Jacquees sat down with Billboard’s Kevan Kenney at the Hot 100 Festival on Saturday (Aug. 18), paying tribute to Aretha Franklin, discussing working with Young Thug and chatting about his forthcoming album with Chris Brown.
Speaking of the late Aretha Franklin, Jacquees says that he has a lot of respect for her. “We hate when legends die, 'cause it always hits you,” he shares. “Of course, her legacy gonna live on forever. That’s somebody that definitely, without me even knowing, was an influence 'cause that song [‘Respect’] is kinda like how I learned how to spell respect.”
Jacquees also talks about working with Young Thug, calling the rapper a “genius.” Jacquees, who featured on Young Thug’s Slime Language track “January 1st,” tells Billboard, “Me working with him is always an honor 'cause we came from the same little roots. When I work with Thug, it’s always special… He’s really different and he can go so many ways with it, and I know that he believes in me so that’s always a plus.”