Struggle Jennings Talks About Grandpa Waylon And New Joint Record With Jelly Roll

“When I went to prison for the last time, I lost everything,” Struggle Jennings told American Songwriter. “I watched the mother of my children become addicted to drugs and eventually die of an overdose, I watched my children be put under state arrest. Witnessing all the heartache and horrors they had to go through really gave me the motivation to be the best father, man, and artist I could be. And in 2016 when he got out of prison, Jennings did just that— In the years since, he’s released a ton of hit hip-hop albums, regained custody of all his children, and completely rebuild your life with perseverance, talent and honesty. Regularly collaborating with longtime friends like Jelly Roll and Yelawolf, Jennings and his music have been a spark of hope and inspiration for many, sharing messages of clarity, stability and heal those who need it most. In late 2020, Jennings and Jelly Roll released their fourth joint album to date, Waylon & Willie IV, which is a testament to the tremendous growth Jennings has achieved over the past four years. Jennings’ growth is no small task — his life lives up to his name. Born in Nashville in 1980 to Jennifer Eddy, the daughter of Jessi Colter and Duane Eddy, and raised in the shadow of her maternal grandfather, Waylon Jennings (who married Colter in 1969), Struggle Jennings was well acquainted with life. hard life early on “My mom decided she didn’t really want to live off of Waylon’s name or really get any funding,” he explains. “She also likes ‘bad boys’ and has always dated guys who are a bit rude – my dad and a bunch of guys after that for example. So I went through a lot while growing up — especially after my father was killed when I was 10 years old. “After the death of his father, Jennings found himself in a difficult position and eventually, began to make decisions he would later regret. “Before my dad passed away, I spent weekends west of Nashville,” he said. “In the summer, I went to the hood. Then, when I was a little older, my mother wanted to be independent, so we moved into low-income, affordable housing. From then on, I was immersed in that culture. That’s just who I am. From there, one thing led to another and Jennings eventually faced the law, ultimately being sentenced to prison in 2011 and serving a sentence until 2016. In the years before that fateful sentence, Jennings faces serious hardship that would be unbearable if it weren’t for a source of comfort and strength: music.Read more: Whom do Molly sims marry | Top Q&A “Wow, I fell in love with hip-hop right away,” he said. “Of course, I come from a family where my grandfather sang country music, but my mother had me in 1980 when she was only 16 years old, so she heard what was famous then. I really grew up on 80s and 90s music when it was being made — whatever was ‘hot’ at the time was what my mom was listening to. The first record I remember receiving was NWA After that, the first record I remember actually buying myself was Dr. Dre’s Chronicle. So that’s how I grew up. I remember a friend of mine brought me a 2 Live Crew cassette tape — he surreptitiously gave it to me, it’s music about all the bad things we shouldn’t know as kids. 8 year old child. But, that’s just the era. I relate to stories told in hip-hop. “For Jennings, his initial love of hip-hop stemmed from a desire to make his own music. “I started writing poetry at a very young age,” he recalls. “When I was growing up, my mother was always in the living room, playing the piano and writing songs. So I always feel it’s calling me. I first started writing poetry around the age of 8. Although I sang for as long as I can remember – I was one of those kids who just sang all the time – I was probably around 12 or 13 when I realized, “Hey, I want to be a rapper. ” But, I didn’t really take it seriously until I was in my 20s. “Although Jennings is still pursuing a musical career, he now realizes that he is still on a bad path. While many socioeconomic factors contribute to the ongoing crises that affect low-income Americans – and the criminal justice system tends to exasperate rather than alleviate, those problems – Jennings’ struggles stem in part from an unsupported environment; an environment in which the wrong things are glorified for the wrong reasons. Jennings kept all of this in mind during his years in prison, so it’s no surprise that after his release from prison, he devoted himself to making music as alive and authentic as possible. . “I owe it, not only to the listener, but also to my children. I am indebted to my family for all the heartache caused by the beliefs we were taught as children. You know, things like ‘Give up a family by any means’ and ‘It’s okay to do it wrong, as long as you do it for the right reasons.’ Those beliefs were instilled in us as children, many times through music and entertainment. The street was glorified and I fell right into it. I was dazzled by the glitter of diamonds, cocaine, money, women, cars and rims. Now, I have an incredible wife and a beautiful car with rims, but I’m doing it the right way. So I try to be honest and tell both sides — yes, I was happy and made money back then, but I didn’t keep it at all. They kicked my hinged door and took everything that I owned. “This is the lesson Jennings’ grandfather, Waylon, learned when he was arrested in 1977 on a federal drug charge. In fact, not long before he began serving his prison sentence, Struggle had begun to embrace his legacy for the first time since his mother broke out to make it herself all these years ago. Dubbed “Struggle Jennings,” he crafted a heartwarming tune built around a sample of the hit song “Don’t You Think This Outlaw Bit’s Done Got Out of Hand?” The resulting song—“Outlaw”—was preserved as the first in a long line of powerful songs by young Jennings.“When I first understood who I was and the kind of music I wanted to make, I knew I couldn’t honor anything I did in the past or that lifestyle and its consequences. it,” he explained. “That lifestyle really has consequences – I have felt them, my family has felt them. I buried 40 of my best friends because of gang violence, robberies, drug violence, drug overdoses. If I am dishonest and go out and honor that lifestyle, they will die in vain. I cannot honor it. I’d rather sell 1,000 records and save 10 lives by being honest than go platinum and ruin even one life by inspiring someone to live the lie I told in my music . This drive – his unwavering desire for self-improvement – is not only a source of great strength for Jennings as he transitions from prison life back to family life, but it is also the fundamental driving force behind his success. Jennings’ collaboration with Southern rapper, Jelly Roll. Shortly after Jennings was released from prison in 2016, he and Jelly Roll got together in the studio and began cutting songs for what would eventually become the first episode in their Waylon & Willie series. Friends over the decades, from the same background, and together in search of balance in life have created an unbreakable bond. . “We’ve carried coffins, we’ve looked after each other through prison and prison auctions, we’ve walked the streets together when the music wasn’t playing and we were hustling. We are close friends. That’s really where the idea for the Waylon & Willie series came from, our friendship. Willie is a gullible man, Waylon is a rude outlaw. Plus, Jelly sucks up a lot of weeds, just like Willie. So we called it Waylon & Willie as a tribute to that friendship. The first one was amazing and we had so much fun with it, the second one was even more enjoyable and the ending was even better. The third one is also great and now we only put out the fourth one. It’s something that he and I are really good at doing together. We did three in a year, but now it’s all almost blowing up, it looks like we’re settling into a year. We take everything we’ve been through for a whole year — we have our own families, our own careers, our own things going on — and we’ll lock ourselves in for two weeks and reveal ourselves. All through music. “When listening to Waylon & Willie IV, the confessional, emotional nature of the music becomes apparent. With powerful lyrics that address everything from depression to suicidal addiction to the search for hope, two men lay bare their souls, all for the sake of establishing a source of strength and comprehensive understanding. Both Jennings and Jelly Roll admit that being such outspoken on the record is sometimes scary, but ultimately, the response from the community has been so positive that they can never go back to the way they once were. . “It’s always a bit scary when you put yourself out there so honestly,” admitted Jelly Roll. “’Accept’ is such a big word. When we were kids, all we wanted was to be accepted. But, I’m in the ‘not acceptable’ group, the outlaw group, the outcast. So does the Struggle. I think when we started wearing that shirt openly, that’s when things started to open up for us. We realize that there are many people who feel the same way as we do. So it goes from being a little scary to realizing that you’re not alone. So many people find strength in this. You can show others that they are not alone because of what you do, the music you make, and the message it sends. In this profile, I think the craziest statement I’ve made about myself is: With depression, we all deal with it differently / for me, it’s obesity and alcoholism. Honestly, I’m saying ‘We all deal with this in one way or another, this is just how I deal with mine.’ People appreciate integrity, being vulnerable. There is a saying: ‘Legends are made of vulnerable men.’ I really believe that. “If we take this quote right, both Jennings and Jelly Roll are top contenders for the ‘legend’ position.” All in all, the life Jennings has lived is more than enough reason to withstand the turbulent currents of the world, but his determination to take control of his own future shows us who he really is: an individual. strong, principled, humble and loving. “When I got home, I was fighting to get my kids back for committing the three crimes,” he said. “They say work is hard to come by, they say ‘Oh, you can’t do this for that.’ To be able to break free of all those stereotypes and limitations and be successful, to do it and provide for my family, regain custody of all my children, stay out of prison and be drug free , can show people that that can happen … it gets me grounded. It prevents me from going back. I think of the people who have said that my music has inspired them to change their lives, become a better man, father or husband, work harder, follow their dreams. to understand that they don’t have to go back to prison, they don’t have to continue using drugs or fall into the same cycles their families have been trapped in. In a way, I am responsible — people are watching me, people are looking to me for strength, guidance, and a glimmer of hope. Music can save lives — that’s definitely one of the things that saved me — so it’s an honor to share that. ”Watch the music video for “Enemy” by Struggle Jennings and Jelly Roll below: Photo by Alectra Busey Read more: For those who like to eat shit