, this is all marketing that I’m talking, but simultaneously to doing the above, you also have to work on your craft, take constructive criticism and apply it, work on getting familiar with music theory or bettering your pitch or song writing skills or pick up an instrument, whatever if it is, but aim to get better. Cuz your goal is to get someone to stop scrolling, take in your art, but also retain them as a potential fan. NOW after you’ve done that, rinse and repeat and rinse and repeat and challenge yourself to grow and God willing you get to the point where a collaboration can’t be denied …….. but that’s just my opinion and I am a mere mortal, so take it with a grain of salt.Q: What do you remember about creating the song Zodiac Sign with Drake?
A: I remember being gutted when it leaked cuz I was like..k.. welp.. guess this is it lolol, cuz often when something leaks, it doesn’t get an official drop.Q: Have you ever worked with or thought about working with Kid Cudi? I feel like you 2 would work super well together and make magic
A: Love Cudi.Q: What are your favorite RnB artists from the 00s/90s? Thanks!
A: Destiny’s Child.Q: Thoughts on the current music industry? Do you think streaming is killing music or helping push it foward?
A: I’m not sure. Its helping it in terms of quantity. But I guess quality could be a point of contention.Q: Have you ever scrapped a song from release due to it’s sentimental value or emotional vulnerability?
A: Not yet.Q: What is your favorite song you’ve made yourself? Would love to hear any background/story behind your reasoning.
A: Dear Yessie.Q: You were on Young Money Radio back in 2020 with Wayne and premiered the first collab between you two, “Love You, F*ck You”, what was that like for you at that point in your career? I can tell by the footage you were pretty geeked lol
A: Geeked AF MA BOYYYYY, I know some people try to hide happy but I can’t, my face is transparentttttt.
Q: What’s your diet? How do you keep yourself sane? And how do you stop your hair from falling off?
A: 70% of the time I eat healthy. A lot of fruits. Always eat breakfast. Take my vitamins. Supplements. Also most days I’ll be running around so much that I might forget to eat and that sh*t is not healthy, so I’ve conceded to always carrying 2 protein bars around with me, so I can just eat and keep it moving lol. What’s more, I keep myself sane by not drinking anymore and going to hot yoga AND respecting that I neeeeeed alone time to replenish. So I’ve learned to say BYE a lot more often.*more often, not a lot more often, that’s redundant.
Q: How do you deal with a broken heart?
A: Time, prayer, investing in self, physical activity, eating healthy, and purpose and then more time, I think, but again, I am a mere mortal.Q: Do you have any particular musical influences outside of R&B/Soul/Hip Hop you really love or have added to your sound in unique ways? Do you have any favorite soul artists?
A: Yes, cumbia and reggae has influenced me a lot too, and soul….hmmm, also Otis Redding.Well this was coo, hope y’all have a great f*cking day.
