Juvenile - Juve The Great
Reviewed By: ULTIMATECDLINK
Album Rate: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
After splitting with Cash Money Records over financial matters, Juvenile returns to the label that he helped to put on the hip-hop map. His 5th album features Mannie Fresh, Baby, Wacko, Skip, & the hit single "Slow Motion" with the late Soulja Slim.
1. Intro-- good blend of horns and blues guitars on the beat. Juvenile drops a quick verse followed by some talkin about how he's been through a lot over the years and now it's all about the UTP Family.
2. In My Life (f/ Mannie Fresh)-- Mannie Fresh does a great job on the beat on the first single released from the album. Along the way, he also shows up on the infectious hook "I'mma buy cars, I'mma get clothes, I'mma rock jewels, I'mma fuck hoes, I'mma smoke weed, gotta a lotta drank, steppin out gator, coca-cola mink". The song was a huge single for Juve.
3. Enemy Turf-- computerized beepin beat blended with strings and a nice bassline. Juve drops a street tale about getting respect in the hood via his hollow point. Good track to sit back and vibe to.
4. Outside (skit)
5. Bounce Back (f/ Baby)-- the 2nd single from the album features a hypnotic beat that will have ya nodding ya head along to the beat and the snare drumbeat. The chorus goes "I'm bout to bounce back/bounce-ce bounce back". Juvenile does a great job painting the story of how he's been through the thug life on the streets but now he's trying to turn his life around. The Birdman even drops a dope verse about how he's had a dream to come up in this rap game and how the haters were mad that Juve came back to CMR. One of the best songs on the album.
6. Down South Posted (f/ Wacko & Skip)-- nice mid-to-up tempo beat with lots of brass that'll make you wanna get up and move. Juve is up first with a few bars about gunplay down south in the Nolia. Skip is next on the mic with lyrics about how his girl only sees him as a dollar sign. Wacko finishes the song out with a tight flow. Nice song that you'll replay over and over.
7. It Ain't Mines-- tight guitar beat that has a West Coast Dr. Dre feel to it. Juve drops some knowledge about how his fuck friend is tryin to trap him by getting pregnant in order to profit off his fame. The fellas out there are gonna relate to this one. Another nice song worth checkin out.
8. Numb Numb-- a darker laid back Oriental themed beat. Juvenile plays the role of dope dealer on this one. The hook goes "if you score some coke from me you will be numb numb numb numb - if you don't get it from me you will be dumb dumb dumb dumb - you'll be coming back in minutes to get some some some some - damn Juve where you get that from from from from". Tight ass track is all I can say.
9. Lil Daddy (f/ Baby)-- this one has that classic Mannie Fresh N.O. bouncy beat with horns and snares snappin on the bassline. The verses are about life down in the Nolia, and the hook alone would probably make it a hit club single for Juve. "Keep ya hands up (I got to have it lil daddy)". Decent song worth checkin out.
10. Fuckin With Me (f/ Wacko & Skip)-- very nice slowed down laid back get with ya girl vibe on the beat. The chorus goes "throw up the 'U' if you fuckin with me". Skip lays down the second verse with a few humerous lines intended for the hoes out there. Wacko finishes it out with a verse to his girl lettin her know that he's got a lot of options if she ain't willing to deal with his G status. Nice song worth bumpin.
11. Cock It-- this one has a spicy Latin beat. Juvenile does a nice job on the mic talkin about movin weight on the streets. Good vibe on the track overall makes this worth checkin out.
12. Club (Skit)
13. Juve The Great-- the title track has an opera-like feel on the beat complete with church bells and strings. The title says it all--Juve tells the story of how he grew up as a dope dealer and got in fights to survive. All the while, the only one he feared was God. Nice song.
14. Head In Advance-- this one has an electric guitar mixed with the computerized popping beat that has seemed to show up on every other track these days. Juvenile drops verses about trying to get head from girls as a favor. Not feelin this one too much although it would probably make a good BET Uncut video.
15. For Everybody-- KLC beat on this one with horns and snares snappin off. The hook goes "you can have an old lady but them hoes - they for everybody - let her go dawg that ain't your hoe dawg". That explains the concept of the song -- trying to hook up with those chicks in the clubs while their man is tryin to strong arm a hoe.
16. At The Door (Skit)
17. Slow Motion [f/ Soulja Slim (R.I.P.)]-- the 3rd single from the album was originally recorded as a solo from the fallen ex-No Limit Soldier, Soulja Slim. Sadly, he did not live to see the biggest single of his career take off. Juve's verses, which were mixed in, blend nicely with Soulja Slim's verses. From coast to coast, you can still hear Slim singin "Uhhhh, I like it like that - slow motion for me". This showcases the underrated skills of the fallen N.O. MC. Nice production on the track by Dani Kartel. Good song to end the album off with.
Overall, the production by Mannie Fresh, Slice T, Sha Money XL, Griz, Dani Kartel, and Black Jeruz is solid throughout. Anyone who has questioned Juvenile's lyrical skills needs to take a hard listen to this album. Not a lot of diversity of the subject matter on this CD but Juve's flow combined with the nice blend of beats will be music to your ears nonetheless. Easily one of the best Southern CD over the past year or so.
Juvenile - Juve The Great