Today, a friend posted a status update about how inexplicably happy reading the Esther the Wonder Pig story had made her when she read it in The Guardian. Of course it made her happy because very few of us are made unhappy about a story of someone finding love and sanctuary. I am delighted she expressed that feeling and that Esthers story could elicit that sentiment. What I find disheartening is that on this perfect occasion and spoken to a vast, international audience, the author did not even think about mentioning veganism or using this opportunity to say hey if Esthers story speaks to you, then you really should go vegan because like Esther, all the animals we eat and use are just as deserving to live their lives. There is no difference between Esther and the billions of fish, cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats and rabbits except that they have no given name. Can you imagine the impact of that? On my friend? On your friends and family?

Instead, the author did tell us about how Esthers social media presence became [his] job. Well, that is good for him, but why does that matter? How does that matter to Esther herself or to anyone like her? He also tells us how Esther makes a lot of people smile and many really open up to her, which is wonderful and speaks volumes about the responsibility the author has as someone who could reach a lot of people. In fact, the author indirectly admits this by letting us know that, [a] woman in the US recently wrote, Thank you for showing my two young boys that its OK to have two dads. Exactly! How wonderful! Look at what you and Esther can do by your very presence and existence, dear author.

Yet, no, Were not out to promote gay or animal rights in a direct way, Esther just seems to have this positive effect on people. Why not? Why are they not directly speaking about the very things that they are? Why are they being so oblique about the very thing justice, love and sanctuary that defines them and everything in which they believe in? Why would anyone with access to a huge platform diminish, or relegate to an indirect space, the very essence of the thing that so deeply defines them? Why is it so anathema to advocate clearly for the right of all beings to be left alone and not slaughtered for our taste buds and vanity? It baffles this authors mind and breaks her heart too.

Esther has a life because of her two dads. She might not have been the pig they were expecting, but her very existence demands that they and we become the advocates that she and all the animals like her want us to be.

Photo from Huffington Post

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Esther the Wonder Pig wants you to be vegan - Ecorazzi

With a sharp heel and a sleek silhouette, stilettos are both trendy and timeless. When theyre made from cruelty-free materials like vegan leather, theres no denying that nothing is more chic than compassion. Luxury brands such as Christian Louboutin, Prada, and Gucci use their well-known names to hide the torture of countless animals who are killed for their skins. Discerning shoppers know that theres nothing stylish about slaughter, and with so many stunning vegan stilettos to select from today, the choice is easy. From simple to statement, these picks from top vegan designers are a perfect fit.

The Metallic A sparkly or metallic stiletto is a must-have addition to every shoe wardrobe. The Monkey from vegan designer Mink pairs a silver sole with an offbeat, banana-clad insole for shoes that are party-ready. Wear them with your favorite jewel-toned dress for a glamorous evening look, or combine them with a pastel romper for a daytime date.

The Patterned A statement shoe is the perfect way to spice up your favorite little black dress or add some excitement to a neutral office ensemble. VEERAHs Mulan pairs a red orchid floral with an emerald tassel for a shoe that will garner countless compliments. This silky, sky-high stiletto is crafted from recycled plastic bottles and features a memory foam insole, making it as kind to your foot as it is to the environment.

The Pastel Soft, muted tones are perfect for spring. They act as a neutral by flawlessly coordinating with nearly any other color. A pair of pastel stilettos can dress up a pair of jeans and a blouse for daytime, then seamlessly move into an evening look. In short, your pastel stilettos are bound to become your most loved heels. In a wearable shade of blush pink that will accentuate any skin tone, the Lexie by Beyond Skin features a patent sheen thats easy to keep clean and a black tread that adds definition to the classic silhouette.

The Classic Black Whether youre just beginning to build your vegan footwear wardrobe or your budget allows for only one versatile pair, a timeless black stiletto is the perfect choice. Choose a patent finish thats easy to keep clean and a slender heel without much taper. Zara offers this staple shoe at an affordable price that will allow you to stretch your shoe budget a bit further.

The Natural In the world of everyday fashion, a beige, taupe, or tan stiletto is the equivalent of a classic white button-up shirt. Its versatile, neutral, and a definite must-have. Like any other standard piece, countless variations are available, giving you the opportunity to find a version that perfectly suits your style. The Dani Nude Suede Lace-Up Heels from Lulus combines the soft look of vegan suede with a customizable gold-tipped tie strap and pointed toe for an edgy yet feminine vibe.

The Color Pop A red stiletto was the daring accessory of yesteryearthink pinups and Marilyn Monroebut its 2017, and our color palette has expanded. A pop of color in the form of a brightly hued stiletto makes any ensemble just a little more fun, whether you choose a classic red, a saturated jewel tone, or an edgy neon. Coquettes AZAR Aqua Patent Leather stiletto might simplify your decision, since turquoise is universally flattering. With a sky-high heel, patent finish, and bright aquatic color, this stiletto is the perfect way to make a splash at a poolside soire.

Your compassionate choice to stock your closet with vegan footwear is commendable. Beyond the fact that youll be doing the world a favor by looking so chic, youll be saving animals from lives of torture and slaughter. Now its time to reward yourself by buying one of these great choicesor one of the thousands of other vegan options by todays top designers.

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Step Into Spring With These Stunning Vegan Stilettos - PETA (blog) (press release)

Going veganis in style. Not only is eating a plant-based diet good for your body, its good for the environment. Whether youre a full-time vegan or just enjoy eating at someof L.A.stopvegan restaurants, youll love the convenience and taste of these vegan delivery options. All plans are commitment free, so try each onebefore subscribing to your favorite.

GreenChefworks the same way as many other food delivery systemsfresh ingredients are delivered to your door in a refrigerated box once a week. What sets GreenChef apart is that in addition to providing fresh ingredients, everything is USDA organic and free of synthetic pesticides, genetically modified organisms, artificial ingredients, growth hormones and antibiotics. The vegan menus are simple to make and not too wild for tame palates. Past vegan favorites include vegan crab cakes, moroccan cauliflower and pesto pasta primavera. Prices start at $10.49 per meal.

All of the meals through the primarily plant-based meal delivery service Thistle are gluten-free and dairy-free, but there is a choice betweenvegan or meat meals.You can choose between 3, 4 or 5 days worth of meals. A sample vegan menu item is the hoisin stir-fry bowl with tofu. If you are a snacker, their optional snack add-ons are as decadent as they are healthy. A sample dessert item is a chocolate mousse made with avocado, banana and coconut milk and toppedwith chopped nuts and dried berries. Expect a completely new menu each week featuring plant-based foods and superfoods. Prices start at $11 per meal.

Sakarasvegan meal plans are on the pricier sideexpect to drop at least$350 for one weekthough die-hard vegans will love the convenience and quality. The Sakara brand emphasizes living a healthy lifestyle in addition to eating healthy foods (all meals are also organic and gluten-free). Enjoy menu items suchas the wild mushroom pasta with black truffle oil and gingerbread waffles with a cranberry orange compote. Test out Sakaras one-week program or start a subscription. Shop their online store instead to experience Sakara on a budget. Purchase some watermelonjerky or dark chocolate granola for under $20. Prices vary based ondelivery location.

Experiment with cooking your own vegan dinners with PurpleCarrot, though the pre-portioned fresh ingredients make it easy. One goal of Purple Carrot is to help others reduce their carbon footprint with a plant-based diet. Another is to introduce new flavors and cooking techniques, and its likely you have never beforeattempted to whip up beet noodles with romanesco and hazelnut hemp seed crumble. Even if you only go vegan with Purple Carrot at dinnertime three times a week, you are contributing to save energy resources. Prices start at $11.33 per meal.

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Taylor is a newcomer to LA who explores the city by way of running. Check out her blog sneakersandsweat.com.

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Best vegan meal delivery options in Los Angeles - Time Out Los Angeles (blog)

Valentines Day is almost here. For some, this means dedicating every little minute of the big day to showing your loved one how much they mean to you. However, others believe that any day is a good day to show someone how much you love them while others believe that Valentines Day is nothing more than a day designed to sell cards, candy, jewelry, clothes, and other holiday-themed goods. If you dont have a date for Valentines Day, dont fret youre certainly not alone nor should you feel obligated to find romance. But why not spend the day with your best friends instead?Instead of having a night out, opt for a night in with your friends making treats, watching movies, and being goofy?.

To see what weve done in previous years, check out50 Hot and Sexy Vegan Dessert Recipes for Valentines Day,Celebrate Valentines Day With These Tempting Vegan Treats For Two, andTreat Yourself on Valentines Day With These 15 Badass Desserts Youll Be Glad You Dont Have to Share. Then, get ready for what we have this year 15 sweet, shareable, and vegan desserts you can make, then kick back and relax with movies, snacks, and friends.

These Berry Love Pies With Red Velvet Crust taste as good as they look and they look incredible. The rich red velvet crust is completely gluten-free and slathered in a homemade berry jam that is to die for. You can get creative with the tops of these pies and make them as fancy as you like.

The flavors in these simple gluten-freeRaw Strawberry Cashew Cream Tarts blend together so well! They start with a crust made from almonds, coconut, and dates. Then, its filled with a sweet strawberry cashew cream and finished with a sprinkle of coconut flakes and sliced strawberries for presentation. These little tarts are the perfect sweet for date night or any occasion not that you need a special reason to eat dessert.

These gluten-freeChocolate Hazelnut Hearts With Raspberry Jam are the perfect recipe to make for someone special, even if that someone special is you and your pals. These tasty treats combine hazelnuts, dates, and dark chocolate into delightful heart-shaped bites. And while these sweets may look impressive, they are incredibly easy to make!

These Boozy Black and White Truffles look like theyve come right out of a super trendy chocolate shop and taste like it, too. Their dark chocolate center is infused with liqueur and it also has ground hazelnuts and dried fruit for a touch of sweetness. The creamy white chocolate coating is simply divine and the chocolate drizzle on top is optional, but it makes them perfectly picturesque. Theyre so rich and tasty, only one or two of these are sure to satisfy the sweetest of sweet tooths.

These adorable Strawberry Doughnuts With Jam Frosting look just as scrumptious as any other doughnuts, but are actually healthier for you! Theyre gluten-free, contain fruit and less sugar than your typical doughnuts, and are completely vegan. These can be eaten plain or add some whipped buttercream frosting and freeze-dried strawberry bits for added decadence and crunch!

Everyone needs a fuss-free, no-bake dessert up their sleeve, and if raspberries are involved well all the better right? With these Persimmon Raspberry Fudge candies, all you need is 10 minutes of blending time and the refrigerator takes care of the rest. Its the kind of dessert thats made for busy days and last minute sweet cravings. Heres the real victory: even though its, its full of wholesome ingredients like sunflower seeds, dates, persimmons, raspberry, and spices

Whats not to love about this giant Dark Chocolate Cherry Skillet Cookie? Its rich, chocolatey, soft like butter, and the chocolate and cherry flavors blend seamlessly together, especially when topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. The skillet speeds up the cook time, making the wait time between cooking and devouring even shorter.

Once you master this recipe for these gluten-freeRaspberry Black Bean Brownies, youll never feel guilty about brownies again. These black bean brownies are super tasty and incredibly healthy to boot. And, depending on your mood, you can throw in some extra raspberries, pecans, or even more chocolate.

This Speculoos Cherry Almond Trifle is so simple, you might want to double the batch. Crumbled speculoos cookies, almond yogurt, and cherries cooked with sugar until thick and syrupy, it has layers of delicious flavors. The cookies are crunchy with hints of cinnamon, the almond yogurt is creamy, and the cherries are sweet, sugary, and juicy. If youd like the yogurt to be a little thicker, try setting it in a coffee filter and let it refrigerator overnight.

This rich, creamy Red Wine Buttercreamadds a grown-up depth-of-flavor to any dessert. It has a gorgeous, deep raspberry color that makes it perfect on chocolate cake, brownies, cookies, or any dessert you happen to make on a whim. Its incredibly easy to make, too! Try adding spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to make it even more special.

Thick and fudgy, these Cocoa Date Fudge Bites are an indulgent treat that will satisfy all of your chocolate cravings. Composed of cashews and sweetened with dates, these truffles are healthier than most. Best part is they can be dressed up in a number of ways. Feel free to add walnuts, frozen fruit shards, or cacao nibs to the outside for a tray of beautiful treats.

These sweet, creamy Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake Bites will have you swooning. Not only do these little bites taste amazing, but they look absolutely adorable! Perfect for sharing with your best friends Or keep them in your freezer to slowly eat for the next month. Your choice.

This lighter-than-air Strawberry Basil Mousseis a real treat. Fresh strawberries are cooked until they break down into a sweet and sugary syrup thats combined with a light, foamy mousse made from aquafaba, the liquid that comes from a can of chickpeas. Strawberry syrup at the bottom of each glass provides a bolder, sweeter taste of strawberries while a garnish of basil leaves helps balance everything out. This is the perfect treat for date night with the friends.

These Raspberry and Dragon Fruit Mousse Cakes are an amazing dessert experience. Melt-in-your-mouth and sweet, with a dark chocolate drizzle, they get their amazing mousse-like texture from cashews and their flavor from fresh, juicy dragon fruit and raspberries. Youve got to try it to believe it. Healthy and flavorful whats not to love here?

These Unicorn Cookies are the cookies you and your friends deserve. Theyre sweet, buttery, and so easy to make, even the icing! The fun part is the decoration, which you can turn into a fun group activity what color will your unicorn be?

Need more Valentines Day inspiration? Check out our vegan Valentines Day recipes page for dinner and dessert ideas.

Lead image source:Unicorn Cookies

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15 Vegan Valentine's Day Treats to Make With Your Best Buds | One ... - One Green Planet

Vegans are going to scream for this non-dairy ice cream.

Ben & Jerrys recently (and somewhat secretly) released two new vegan flavors, Cherry Garcia and Coconut Seven Layer Bar, adding to its growing non-dairy frozen desserts selection. An eagle-eyed Instagram user spotted the eats at a market in Philadelphia, PA.

It was super good. Loved the graham and caramel swirls,phillyveganmonster wrote in an Instagram caption. The ice cream had almost a marshmallow taste to it kind of. A junk food miracle! EDIT: no honey! Has the certified vegan logo!

The Huffington Post reached out to Ben & Jerrys for comment and received this emailed statement from Sean Greenwood, Ben & Jerrys Grand Poobah of PR.

Were not ready to dish on the details just yet, but you never know what we might have in store!

The first flavors to roll out were Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, Coffee Caramel Fudge, P.B. & Cookies.All of the non-dairy frozen desserts replace eggs and milk with coconut oil and almond milk.

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Vegans Rejoice! Two New Ben & Jerry's Vegan Flavors Spotted On Shelves - Huffington Post

Hearing the lyrics of an old childrens song about a fox being shot led a vegan in Germany to request the song be banned from being played in public. Not wanting to seem unkind, the local mayor has temporarily granted the request.

The complainant, a resident of the town of Limburg an der Lahn in Hesse, told the mayor that she was upset by the lyrics of Fuchs, Du hast die Gans gestohlen, which translates as Fox, you stole the Goose, which was played through the towns carillon, a musical instrument consisting of a series of bells.

The 19th century song details how a mischievous fox steals a goose from a farmer, who then sets out to hunt him down.

READ MORE: Campaign to promote veganism gets red hot (VIDEO)

Included in the song are the lyrics: Now the hunter's gone to get you, With his horse and gun-gun-gun, as well as Bang-bang-bang the gun will sing, An awful price to pay.

The woman worked within earshot of the carillon and, with only 33 songs in rotations, she heard the offending tune played several times per day. She proceeded to lodge a request with the towns mayor for it to be removed, a request which has been temporarily granted.

We are giving the goose a closed hunting season and regularly switch out the musical pieces, town spokesman Johannes Laubach said on Thursday, according to The Local, adding that the song will enter rotation again in a number of months.

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Upset vegan demands banning of 'fox killing' kids' song - RT

The violinist, a maverick in the classical world, explains why she wants her music to disturb

Call them the mavericks. Theyre the increasingly vocal squad of classical musicians who thrive on confounding expectations, whether its in their unlikely combinations of material, their unique, sometimes madcap style of live performance, or the way they flaunt inspirations that lie well beyond the classical canon.

The high priest of the movement is Teodor Currentzis, the Greek conductor who heads the pioneering period-instrument orchestra Musica Aeterna. Then theres the Argentine cellist Sol Gabetta (last heard in the UK singing along to her own encore at the Proms) and the pixie-like Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto, or the David Bowie of the fiddle as The Timess Richard Morrison once anointed him.

The queen of the mavericks, however, must be the violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja (often known as PatKop),

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Patricia Kopatchinskaja: 'Music is not like relaxing in a sauna or spa ... - The Times (subscription)

As voted by UG community.

[+] bio

UG editor. Music lover. Constant searcher of something interesting and unique.

This week's traditional Wednesday Question saw the people of UG community discussing the matter of greatest songs to listen to during a hangover. Based on your votes and more than 200 comments, we summed this one up to a traditional Top 25 rundown, make sure to check it out below.

We'd liketo single outsuch nominations as Sandy's "Texas Song" from "SpongeBob SquarePants" or just "anything by Bob Marley" - as well as our pranksters' nomination "Anal Cunt - Hitler Was a Sensitive Man." Plus another honorable mention will be: "Hangover TV is the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross."

With all these things out of the way, the actual top awaits below!

You folks decided to kick things offwith "Booze Me Up and Get Me High" by Ween. With its lyrics and sound, it's almost an ideal song for hangover.

Slow-pacedand heavy, the masterpiece ofstoner metal gods Electric Wizard, "Funeralopolis" is next - and it doesn't matter are wasted by alcohol or something else.

Relaxing, dream-like "I Will Possess Your Heart" by Death Cab for Cutie is another great addition to your hangover soundtrack.

You're still wasted? Having a really hard morning? Then "Still Wasted" by Liam Lynch will be just ideal.

Are you on your own? Then Green Day's "Brain Stew" is next! And if you wanna escape from your hangover - actual album version of "Brain Stew" is joined with "Jaded," try it 🙂

Up next is "No Excuses" by Alice in Chains with its exceptional mood...

Zakk's voice accompanied by acoustic instrumentation and harmonica - do you need something else for your hangover morning?

Relaxing, almost jazzy mood of this tune by Mike Patton and company held this tune to No. 18. Be warned of the beepingat the end of the song 🙂

Quiet and totally deppresed, "Something in the Way" is ideal if you're in the same mood...

Zakk Wylde again- but now with Black Label Soceity and anappropriately-titledalbum "Hangover Music Vol. VI."

Mellow and trippy, "Space Cadet" by Kyuss will help you to travel with your hangover.

The whole "B-Sides & Rarities" album (which also tops our previous Best B-Sides & Rarities Albumslist) is calm enough to accompany your hard morning, but you vote particularly for this unique cover of the Sade's song.

First with Kyuss, and now with QOTSA, Josh Homme is again on the list. If you have really heavy hangover - maybe this tune will just for you.

You are in a depressing mood, don't want to move - put some Lou on...

Lou Reed takesthe next place as well! "Sunday Morning," performed by The Velvet Underground & Nico, will be great for every morning, not only Sunday.

A frequent participant in almost all UG tops, "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd is next. Just "relax"...

The moody song with its lyrics, "Cheap Sunglasses" by ZZ Top is great for your lazily cheerful hangover. Just go get yourself a CHEAP pair of sunglasses!

Maestro Johhny Cash is at No. 8, bringing his "Sunday Morning Coming Down" for your hard morning.

Not a typically "calm" song, "Oblivion" by Mastodon is next.You voted for this one because of the tune's soothing vocals and guitar solo, which can ease down ahangover.

A genuinemasterpiece by Angelo Badalamenti, whichalso foundits place onUG community's Greatest Movie Scores list, the haunting and touching "Twin Peaks Theme," can easily help you to relax after a hard night.

Are you really tired after the party? Then this classic Beatles' tune is just for you!

The song's title says it all - "The Worst Hangover Ever" by The Offspring will be an ideal soundtrack for your dreadful morning.

And Mike Patton is again on the list, taking the bronze with one of the biggest hits from Faith No More - calm and relaxing cover of Commodores' tune "Easy."

And silver is going to the real masterpiece by Black Sabbath, trippy and mellow "Planet Caravan."

And the gold this week is taken by The Doors! To quote jamoneverdies, "Anything by the Doors is hangover music." It's the timeless "Riders on the Storm" with its trippy mood took no. 1 on our list.

And we decided to put this absolute masterpiece by John Cage on the list too! Hangover is a hard time for any music - with an exception of "4'33""!

That's all folks; we hope you enjoyed the top, stay tuned until next week for another WQ!

Read this article:

Top 25 Best Hangover Songs - Ultimate-Guitar.Com

News at Rider

Rider Musical Theatre journeys through pop music of the 1980s News at Rider The spring cabaret promises to be a fun and relaxing time for the audience. Trapp hopes they see the variety and talent in the arts programs at Rider and that they take note of just how talented the student performers are; the variety of music from the ...

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Rider Musical Theatre journeys through pop music of the 1980s - News at Rider

Juicy J plays the Fillmore Auditorium in 2014.

Brandon Marshall

Academy Award-winning MC and producer Juicy J has been in the hip-hop game since 1991, when he co-founded the Memphis crew Three 6 Mafia. Juicy J struck out on his own, building his personal music business, producing his own records, touring aggressively, rapping about weed, booze and blow jobs, and eventually securing his own cannabis strain and becoming the spokesperson for Colt 45.

While Juicy J is known for rapping about his decadent lifestyle, he prides himself on being a smart businessman who gets a good night's sleep, enjoys watching movies with his family, and makes sure to keep a close eye on his bank account. We could all use a little life advice, and who better to get it from than J? In advance of his Friday, February 10, show at the Fillmore Auditorium, we gave the inimitable Juicy J a ring.

Westword: How's the tour?

Juicy J: The tour's going good, man.

Where are you right now?

Sacramento.

What kinds of adventures have you been having out on the road?

Man, you know, I've been doing this for so long. To me, everything's an adventure. Meeting the fans the meet-and-greets are the best thing. When I do a meet-and-greet, I get the chance to meet one-on-one with the fans, and they get the chance to tell me they like the songs I did back in the 90s with Three 6 Mafia and the favorite songs they like. That's how I vibe off of that. I get to hear a lot of different things. Some people tell me I saved their lives when they listened to my music. I saved their lives. That's good that I saved some lives. I feel good about that.

That's amazing.

That's what's good about the tour. It's the meet-and-greets.

Are there particular songs people talk about?

Man, they talk about every song. I can't remember everything they say, but they talk about everything in my career from when I first started until now. They go from years back in the day. They talk about everything.

You've had such a long and such a storied career. I'm curious how you keep it up, how you keep moving, how you keep producing fresh content.

I just keep my ears to the street, man. I like doing music. I've been doing this for so long, I just like making music. I like making beats, making songs. I probably got up to two million songs brand-new songs probably not that many, but I've got a lot of songs on my hard drive that I've never released. I just like making music. It's not about the money anymore. It's not about none of that. It's just about me just making music. I'm always going to make some money. I'm not worried about that, but when it comes to being an artist, being creative is what I like to do. Collabs, working with different producers it's great.

You're either the most decadent person I've ever heard or the most traumatized, in terms of how much you're talking about drugs and booze and blow jobs and everything else under the sun. Can you talk about your relationship to that stuff if it's pure joy, if it comes from a place of pure pleasure, if it comes from a place of trauma, perhaps? What's your relationship to all that when you're not rapping about it, when you're in your own life?

When I'm relaxing, I'm smoking some weed, man. You know what I mean? I'm chilling and watching Netflix. I don't really do much. I go to the movies. I've been in this game for over thirty years. I've done pretty much everything. I went all over the world, just about. I haven't been to Australia yet, but I've been to a lot of different places. I just be relaxing. I just smoke some weed and be relaxing. That's what it is. It's just enjoying the fruits of the labor, you know?

It's amazing to hear that you relax at all with the amount of output that you have and your incredible work ethic, both as a businessperson and also an artist.

It's not easy, man, but somebody's got to do it.

Are you still doing the Colt 45 stuff?

Yep.

Is it fun?

It works every time. It's super-fun. I love it. You can see Billy Dee Williams doing it back in the day, and now I'm doing it. It's great.

Talk about the weed industry right now. You're going to be coming out to Colorado. Do you have business relationships out here? Are you doing any of that while you're on tour out here?

Yep. I've got a strain of weed called Green Suicide. I'm just pushing that right now. Hopefully, when I tour and come to Colorado, I'm going to bring some to the show if it don't get smoked all up. I'm going to bring some to the show, smoke with the fans.

Do you sell in any of the dispensaries out here?

It should be out there. I don't know for sure. You'd have to talk to the managers. I let them handle everything. I just sit back and smoke. I used to do stuff like that. I try to let the management handle that. Back in my Three 6 Mafia days I used to do the management, book the shows and all of that shit. I try to free myself from that and let other people handle it. I just like to look at the account and make sure the checks go through.

Talk about your production process. What's your creative process like? How do you make a song from beginning to end?

I'm listening to something, I can get a sample rolling, put a drumbeat behind it, add the bass and anything else the song needs, write the hook and then write the verse. That's how I usually do it. Sometimes I get an idea of a verse or a flow. I might write down scratch vocals or something, and then I may take it home and live with it for a day or two, come back in the studio and then put words in, turn it into a whole song. Sometimes it happens right there on the spot. Sometimes it takes a couple days. Sometimes a week. It depends on what kind of song you've got. If you've got a regular song, I do it real quick, sometimes knock it out. I put more concentration in it if I've got a feature or something on it. I might structure the beat a little bit or whatever. I can make a song in a day and I can make a song in a week.

Has there ever been a song that was a hard nut to crack? What was the hardest song you've ever written?

I don't know, man, it comes natural, but sometimes you can come up with a hook and I might write a verse and I might come back in a couple days and re-change the whole verse up. It comes natural, man. I feel like if the vibe is not there on the song, I just walk away from it. I won't even try to pursue the record. There's songs that I have that may have one verse or may not have a hook on it, and if I feel like I ain't just really feeling it, I go on to the next record. I don't really try to brainstorm an idea. I like things that come natural.

It's always interesting. Different musicians have such different processes. You have someone like Leonard Cohen, who will work for months and months and months on one verse of a song. For a lot of people, it's quick.

Yeah.

It's cool the differences in that, for sure.

I can't wait a month. That's too long.

You do a lot of work with younger rappers and a lot of mentorship. Can you talk about that process, how you identify who you want to work with and how that works for you?

When I hear a producer with dope beats like when I heard Mike WiLL (Made-It) I reached out to him. If I hear a dope beat, it can be some underground guy from my neighborhood, from Memphis or whatever. If I hear a dope beat, shit, I just reach out. Let's do business. I know a lot of unsigned talented people. I know a lot of signed talented people. But I know a lot of unsigned talented people that's on the up-and-coming. I just like to make music. It don't matter the person. It don't matter the name. If I feel like we've got a good vibe, we go into the studio, smoke some weed, vibe, make a song with no problems.

I take it you'll never retire?

I know this is not going to be my last tour, but I'm going to take some time off, as far as the road. But I'll always be in the studio working with new artists and throwing records out here and there, and make some videos. But the road is not easy when you're an artist, and you've got to get up in the morning. You've got to make sure you're on time. The road is hard work on the body. It's fun, but it's a business at the end of the day. I'd rather go on tour, take a good five or six months off, relax and then maybe go on another tour and not just rush out there. I'm definitely going to slow down on doing the shows a little bit and spend more time with my family and stuff like that because that's really more important. My wife is more important. This music, you know, I pay the bills. It's something I love. But there is a real world out there that I've got to live. So I'm definitely going to take a break for a few months and just spend time with family and go visit people I haven't seen in a long time.

What do you do when you're with your family? How do you have fun with them?

Chilling at the crib, cooking. You know, down South, it's how we do it. We cook and sit around and talk and watch TV and stuff like that. I think that's good things. You don't always have to be doing everything. You can just be sitting around with your family watching a good movie and cooking some good food. We might go to the beach or whatever, but it's cool for me to just have the family around the house.

What do you like to cook?

Man, I don't cook nothing, man. I can burn some water. I can definitely burn up some water. But I can't cook nothing, man.

You're not sitting around julienningonions or whatever?

Yeah, man. I'd set the kitchen on fire.

On the road, how do you take care of yourself? What do you do to stay sane, keep it together, stay fit?

Man, you know what? Sleep. Believe it or not, resting the body, resting. Sleep is good, man. A lot of people don't know that I like to get sleep. In my younger days, I'm not going to lie, I used to be up for three days in a row. But sleep is good, so you can be energetic and give a great show without stressing yourself. Just relaxing it's all about relaxing, man. I've been through all the trials and tribulations in the music business and the ups and downs. Now this tour is more about relaxation. I've been relaxing, meeting people, smoking good weed and just watching movies. Chilling, man. Enjoying life. It's about the sleep.

What do you recommend for young folks coming up? If they want to pursue their vision or pursue their dream, what do they need to do? What should they be up to?

I think they need to never give up, keep going, read. Nowdays you can go on to the computer and read about the music business. Back in my day, I had to check out books at the library. Read about the music business. Understand it before you get in it. Know about publishing. Know about producer royalties. Know about artist royalties. Understand the math.

The most important part of the music business is the business. The music will come, but a lot of these artists don't know the business, and it's not good, because you're signing a contract and you don't get a lawyer to read the contract. I don't think that's smart. I know we've all been through certain things and sometimes people can't afford lawyers, but at least try to read up on it, so when somebody puts a contract in your face, you'll know some of the shit in that contract if you want to hire a lawyer or not. And then, when you start getting some money, it's taxes. You've got to pay those taxes, man. I see a lot of artists who buy those watches, they buy those big old houses. You've got to pay Uncle Sam first. Take care of him first and then do what you do. You don't want to be in a situation once you've got a couple million dollars in the bank, you in the club, you kicking it, and the next day, shit's wiped out. You lose your car. You don't want to be in those situations, man. I've never been in that situation, but I've seen a lot of people come up to the top, they didn't pay Uncle Sam, and they fall flat on their face.

That's good advice. Anything you want people to know about you that they don't already?

Man, I don't know. A lot of people think I get high all day, but I'm a businessman. My business is handled. The business part is solid, on my behalf. I know where my money is. You've got to know how to read out here. You've got to know how to add. I've got some real estate. Invest that shit. Invest your money. A lot of people probably don't even know that about me. They probably think I just be sitting at home smoking weed which I do a lot, because I got my business handled. So I can do that. But the business is definitely intact. I don't owe nobody shit, you know what I'm saying?

Has it always been that way? Did you learn that lesson the hard way? Did you always have that business sense?

I read a lot of music books. I've made some mistakes in my life and had some fucked-up deals here and there. It ain't been too many. I've always been on top of my business from the jump. I didn't know how to pay taxes, but I know how to pay taxes. When I got my first check, my daddy was asking me, "Yo, did you pay taxes on that money?" I was like, "No. What the hell is taxes?" He was like, "You know you got to pay the government whatever you get." He put me up on that game, and I hired a CPA. My mama was my CPA at first. Then I hired a real CPA and took it from there.

Juicy J plays at the Fillmore Auditorium, Friday, February 10, at 8 p.m. For more information, go to the Fillmore website.

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Juicy J's Life Advice: Pay Uncle Sam, Sleep, and Smoke Good Weed - Westword