Search - Juvenile :: Juve the Great

Cash Money Records made it cool (or maybe not) for rappers to pen endless rhymes about the jewelry and Jacuzzis they own. Truth is, however, when Juvenile left Cash Money they lost their best emcee. Juve the Great, a solid, even listen, marks his return to the Cash Money fold, and that means a reunion with Mannie Fresh's tailor-made synthesizer-laden beats. On "In My Life," Fresh's hook ("I'ma buy cars, I'ma get clothes, I'ma rock jewels?") complements Juvenile's husky New Orleans drawl without even trying. Art awkwardly imitates life on "It Ain't Mines," on which Juvenile--who's undergoing a real-life paternity-test drama--casts suspicion on the legitimacy of some such declarations. While there's a certain sameness to this and past albums as far as 'hood-centric subject matter and vocal delivery, Juvenile does go out and experiment with beats from up-and-comers such as Griz, Ad Future, and Slice T, with mixed results. There are no immediate club anthems here, but "Bounce Back" does showcase his inimitable gift for relaying realistic tales of his Magnolia Projects ascent--from street-corner hustler to acclaimed emcee and caring father--without it sounding clichéd. --Dalton Higgins