Juve The Nice is New Orleans rapper Juvenile‘s swan song for the influential Cash Money Records label. Released in 2003, Juve’s sixth solo album marked the tip of a whirlwind (and sometimes tumultuous) relationship with Child and Slim’s juggernaut southern rap label that started with 1997’s Solja Rags and, within the course of, vaulted Juve into the mainstream. Notably, the platinum-certified Juve The Nice spawned the hit “Slow Motion,” an intoxicatingly hypnotic monitor that co-starred the guy Magnolia Initiatives graduate Soulja Slim, who handed away from gunshot wounds earlier than the monitor’s influence was felt.
Proper from the get-go, there’s an energized verve pulsing by Juve The Nice. Curt opening assertion “Intro (Juvenile/Juve The Great)” is propped up by perky horns and spotlights Juve lauding the abilities of his spin-off UTP group (which additionally consists of the rappers Skip and Wako and at one time counted G-Unit’s Younger Buck among the many ranks). Subsequent up, the ebullient “In My Life” is heralded by a traditional cluster of producer Mannie’s Contemporary’s snare-powered drum work that teases out Juve’s braggadocio streak. “I’ma be so courageous and so contagious/ ‘Til my jail rap sheet’s gonna receive more pages/ Listen to Juve ’cause this my year man/ 400 degrees and I’m ’bout to kick it in gear man,” nodding to his 1998 launch 400 Degreez.
Hearken to Juvenile’s Juve The Nice now.
Like nearly all of Money Cash’s catalogue, the affect of Mannie Contemporary is clear throughout Juve The Nice. The producer claims 5 key manufacturing credit on the mission, together with the Cameo-sampling “Bounce Back,” which additionally options Money Cash label founder Child. “I was raised in the 3rd, that’s the heart of the streets/ Saw death and crime for the first same time/ Them rims on shine just a vision of mine/ Put this shit back together ’cause I stay on the grind,” relays Child, whereas the monitor’s host indicators off with an unabashed money guidelines decree: “Would love to give you some credit/ But even you said it/ Be serious about your money – and right now I’m trying to get it.”
Juve The Nice ends with the triumph and tragedy of “Slow Motion.” Carried by a deeply melancholic acoustic guitar chorus attached by producer Dani Kartel, the monitor presents Juve and visitor Soulja Slim in full-on Casanova mode. “Uh, I like it like that/ She working that back/ I don’t know how to act/ Slow motion for me, slow motion for me,” raps Slim on the tune’s sultry hook. “Slow Motion” wound up snagging the consideration of being Money Cash’s inaugural primary hit single, but it surely’s a bittersweet accolade. Slim was murdered earlier than the tune was publicly launched. It leaves “Slow Motion” conveying one thing of a haunting aura – and brings an unexpectedly poignant endnote to Juve’s parting contribution to the Money Cash legend.
Hearken to Juvenile’s Juve The Nice now.
