Juvenile 400 Degreez CD

Parental Advisory Previously On 9618 Csh

Personnel: Juvenile, Big Tymers, B.G., Turk, Hot Boyz, Lil Wayne, Paparue, Manny Fresh (rap vocals); Corey Funky Fingers (guitar, bass); Barewolf (keyboards).
Personnel includes: Juvenile; Corey Funky Fingers (guitar, bass); Barewolf (keyboards); Jay-Z, Big Tymers, B.G., Hot Boys, Turk, Lil Wayne, Paprue, Manny Fresh.
Personnel: Corey Funky Fingers (guitar).
Audio Mixer: Manny Fresh.
Recording information: Cash Money Studios.
Among the flurry of Cash Money releases during the late '90s, 400 Degreez certainly stands out, and not just as Juvenile's shining moment but also as the album that forced everyone to suddenly take this Dirty South collective very seriously. Before 400 Degreez, Cash Money had been operating relatively well, securing a distribution deal with Universal and broadening its audience with every successive release. But nothing prepared anyone for the success of 400 Degreez, particularly its two anthemic singles, the tongue-twisting "Ha" and the booty-calling "Back That Azz Up." These two songs alone make 400 Degreez noteworthy. They're absolutely two of the best songs to come out of the late-'90s Dirty South boom. Moreover, two remixes of "Ha" come late on the album, one with the Hot Boys, the other with Jay-Z. These four highlights -- "Ha," "Back That Azz Up," and the "Ha" remixes -- break up the album, somewhat concealing the filler. And, yes, there is filler here, as with any Cash Money album, but even it is worthwhile, either because of Juvenile's carefully structured rhyming or producer Mannie Fresh's seemingly bottomless well of hot beats. Among the singles and the filler here, there are also a few great album tracks as well. In particular, "Flossin Season" features some incredibly brash boasts from the Big Tymers, and "Rich Niggaz" features an absolutely frantic beat that ricochets on for five breathtaking minutes. All of this, along with perfect timing, dropping just as the Dirty South broke into the mainstream, made 400 Degreez a phenomenal release for Cash Money, quite arguably the label's crowning achievement. This album, of course, made Juvenile a superstar and, in turn, towered over him for years as the achievement by which he would always be measured. ~ Jason Birchmeier
Hailing from New Orleans, Juvenile has been a major player in the Southern underground hip-hop scene for years. His debut solo album, SOLJAH RAG, sold close to 200,000 copies to the underground without airplay. With 400 DEGREEZ, his first release on Cash Money/Universal Records, Juvenile is poised to tackle the big boys of rap. The first single, "Ha!" is a bouncy, up-tempo track that boasts a catchy chorus. All the tracks on 400 DEGREEZ were produced by Mannie Fresh.
Guest spots from Big Tymers ("Juve") B.G. ("187") and Hot Boys ("Welcome The Nolia," "Slag 'n That Iron," "Run For It") keep the flavor tasty throughout the 16 tracks. Other songs to check out are "Ghetto Children," "Back That Azz Up," "Cash Money Gorilla" and the title track. Though 400 DEGREEZ has a familiar sound and style, the tracks are packed with energy, heart, and soul.

Rolling Stone (12/10/98, p.128) - 3 1/2 Stars (out of 5) - "...his gruff, clear vocals are merged with,...roaming bass lines, catchy keyboard riffs and rattling drum machine kicks..."
The Source (2/00, p.95) - Included in The Source's "Top 10 Albums of the Year [1999]."
The Source (12/98, p.212) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "...400 DEGREEZ offers a big ol' steaming pot of musical gumbo filled with influences from dancehall, second-line brass jazz, Southern R&B, and old school hip-hop seasoned with plenty of bouncy beats..."
Rap Pages (12/98, p.149) - 4 (out of 5) - "...This...delivers everything a baller needs for his sound system....Producer Manny Fresh delivers diverse adrenaline-pumping tracks that accompany Juvenile's multifaceted style of delivery..."