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Joyner Lucas Is Growing in Reverse & Leaving Those Who Hurt Him Behind

'Billboard' caught up with Joyner Lucas to talk about his new album, friendships with DMX and Will Smith, plus more.

Lucas spells out exactly that on the self-titled Not Now I’m Busy outro, which features a harrowing voice message admitting to killing his older self and calling out those who stabbed him in the back as the 35-year-old rapper, is moving on without the people who took his kindness for weakness. Not long after, Joyner ditched the major label system to navigate the independent route, where he’s carved out a lane for himself as a premier storyteller and cinematic video director — which even earned him a Grammy nomination (for “I’m Not Racist” in 2019). With Not Now I’m Busy, Joyner’s first project since 2020, the rapper turns his angst and frustration into fervid art, while enlisting an array of collaborators across 17 tracks — ranging from YoungBoy Never Broke Again to the late rap legend DMX and current crossover country star Jelly Roll.

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