Curren$y and Jermaine Dupri are coming through with some heat this summer. The two rap icons began to hint at a collaborative effort last year but they didn’t necessarily provide fans with too much information on a release date. All we knew is that they had a joint project on the way titled, For Motivational Use Only. Now, there are plenty of collaborative projects that build up excitement only to be prematurely announced and never released. However, this isn’t one of them.

A collaborative album between the two doesn’t seem like an obvious choice, but Spitta never held back his appreciation for JD. Spitta previously released the single, “Jermaine Dupri” in honor of the So So Def founder, which ultimately caught JD’s attention and led to this very moment. Earlier this week, they blessed fans with “Never Enough” via a performance on From The Block. Today, they’re providing the first taste of what to expect with a nod to Curren$y’s hometown.

Curren$y & Jermaine Dupri Bring New Orleans Bounce To “Essence Fest”

Though Spitta’s usually attached to hazy production that pairs up with his smoked out flow, Jermaine Dupri has the New Orleans rapper returning to his regional roots on “Essence Fest.” The New Orleans Bounce comes clear on the production as Curren$y rides the beat effortlessly with a swagger that pulls from his days with Young Money. JD layers funky basslines with second-line drum-inspired patterns that pops out of the record for a perfect introduction to their forthcoming album.

During an interview with Essence, tCurren$y and Jermaine Dupri explained that the effort will highlight the rich history of the South’s hip-hop innovations. However, as the title For Motivational Use Only suggests, they’ll be serving up the anthem for the go-getters. “It’s just more of a real pep talk and a call to arms for people who know that this is their time and people who want to launch businesses, girls who want to open whatever their business is, the homies who want to start their shit,” Spitta said. “This is the no-excuse soundtrack for whoever wants to get out and go get it.”

Quotable Lyrics
All this, all this ‘cause I’m rich
She think she smart, she think she slick
But I break hearts, no favorites
And I play hard, take major risks
Bitch, buy me something if you fuck with me
There’s enough n***as that’s already trickin’

[Via]