Memphis, Tennessee native Jozzy began her music career as a songwriter, working with numerous well-known artists such as Usher, Chris Brown, and Beyoncé. However, Jozzy soon realized that she wanted to pursue a career as a performer and began releasing her own music. With her soulful voice and catchy melodies, Jozzy has quickly gained a loyal fanbase and critical acclaim for her work. But her origin story is clearly one written in the stars.

Jozzy was grinding in her hometown as a songwriter before she got the chance of a lifetime. Initially asked to stay in Miami for a week with a protégé of Timbaland before settling there permanently, she would eventually soak up game from the super-producer alongside Missy Elliott. This led to Jozzy's first major placement on Monica’s eighth studio album Code Red where she helped pen tracks including the titular track and lead single "Just Right for Me" featuring Lil Wayne.

This would be followed by writing hit singles including Fergie's "M.I.L.F.$" alongside "Mamacita" by Lil Yachty featuring Rico Nasty. Jozzy cemented her status as an A-list songwriter by writing Billy Ray Cyrus' guest verse on Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" remix. Since then, she's earned hit after hit from writing multiple tracks on Mary J. Blige's Grammy-nominated Good Morning Gorgeous album to "Virgo's Groove" on Beyoncé's Renaissance album.

Despite a resume, many would simply be satisfied with, Jozzy has also been pushing for a solo career as an artist. Between releasing singles featuring guest appearances from artists like Lil Wayne and Mase, 2020 saw her release Soul Therapy: Apartment 215 featuring the buzzworthy track “Funny Friends.” Diddy would eventually sign Jozzy as the first artist on his R&B-focused label Love Records two years later. The first project from the partnership is EP titled Songs for Ladies Free Game for N****s.

Speaking with BET.com, Jozzy explains almost giving up on being a solo artist before Diddy, being inspired by Frank Ocean and that kiss with Madonna.

BET.com: First off, “Funny Friends” from Soul Therapy: Apartment 215 was my favorite joint from you. How did that project sort of set you up for more people like Diddy to believe in you more as a solo recording artist than just a songwriter?

Jozzy: I did that project during the Covid lockdown, so it was at a time when I didn't have anyone to write for because everybody was trying to do Zoom sessions and that just didn't work. It was kind of like a passion project because I was stuck in the house, bored in the house. So I, that's really what that was. And then I didn't get any support from my label who didn't push it. That situation really made me not want to be an artist anymore. That jaded me because I felt like that project was so amazing. That made me stop wanting to be an artist. I just continued just focusing on writing songs after that.

Puff really encouraged me to get back into being a recording artist. It was a situation that came at the perfect time. I’m a person who studies and I was watching a YouTube video where it was showing all my favorite artists from Lady Gaga to 2Chainz who had label deals but were dropped. I promise you, right after I watched that video, I bumped into Puff a few months later and he told me I was a superstar. He told me I needed to get back to being a recording artist.

BET.com: What was the process of putting together Songs for Ladies Free Game for N****s EP and how much of the project consisted of original from scratch material and material that was originally pitched to other artists?

Jozzy: Everything was from scratch. I had no idea what I was going to do. I started it at Puff’s house in Miami and then we took it to the Bahamas. I was listening to a lot of Frank Ocean and “Songs For Women” from his Nostalgia, Ultra mixtape. I thought that title was so amazing. He had a line that said something like ‘every time a nigga asks me if I sing songs to get women, I’m like yeah.’ That’s such a real line because I do that. I make songs for women. As a songwriter, I write songs for women who want to feel something. I’m not trying to disrespect them but trying to make them feel seen, loved and heard. Even with the intro, that was like God just writing through me. I was just the vessel.

BET.com: I look at the likes of you, Syd, Kehlani as representing successful queer Black women in the R&B space. Were there any challenges you faced in getting people to respect you for your talents as someone who is open about their sexuality?

Jozzy: All of my peers support me. Kehlani, Syd, SZA; all of them have been like ‘I can’t wait for your project to drop.’ That has been the most fulfilling thing ever. There’s just no jealousy or feelings that I should just stay a writer. If anything, it’s A&Rs and people on the labels who try to lock you into being a songwriter because they want the hits. The artists saw it before I saw it.

People get it. If you look at the world, it’s a lot of women that look like me. This shit not new. It’s a masculine woman in every room somewhere. I just feel like in the industry, it’s cool to be gay if you’re feminine but if you’re masculine it’s shunned upon. So I feel like we’re all opening doors. Let’s call a spade a spade and let’s just embrace it. I’m so thankful that the fans have embraced it. I haven’t seen any woman or man bash me about it. It’s because the music is so good and timeless that people aren’t worried about who is singing it.

BET.com: You’ve written for a slew of chart topping artists but your clear highlight was the recording breaking “Old Town Road” remix with Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus. Do you remember your work on that and the impact it had on pop culture?

Jozzy: I remember that moment perfectly when I got the call to work with Billy Ray Cyrus. I was actually sick around that time too. I thought it was the flu or something. I’m from Memphis so I love Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus. I grew up on Hannah Montana. I remember my mom seeing him on TV and would say ‘He’s a fine white guy.’ I remember being in the booth and freestyling the whole melody. After that, me and Billy Ray went outside and I picked his brain to know some country words. In this case, I wanted him to be a rapper so I didn’t want him to be too country, which is why you hear Fendi Sports Bra and Maserati sports car. I think Malborough Man is the only country thing he said.

I didn’t know it was going to be that big. I was at Coachella when it hit number one and I realized what number ones do to people. When you get a number one, people look at you differently. I was getting everything for free and just feeling the love. It was beautiful and changed my life that fast.

BET.com: Even most recently, you caught another big moment through your work on Beyoncé  “Virgo’s Groove” from the RENAISSANCE album.

Jozzy: I look at Missy Elliott, I look at The Dream, I look at Nyo and how they did it so perfectly. One of the things I realized is that the great songwriters turned artists all have Beyoncé placements. For my own merit, I needed to have that Beyoncé track under me. Me and my boy Tate Kobang, who is currently killing it with Nicki right now, were just playing around with the words “right here, right now.” We did it on another beat as well. I sent it to my A&R at Sony ATV. She sent it to Beyoncé  and the next thing I know, it’s turned into “Virgo’s Groove.” We found our names and then I was in a club and somebody showed me my name on the credits. I started screaming in the club going crazy. I’m not a drinker but I got lit that night.

BET.com: Considering all of this attention you have around you, I have to ask, what was that like kissing Madonna though?

Jozzy: I’m an equal opportunist when it comes to love. That’s just who I am. I saw a lot of age shaming amongst a lot of women. I just hate that we age shame women. I feel when a woman gets to a certain age, people say what they can and can not do. If she is a boss and getting her shit, why can’t she do what she wants. Just like men do. Nobody does that to them. As soon as a woman does it, it’s disgusting. I love that Madonna was enjoying her life and if she wants to enjoy her life and kiss me, let’s do it. Let’s laugh about it after. I treat Madonna like a legend. This is the same Madonna who kissed Tupac and made a sexbook with Naomi Campbell and Big Daddy Kane. She has a lot of vibes. She’s a legend and I still see her as that.