The need for respect in hip-hop often comes with a hefty price. Rappers have served jail time and sacrificed their careers all in the name of juice. The word, popularized by the ’92 cult classic flick Juice, which starred a young Tupac Shakur and Omar Epps, became a part of hip-hop lexicon as another word for respect. This year, one of rap’s most questioned stars is set to remake the film into a mini-movie.

Yesterday (Apr.20) Soulja Boy released a free mixtape to serve as the soundtrack for his version of Juice. VIBE caught up with SB just a few hours before the tape’s release to get the skinny on the new music and movie, his recent conversations with Birdman, Lil B’s controversial album title and his desire to pursue acting.

Can you tell us a little bit about the story line for Juice?

SB: Basically, it’s your boy Soulja and I’m Bishop in 2011, running around in the streets, man. You know how the movie goes, but we’re flipping it and shooting in Atlanta. I want to show these people my acting side and me being creative—always giving them something new; that’s all. I got same video director that shot “Crank That,” “Kiss Me Through The Phone,” “Turn My Swag On” —my most successful videos. The whole mixtape is the soundtrack for the movie.

Did you cast any other rappers in the flick?

Yeah, man. Actually Cam’Ron reached out to get in the movie. Some of the original actors that were in the original reached out too. We’re in pre-production right now. We start filming on the Apr. 28th in Atlanta. It’s going to be crazy. Of course I’m going to have my S.O.D. family in there. We’re juicing up!

Who from the original movie is going to be in it? Raheem [Laughs] ?

Not Raheem. You know the chubby one? He reached out. He actually wanted a part. I thought that was cool, so I told the director Rage to just go ahead and put him in the movie.

Going back to the mixtape, did you handle the majority of the production?

Nah, man. I got producers. My new producer Kwony Cash did a bunch of beats. I produced a couple of the tracks. It’s mostly all new music, though. I recorded the whole mixtape within the last two month. Basically, it’s just this whole Juice movement I got going on.

I actually watched the “Zan With That Lean” on YouTube and…

That’s the promo video, bro. We’re shooting three music videos. Rage is directing them all, “Zan With That Lean”, “That’s Right” and the third one is “Kickstand.”

Can you explain “Zan With That Lean” for people who don’t know what that means?

For the people who don’t know what “Zan With That Lean” is… it’s that drank. Just being juiced up in the zone. Yea!

Is there one song on your mixtape that is your favorite so far?

Aw man. I think the whole mixtape is hard. I got a couple of favorite ones—”That’s Right” with Diamond—that’s hard. “Numbas” featuring 2 Chainz and J. Money—that’s hard. “Rich Hoe” featuring Lil B is crazy.

Do you think Juice is best listened to while under the influence?

Hell yeah, why you think I’m dropped it on 4/20! I want you to have the most positive vibe, be leaning… on the national smoke holiday . Everybody should get fucked up and listen to my tape [Laughs].

Was there anyone you wished you could have worked with?

If I could get anybody, I would have probably put Lil Wayne on my mixtape. Me and Wayne, man.

Have you had the chance to talk to Weezy, since he came home?

I talk to him, but I’m cool with Birdman. When I’m in Miami I be with Birdman. He’s trying to get me to come over to Cash Money. I’m cool with Birdman. I feel like if I drop my mixtape and get Wayne on it, I’d really have the juice then [Laughs].

So is going to Cash Money actually a real possibility?

It is a possibility. When I was down in Miami for a couple of weeks recording with Sean Kingston, Birdman reached out to me. He said ‘come and have a meeting with me’ and he told me ‘yo man you’d go perfect with everything we got going on. Whatever you want. I want to bring you over to this family, bring you to Cash Money.’

That could be a big move for you, but I feel like you’ve worked so hard to establish S.O.D. as a brand. I mean you were one of the first “mainstream” artists to embrace Lil B.

When me and Lil B first got together everything that he told me he was going to do, he did it. I feel like with him going and doing the things he’s doing, he’s WWE-ing the game He told me’we’re going to be the best in this rap game. WWE on these folks, smash em. He said ‘I’m going to be a sacrifice. I don’t give a fuck what people say about me because at the end of the day I’m positive and I’m being me. And I was like ‘You know what? you’re right, bro. Shit on them folks.’  And that’s exactly what’s he doing.

Do you think he’s had some influence on your music?

I feel like me and Lil B feed off each other. Just listen to the Pretty Boy Millionaires mixtape we did together. We were in the studio for a whole two months. I feel that we’re always feeding off each other. From “swag” being the new word around town. That’s the lingo that we came up with together. Everybody knows what it is, though. It’s all love with me and Lil B. And all the fans, Based movement and the Juice movement.

B said he’s going to title his next album I’m Gay. What did you think when you heard that?

I flew the fuck out my seat, bro. Then you know what I did? I really thought back to what he said. He said, ‘bro, I’m going to be a human sacrifice, I’m going be the first rapper to do this shit. I’m going to show people that words don’t mean nothing. When the first time somebody picked on me in school or picked on somebody else in school like ‘you’re gay’ or ‘you’re a bitch? You know what I’m going to flip this shit, and I’m going to call myself a bitch and call myself gay, and I’m still going to get money.’ And that’s real, I support in everything.

Do you think he’s doing it to make a statement? Or is it for attention

Man, it’s like when you call somebody a “bitch,” they would kill you over that shit or when you call somebody “gay,” that shit really fucks with a nigga’s head. If you’re in school with a real homo and you say ‘man you’re a fucking faggot,’ he might come back and shoot the whole damn school up the next day. It’s just that serious.  And Lil B is just trying to be a human sacrifice and show the people that words don’t mean shit. He’s probably going to have a hard time doing it, but that’s what he’s trying to do. Being yourself. Doing you. That’s what he’s trying to do.

Lil B has his Based movement and you also have your movement. Where do you see yourself going musically? Do you see yourself shifting in a certain direction?

I’m just shifting to this new swag; the new juice. People love me right now, and I’m just going to keep feeding it to them. My whole new thing is just the Juice right now. The Juice really got the internet hyped like how I want it to be and I’m doing this interview with y’all, so I’m doing something right.

After the mixtape, what’s next?

My movie drops at the end of this year. Everybody that’s listening to this interview, reading this interview, go to Vibe.com/Soulja, make sure y’all go to see my latest stuff.

Is there any chance we could see you doing movies on the big screen?

Yeah man. Hopefully that’s what I’m trying to do. I’ve been putting together a couple of things. People have been reaching out and wanting me to be in some movies. Hopefully.

Would you ever do a Tyler Perry movie?

Yeah man, if it makes sense and it’s a good role. And Tyler Perry, you can’t lose with him. He’s killing it in his market right now.

Who is your favorite actor?

I like Will Smith,  Denzel,…Samuel L. Jackson. But yo, Will Ferrell and Seth Rogen need to do a movie with me.

What would be your dream role?

I want to save the world. I want to do something like Independence Day. My ultimate role would be to play someone like Neo in the Matrix. If that would’ve been my role, that movie would have sold 30-million more copies.

Besides movies and the mixtape is there something else you got going on?

I’m going to start shooting this reality this show after my mixtape drops. It’s going to show you everything I go through behind the scenes. It’s coming out on a major network, but I can’t say anything else about it yet. -VIBE

Download the “Juice” Mixape HERE