NEW ORLEANS — All it took was a brief introduction and a simple request to solidify an unlikely friendship. Juvenile says it's crazy because the award-winning rapper grew up watching Eric Paulsen on the news.
“I grew up right here. My birth certificate says 728 Market Street," Juvenile said. It was in that same neighborhood that Juvie would tell Eric Paulsen his life story.
“Most people know Juvenile for his music, but there is a lot more to this man than that," Paulsen said at the time.
Juvenile said the time spent with Paulsen during that interview brought people to tears.
“A lot of people that watched it say it brought them to tears because they didn’t know that story about me," he said. "Some of the questions that he asked are questions that a lot of people that interview me don’t get to touch on.”
He said being so comfortable with Eric made it easy to answer those questions.
“If you know Eric, you know everything wasn’t perfect for him," Juvenile said. "He stuck to what he knew, and it all turned out to be such a great person.”
A great person who Juvie says knew how to cut up on stage. At the last Jazz Fest, Paulsen earned a new name. It's a nickname you've heard many times since on WWL.
When he got the news, 'E-Peezy' wasn't doing well — he texted his good friend.
“I was trying to find time to go see him," Juvenile said. "Just like you felt, I didn’t think, I didn’t see that coming. I feel like he’s a warrior I looked at him as being somebody who could get through anything.”
He finds solace in the memories — he said he'll cherish.
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