"Juju Guru" is the second release from the Bayou Gotham music series — a passion project where each of our hot sauces gets its own original track and animated video rooted in New Orleans culture, history, and heat.
Juju Guru was born backstage at B.B. King's in Times Square, during a raw and real conversation with the late New Orleans legend Dr. John the Nite Tripper. It was 2007, not long after Hurricane Katrina.
After the show, founder Scott Bellina was introduced to Mac Rebennack by a mutual friend. The small talk didn't last long — Dr. John wasn't one for it. But when Scott mentioned his connection to Crystal Hot Sauce, Mac's eyes lit up. "Dey used to make a green sawce," he said. "Whatever happened to dat green sawce?"
Crystal never actually made a green sauce. But that moment sparked something. Scott set out to create one for Mac — a tribute to the Nite Tripper's funky spirit and voodoo soul. Sadly, Dr. John passed away just weeks after Scott reached out to share the finished sauce with him. But the spirit lives on.
To this day, Scott crafts his recipes while funking out to Desitively Bonnaroo, Dr. John's Gumbo, and Gris Gris — getting into "the right place" of mind. The track is a groove-drenched conjure, told from the perspective of someone under the Guru's spell.
One taste of that green magic and there's no turning back. He's funkified forever — and feelin' mighty well.
Watch Video