Juvenile | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Terius Gray |
Born | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | March 26, 1975
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) |
|
Discography | Juvenile discography |
Years active | 1991–present |
Labels | |
Formerly of |
Terius Gray (born March 26, 1975), [1] better known by his stage name Juvenile, is an American rapper best known for his work with Birdman's Cash Money Records in the late 1990s and early 2000s, both solo and as a member of the label's then-flagship group, Hot Boys.
Juvenile's career began in the early 1990s as a teenager with bounce music recordings that earned him local recognition. After releasing his debut studio album— Being Myself (1995)—to regional success, he signed with Cash Money and made his mainstream breakthrough with his second and third albums, Solja Rags (1997) and 400 Degreez (1998). The latter peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200, received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and was supported by the singles "Ha" and "Back That Azz Up" (featuring Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne)—his first entries on the Billboard Hot 100. He released three subsequent albums— Tha G-Code (1999), Project English (2001) and Juve the Great (2003)—for the label to continued success, the latter of which spawned the 2004 single "Slow Motion" (featuring Soulja Slim), which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and became his only song to do so.
After leaving Cash Money, Juvenile briefly signed with Atlantic Records. His seventh album, Reality Check (2006) debuted atop the Billboard 200, and was followed by Cocky & Confident (2009). He then independently released the albums Beast Mode (2010), Rejuvenation (2012), and The Fundamentals (2014). During his solo work, he formed the hip hop group UTP in 2002, with whom he has released two albums; the former of which spawned the 2004 single "Nolia Clap." He returned to Cash Money in 2014. [2]
Juvenile was raised in the Magnolia Projects of Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana's 3rd Ward and attended Our Lady of Grace Catholic School. [3] He first began recording his raps in the early 1990s.
Juvenile's debut album, Being Myself , was released in 1995 after signing with Warlock Records. The album did not gain much national attention and did not chart, but did fairly well on a local level.
After the regional success of his debut, Juvenile soon left the label to sign with the larger label of the New Orlens area, Cash Money Records. His second album and first for the label, Solja Rags was released in May 1997. It became popular among local rap audiences, and also saw some national success as it charted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [4] It was the first time he worked with Cash Money in-house producer Mannie Fresh, who would go on to produce all of Juvenile's albums on Cash Money in their entirety except Juve the Great . Also in 1997, Juvenile joined the Hot Boys with fellow Cash Money rappers B.G., Turk, and Lil Wayne. They released their debut album as a group, Get It How U Live! that same year.
Juvenile's third album, 400 Degreez , was released in November 1998. The Cash Money label entered a distribution deal from Universal Records during the same time, which gave the label further national promotion. Its first single, "Ha" was released the month prior and became his first to enter the Billboard Hot 100. The album spawned the follow up single, "Back That Azz Up" (featuring Lil Wayne and Mannie Fresh) which was released commercially in June 1999 and peaked at number 19 on the chart, and number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [5] This, along with wider critical praise and it becoming his best-selling album, made Juvenile a prominent figure in hip hop. Disputes arose over who owned the rights to the title of "Back That Azz Up", as another New Orleans performer DJ Jubilee claimed that Juvenile's song sounded very similar to a song of his. In January 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans denied the case. [6] Capitalizing off the album's success, Juvenile released a remixed version of his debut Being Myself , and commercial reissue of his second, Solja Rags that same year. [4] In July 1999, he released his second album with Hot Boys, Guerrilla Warfare , which also received platinum certification.
Juvenile released two further solo albums for Cash Money: Tha G-Code in 1999 and Project English in 2001, which received double platinum and platinum certifications respectively by the RIAA. Moreover, the albums reached numbers ten and two respectively on the Billboard 200, but failed to match the success of 400 Degreez. UTP Records announced an album titled 600 Degreez during this time, which was never released. [4]
In March 2003, the Hot Boys released their album, Let 'Em Burn . Juvenile's manager Aubrey Francis and Birdman met and negotiated a deal for Juvenile and CMR to release one further solo album for the latter's label. His sixth album, Juve the Great was released by Cash Money and UTP Records in December 2003. It received platinum certification and spawned the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Slow Motion" featuring Soulja Slim. It was the Juvenile and label's first, and Slim's only [5] number one song prior to his death in November 2003. [7]
In 2005, Juvenile signed with Atlantic Records as a both a solo act and for his UTP Records imprint, which was co-founded by his longtime manager Aubrey "Pied Piper" Francis and older brother Corey. The namesake group UTP (Juve, Skip, and Wacko) released the 2004 hit song "Nolia Clap" as part of the group's first album Beginning of the End (2004). The song was produced by Juvenile along with producer Donald "XL" Robertson. [4] Juvenile has also performed the song "Booty Language" for the soundtrack for the of the 2005 film Hustle & Flow . [8] Juvenile's Slidell, Louisiana home was damaged during Hurricane Katrina; [4] him, fellow New Orleans rapper Master P, and other hip hop artists raised funds and supplies for affected victims following the storm. [9] He briefly moved to Atlanta afterwards, and in the following year, he returned to New Orleans. [10]
Reality Check , Juvenile's 2006 album, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and remains his only release to do so. [11] It received gold certification by the RIAA. Production began in May 2005, most of which was done at a Holiday Inn hotel room in New Orleans. [12] Its first single was "Animal", followed by "Rodeo", "Get Ya Hustle On", "What's Happenin'", and "Way I Be Leanin'" featuring Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Skip, and Wacko. [5] A portion of the album was recorded with engineer, Stewart Cararas at his studio Paradigm Park Studios in New Orleans. Within one month, the studio suffered the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. On signing to Atlantic, Juvenile criticized his former label Cash Money for not giving him enough creative freedoms as well as Federal Emergency Management Agency over his perceptions over their handling of Hurricane Katrina. Shaheem Reid noted "Get Ya Hustle On" as a criticism of Ray Nagin's and the George W. Bush administration's handling of the storm. [13]
In a 2009 interview with Allhiphop.com, Juvenile stated that his album Cocky & Confident "would take a totally different direction from his last project, which was made when he was still 'mourning Katrina.'" He also revealed that he decided to work only with fresh, young producers on the album and discussed his respect for younger artists like Soulja Boy. [14]
Cocky & Confident was released in December 2009. It peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200 and contained one charting single, "Gotta Get It", which peaked at number 53 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. After the album, he parted ways with Atlantic. His ninth album Beast Mode was released independently in July 2010. It was preceded by the single, "Drop That Thang" in May of that year.
Juvenile released his tenth studio album, Rejuvenation on June 19, 2012 through Rap-A-Lot Records. [15]
The first single from the album is "Power" featuring Rick Ross. Juvenile collaborated with Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, and Drake for the album. [15]
On February 18, 2014, Juvenile released his eleventh studio album The Fundamentals . On October 28, 2014, Juvenile announced and confirmed that he re-signed to Cash Money. [16] [17] On March 28, 2019, both Juvenile and Birdman released a joint album called Just Another Gangsta. [18]
In April 2021, Juvenile was awarded a key to the city of New Orleans by mayor LaToya Cantrell. [19] [20]
On June 30, 2023, Juvenile performed on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series to very positive reviews. [21] [22] The performance was a result of Twitter user @theylovemyke's request that Juvenile play a Tiny Desk concert in April 2023, to which Juvenile initially replied, "WTF is a Tiny Desk and no!". He subsequently changed his mind, as a result of enthusiastic fan requests to perform on the show. As of July 19, 2023, the video has 4 million views. The performance featured guests including producer Mannie Fresh, Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Alvin Ford, the singing duo The Amours, and the Louisiana Philharmonic.
Juvenile had a daughter, Jelani, with Joy Deleston. On February 29, 2008, 4-year-old Jelani was shot and killed in her home, along with mother Deleston and older half sister. It was reported that Deleston's oldest child, 17-year-old son Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr., returned to the home after police arrived and implicated himself in the murder of his mother and siblings. Terrell was charged with three counts of murder and three counts of aggravated assault. He remains in the DeKalb County jail. Though Juvenile received some criticism for not attending the funeral for his daughter and her mother, several statements were released that the rapper was "shocked and devastated" by the event. [23] The rapper stated that he made the decision not to appear at the funeral to prevent subsequent media attention, and was concerned that it would divert attention away from the ceremony. [24] [25] Terrell was given two consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty to killing Joy Deleston, 39, and her daughters, Micaiah, 11, and Jelani. Due to his age, he could not be sentenced to death in Georgia.
Juvenile endorsed Tom Steyer in the 2020 United States presidential election. [26] A video of him dancing with Steyer to his hit song "Back That Azz Up" went viral on the internet shortly before the 2020 South Carolina Democratic primary was held. [27]
In the summer of 2002, Juvenile was arrested for assaulting his barber over charges that the barber was bootlegging his music. [28]
In January 2003, Juvenile was arrested in New Orleans on drug charges. [29] The next month, he was sentenced to 75 hours of community service for a fight outside a nightclub in Miami, Florida in 2001. [30]
Juvenile was involved in a legal dispute over failure to pay child support for his daughter Jelani with Joy Deleston, a deputy sheriff in Gwinnett County, Georgia. A paternity lawsuit was issued by Deleston in 2004, resulting in a DNA test and both parties agreeing that Juvenile was Jelani's father. His attorney stated that the case was resolved peacefully by consent order in 2006. [31]
On February 25, 2010, Juvenile was arrested in Arabi, Louisiana. While Juvenile was recording music at a house there, a neighbor called police to report smelling marijuana. He was cited on a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession and later released on bond. [32] He pleaded guilty in August 2010 and received a suspended three-month jail sentence and six months of probation and paid a $250 fine and court costs. [33]
In 2017, Juvenile was arrested for failing to pay $170,000 in child support. [34]
In 2020, Juvenile started up a furniture company called "Made by Juvie". [35] In 2023, Juvenile teamed up with Urban South Brewery for a new flavored drink called "Juvie Juice". [36]
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, and is often mentioned among the greatest rappers of all time. Carter's career began in 1995, when he was signed by rapper Birdman to his record label Cash Money Records, becoming the youngest member of the label at age eleven. From then on, he was the flagship artist of Cash Money Records before ending his association with the imprint in June 2018.
400 Degreez is the commercial debut and overall third studio album by American rapper Juvenile. The album was released on November 3, 1998, by Universal Records and Bryan "Baby" Williams' Cash Money Records. It remains Juvenile's best-selling album of his solo career, with six million copies sold as of 2021. The album received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 19, 2000.
Cash Money Records is an American record label founded in 1991 by brothers Ronald "Slim" Williams and Bryan "Baby" Williams. In its early years, the label signed and released albums for New Orleans-based musical acts Juvenile, B.G., and Hot Boys. It became an imprint of Universal Records, a division of Universal Music Group in March 1998, and remained so during its following iterations as Universal Republic, Universal Motown and ultimately Republic Records.
Juve the Great is the sixth studio album by American rapper Juvenile. The album was released on December 23, 2003, by Cash Money Records, Universal Music Group and UTP Records. It was Juvenile's last album on the Cash Money label. The album was certified platinum July 20, 2004, becoming his third album to do so, after 400 Degreez and Tha G-Code.
Big Tymers was an American hip hop duo composed of Cash Money Records co-founder Baby and the label's lead producer Mannie Fresh, both of whom originate from New Orleans, Louisiana. Active from 1997 to 2005, and once more in 2018, it was spun off from the label's supergroup, Cash Money Millionaires.
Bryan Christopher Williams, better known by his stage names Birdman or Baby, is an American rapper and record executive. He is the public face of the record label Cash Money Records, which he co-founded with his older brother Ronald "Slim" Williams in 1991. Birdman released his eponymous debut studio album in 2002, and released three follow up albums—Fast Money (2005), 5 * Stunna (2007), and Priceless (2009)—to moderate commercial success and mixed critical reception; in 2020, he announced the latter as his final. Along with his solo career, he is a member of the hip hop duo Big Tymers with producer Mannie Fresh, as well as the supergroup Cash Money Millionaires.
The Hot Boys are an American hip hop group formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1997. The group is made up of B.G., Lil Wayne, Juvenile and Turk.
Christopher Noel Dorsey, better known by his stage name B.G., is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his musical career in 1993 upon signing with Birdman's Cash Money Records at the age of 12. Dorsey and label-mates Lil Wayne, Juvenile and Turk collectively formed the group Hot Boys in 1997, with whom he has released three commercially successful albums. As a solo act, Dorsey has released five solo albums for Cash Money—Chopper City (1996), It's All on U, Vol. 1 (1997), It's All on U, Vol. 2 (1997), the platinum-certified Chopper City in the Ghetto (1999) and Checkmate (2000)—to moderate success. He parted ways with the label in 2001 and to his own label, Chopper City Records later that year.
Tab Virgil Jr. better known by his stage name Turk, is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known for his late 1990s run at Birdman's Cash Money Records with the group the Hot Boys.
"Back That Thang Up" is a song recorded by American rapper Juvenile featuring fellow American rappers Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne. Produced by Fresh, it was released on June 11, 1999, as the second single from Juvenile's 1998 album 400 Degreez. The song was Juvenile's biggest hit single at the time until the chart-topping "Slow Motion" in 2004, surpassing "Back That Azz Up" which peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2021, it was listed at number 478 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".
The Greatest Hits is a Greatest hits album by rapper Juvenile. It was released on October 19, 2004 through Cash Money Records.
"Ha" is a 1998 single by rapper Juvenile, from his third album 400 Degreez. It was produced by Mannie Fresh. This song, along with Juvenile's "Back That Azz Up" and B.G.'s "Bling Bling" was responsible for taking Cash Money Records from a small local label in New Orleans to the pop mainstream. The song is notable for its unique style of rapping, with every line except the chorus ending with "ha". The chorus to the song interpolates a line taken from the earlier Juvenile single "Solja Rags".
Byron Otto Thomas, better known by his stage name Mannie Fresh, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known for his production work for Cash Money Records releases, as well being half of the hip hop duo Big Tymers with the label's co-founder, Birdman.
This is the discography of rapper Juvenile. Juvenile has sold over 10 million albums worldwide.
List of albums released or distributed by Cash Money Records.
"What Happened to That Boy" is a song by American rapper Baby, released as the second single from his debut studio album Birdman (2002), featuring rap duo Clipse.
Tha Carter V is the twelfth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne. It was released on September 27, 2018, by Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records. The album's release date commenced the day of Lil Wayne's 36th birthday. The album's features include Swizz Beatz, Kendrick Lamar, Sosamann, Lil Wayne's daughter Reginae Carter, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Ashanti, Mack Maine, Travis Scott, Nivea, and the late XXXTentacion, with bonus tracks and the deluxe edition featuring additional appearances from Post Malone, Gucci Mane, Raekwon, and 2 Chainz.
"Used 2" is a song by American rapper 2 Chainz from his second studio album B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time (2013). Produced and co-written by Mannie Fresh, it was released as the second single from the album on September 18, 2013.
U.N.L.V. is a hip-hop group from New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name is an acronym for "Uptown Niggas Living Violent".
Marinna Teal, better known as Strings and Tateeze, is an American rapper and songwriter formerly signed to Epic and Cash Money Records. She is best known for being featured on R. Kelly's "Gotham City Remix" and Keith Sweat's "Im Not Ready Remix" in the mid and late 1990s.