Checking in at six feet one inches and over 350 pounds, not to mention covered in tattoos, it’s impossible to ignore Jason “Jelly Roll” DeFord in a room. And that’s before his booming country-twanged voice enters the conversation. “I’m just a regular fat piece of white trash with some real people that relate,” he loudly explains with a wide grin, sending everyone else within earshot into riotous laughter. For the 27-year-old Jelly, a nickname he picked up from his mother and kept to honor an incarcerated friend, humor has always been a way to cope with the struggle he would go through in life. Growing up in the rougher areas of Nashville, TN, particularly the Southside city known as Antioch, Jelly got an early taste for street life and fast cash. “I’ve always joked that Antioch is the cultural melting pot the government uses to test how different ethnicities live together in a lower and middle class area,” He laughs referring to the city’s racially diverse, albeit economically bleak make up.Captivated by the gritty rhymes of local legends such as Pistol, Quanie Cash, Haystak, and Kool Daddy Fresh, it wasn’t long before the music would mirror Jelly Roll’s personal life. Catching his first case at age 14, Jelly would endure an ongoing cycle of incarceration until 2009 which would include intent to distribute cocaine charges and multiple probation violations.Continuing to soak up the sounds from southern artists such as UGK, 8ball & MJG, Three 6 Mafia, Chamillionare and Paul Wall, it was during these particularly dark times that Jelly would turn to crafting his own rhymes as a therapeutic means to deal with his trials and tribulations: “My music is all based on emotions and stories from my life as well as people around me. I want to convey to people the power of faith and perseverance and I hope that it helps them to find a light in whatever darkness they may be going through in there life.” In the summer of 2010, Jelly Roll’s “Pop Another Pill” collaboration with Memphis luminary Lil Wyte would go on to garner over 1 million YouTube views. This viral sensation lead to the SNO group album Year-Round released on Hypnotized Minds in April 2011, a project executive-produced by Oscar winners DJ Paul and Juicy J. Jelly continued his successful 2011 campaign by releasing Gambling On A Whiteboy 4 during the summer and combining his talents with Haystak for the successful Strictly Business joint-album in November. His unique combination of introspection, melody, and punchlines has struck a chord with an ever-growing nationwide fan base and continues to impress. In between new projects, Jelly still finds time to volunteer at and provide financial backing for the local SuCO Boxing & MMA gym to help provide disadvantaged youth with a place to take part in positive activities. “My ultimate goal is to touch and reach people and have a voice of influence with the youth of today, he reveals. “I know that sounds like the opposite of what I’m aiming for by the content of some of my bigger songs, but the real purpose will shine through in the end. Helping people and life in general is a marathon, not a 40-yard-dash.” Spoken like someone who has truly been through the fire, its evident Jelly Roll is on a path to even greater acclaim- and that means a greater change for the world.
FAQs
What was Jelly Roll slang for? ›
Jelly Roll is black slang from the nineteenth century for the vulva, with various related meanings, i.e. sexual intercourse, a loving woman, a man obsessed with finding same.
What did Jelly Roll do at 16? ›Jelly Roll was first arrested when he was 14, and revealed in the 2023 documentary Jelly Roll: Save Me that he went to jail 40 times for various offenses. One of the most serious charges was aggravated robbery when he was 16.
Who did Jelly Roll rap with? ›Jelly Roll and Memphis rapper Lil Wyte have long been collaborators, issuing several collaborative albums including 2011's Year Round (with BPZ), 2013's No Filter and 2016's No Filter 2.
Why is Jelly Roll so famous? ›Beginning his career in 2003, he rose to mainstream prominence following the release of his 2022 singles "Son of a Sinner" and "Need a Favor".
Is Jelly Roll's daughter his real daughter? ›Jelly Roll, who was born Jason Bradley DeFord, is dad to Bailee and son Noah, 7, from previous relationships. The country singer, 39, and Bunnie (real name Alisa) do not share biological children.
What bill was Jelly Roll talking about? ›WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, at a hearing of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee chaired by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), artist and philanthropist Jason “Jelly Roll” DeFord delivered powerful testimony in support of Brown's bipartisan Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off ...
How did Bunnie get her money? ›'” Bunnie said she started her own brand, Bunnie Xo, in 2018 using money she'd earned from sex work. Two years later, she moved on from being an escort. “2020 came around and I retired from seeing clients & having sugar daddies & started my Onlyfans which made me millions,” she wrote.
How did Jelly Roll lose weight? ›How did Jelly Roll lose weight? Training for a 5K race has been a big part of helping Jelly Roll lose weight. After finishing the 2 Bears race, he told Entertainment Tonight that he'd lost "50 to 70-something pounds. I got to double check again — it was a lot of weight."
Why did Jelly Roll tattoo his face? ›Jelly Roll said he doesn't hate them all, however, pointing out the large cross on his right cheek as being "symbolic of a change in me." "It was symbolic of a kind of a new beginning, understanding that I need to bear my own cross," he explained.
What is Jelly Roll's biggest hit? ›- 8. “ ...
- “Bottle and Mary Jane” (2020) ...
- 6. “ ...
- 5. “ ...
- 4. “ Smoking Section” (2015): Jelly Roll songs. ...
- 3. “ Son of a Sinner” (2022) ...
- 2. “ Need a Favor” (2022): Jelly Roll songs. ...
- “Save Me” (2020, 2023) Jelly Roll.
What does "jelly" mean in slang? ›
The slang adjective jelly is a fun synonym and alteration of jealous, formed by tacking a –y ending onto a phonetic spelling of its first syllable. (We understand that it's decidedly less fun to read a dictionary article than be with your friends at that show they just Instagrammed, but we'll do our best.)
What is the meaning of stoned me just like Jelly Roll? ›During this song Morrison sings: "... Stoned me just like Jelly Roll. And it stoned me." That lyric is thought to be a reference to jazz musician Jelly Roll Morton, whose recordings Morrison listened to with his father as he was growing up.
What is Jelly Roll Botox? ›Jelly roll Botox, often referred to as under-eye Botox, is a specialized procedure designed to target and smooth out those pesky wrinkles that tend to accumulate around the eyes. Unlike traditional Botox treatments, under-eye Botox requires a delicate touch and a deep understanding of the intricacies of the eye area.
What is a Jelly Roll belly? ›A jelly belly does not actually have jelly rolling around in it; although high amounts of jelly in the diet can certainly contribute. It is basically a gathering of flab that makes the belly look soft.
