Few artists embody resilience, passion, and authenticity quite like Jus Daze. A battle rap legend, lyrical powerhouse, and living testament to perseverance, Daze has continuously defied expectations in and out of the ring.
Now, with his latest track, “Queens,” he takes listeners on a journey through the borough that shaped him and the hip-hop culture that inspired him.
A Love Letter to Queens
More than just a song, “Queens” is an auditory tour through the borough’s rich history and undeniable influence on hip-hop. Daze doesn’t just rap about his home—he brings it to life. From legendary landmarks to the very essence of its streets, he paints a vivid picture that makes you feel like you’re riding through Queens with him, soaking in the energy of a place that has birthed some of the most iconic artists in the game.
With each bar, Daze seamlessly weaves together references to the artists who paved the way, those who influenced his sound, and the cultural staples that make Queens unique. “I tried to incorporate artists I listened to, was influenced by, and artists that came before my time that deserve credit for the footprints they’ve laid down,” he explains. The result? A track that feels both deeply personal and universally significant, reminding listeners of the borough’s undeniable contributions to hip-hop and New York culture at large.
Sonically, “Queens” is as raw as the streets it represents. The beat, a nostalgic yet fresh blend of boom-bap and modern grit, sets the perfect backdrop for Daze’s signature delivery—commanding, confident, and brimming with conviction. His voice carries the weight of experience, his flow is sharp as ever, and every line is laced with an unmistakable love for the borough that made him.
This track isn’t just for the die-hard hip-hop heads who grew up on Queens’ legendary sound; it’s for anyone who appreciates storytelling and culture and an artist who puts his heart into every bar. It’s for those who know that hip-hop is more than music—it’s history, it’s identity, it’s home.
For Jus Daze, “Queens” is more than just a tribute—it’s a call to reflect on the borough’s impact beyond just its rap legacy. “I just hope people can take a moment to reflect on Queens’ contributions to hip-hop and New York culture overall, between the people who live here, the food, the style, the slang, etc.,” he shares.
At a time when rap often moves at the speed of trends, Daze reminds us to look back, acknowledge, and appreciate the roots that still shape the culture today. In doing so, he cements himself as not just a storyteller but a curator of history—a voice ensuring Queens’ legacy remains at the forefront where it belongs.
With “Queens,” Jus Daze does more than rap about his home—he immortalizes it. This isn’t just another track; it’s a testament to the borough’s greatness, a nod to its past, and a beacon for its future.
'Queens’ is more than just a song—it’s a journey through the borough’s legacy. What was the most important element for you to capture in this track, and how did you go about bringing it to life?
I appreciate you saying that because to me, Queens IS more than just a song, and this has become my "ode to Queens" because, in many ways, I felt it was owed to Queens. For me, Queens is the melting pot of NYC, where you can find all types of people, all types of food, cultures, styles, slang, languages, etc., and whether you live here or you're just visiting, everyone takes a little piece of the borough home with them with such vivid memories where they can smell the air, hear the noise of the traffic/cars playing music as they pass, and taste the delicious culinary cuisines they might've sampled from here.
There are plenty of landmarks you can visit but I really wanted people (who have and haven't been here) to get a feel of what it's like to be a local, driving on the back blocks, freestyling in the car, seeing the sights as you pass, and even filming random cars stop and dance as they pass while you're filming a video (which you can see in the video as well.)
As a student of the game, it was also important for me to pay tribute to the legendary artists who not only paved the way but also helped lay down the incredible groundwork that shaped and molded the ENTIRE culture. Many of those artists have had long, impactful careers solidifying their legacy and carrying the borough on their backs, which also helped highlight the diversity Queens offers.
Your music has always been deeply personal, blending your own story with larger cultural narratives. How has growing up in Queens shaped your perspective as an artist and storyteller?
Yes, I believe growing up in Queens has contributed to my perspective and has absolutely influenced my style of rapping. Growing up in New York will tend to do that for most people because we're in a tough city where there are more cutthroats than contributors and more adversity than opportunity, so we tend to focus on that, and as a result, we take certain aspects of Hip Hop for granted.
Most people work so hard just to break out that they become bitter seeing others succeed, or they become frustrated at the road it takes to become seen/heard, and I think for many, it's easy to lose sight of our principles/motivation. We also take for granted that Hip Hop is overly abundant in New York, so most people who tell you they rap may get an eye-roll or the "oh yeah, my man raps too" type of reply because, at this point, there's nothing special about rapping unless the person rapping or their message is special.
I believe understanding all of the elements of what helped shape me, on top of the life I've lived, helped mold me and allows me to tell my story through the art form. It also allows me to connect with the audience. That said, even without rapping or storytelling, whether it be comments, quotes, posts, blogs, etc. people are often compelled to take away something personal, both from or about me, that applies to themselves.
I've been fortunate enough to interact with fans throughout the years who have shared how my music, my messages, and my mentality have helped them, and each and every time I hear something like that, it humbles me as though it's the first time it's being said. I'm forever grateful for the spot I'm in.
You pay homage to so many legendary artists in this track. Were there any particular names or moments in Queens’ hip-hop history that you felt absolutely had to be included?
Great question, and yes, now that I've had a moment to reflect, there are a few places and people I wished I mentioned, 5Pointz being one of the places and Kool G being one of the people (just thinking off the top of my head.) When I initially wrote "Queens," it wasn't really even intended to be a song about Queens.
This is one of those joints where the rhyme kinda wrote itself by using me as the muse to carry out its message, and boom, now it has become what it is! Overall, I'm extremely happy with the finished product, the sound, the visuals, and everything else, but this is one of those joints I feel could easily have a Part II just because you can't say enough, and even when you think you've covered everyone and everything you realize there's so much more!
Hip-hop is constantly evolving, but its roots remain strong. As someone who embodies both battle rap grit and lyrical depth, where do you see Queens’ influence in today’s scene?
When we say the word "Queens," and we think of Hip Hop, it's no longer associated with the borough or legendary artists like Nas, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, etc. Nowadays, we're referring to the Queens of Hip Hop, including names like Nicki Minaj, Latto, Doechii, Rhapsody, Glorilla, etc. ( gave y'all a little range because even though my musical roots still embody lyricism and staying true to that "lyrical depth," I also like to turn up! I mean, who doesn't?
But to me, it's beyond dope that we've managed to shift our focus into the females rather than the borough because it's all forward thinking plus, it was a long time coming, they deserve it and to be frank, most of them are doing it better than the males! That said, I think Queens, the borough, has blended into the broader topic of "New York Hip Hop" as opposed to receiving its own recognition (which is why songs like this are STILL important), and that's where we still see its influence. Overall, the new growth and evolution are inspiring to me. There are new categories, new styles, new sounds, new rhyme patterns, etc!
How can you NOT be excited about that?! Even if you don't participate in the newer stuff, the fact that Hip Hop continues evolving, shifting, and becoming more of a household name goes back to what I was saying about artists from the Boro who paved the way and solidified their stamp on the culture.
New York's influence in Hip Hop is undeniable, and if we were to pick apart/highlight its contributions, we could probably teach a college course on breaking down the subcultures between each borough, understanding the slang, the neighborhood crews, and how each borough represents themselves through their style of music.
Beyond the music, you’ve always been an example of resilience and determination. What message do you hope listeners take away from ‘Queens’—both about the borough and about your own journey?
I appreciate you saying that, thank you! For me, I want listeners to take away what helps them, what they relate to, or what they can FEEL, whether it be helping them understand me, themselves, a particular situation, my hometown, or whatever! If someone walks away from my music "taking" something away, it's more than I could've hoped for because, in all reality, I'm just trying to get you through the next 2-3 minutes of this song while you're enjoying what you hear!
But if you hear something that resonates, makes you reflect, helps you take action, or gets through something, then that's a gift the listener gives to me rather than one I give them, and I'm truly humbled and grateful for each and everyone that does!