400 Degreez

The national breakout for New Orleans' Cash Money Records, Juvenile's indelibly bouncing third album helped launch a career, a sound, and an industry-dominating dynasty. Juvenile and Cash Money had long been sensations in New Orleans, releasing records both separately and together since the early '90s. But the blipping, rattling 1998 single "Ha" made national stars out of regional power players like producer Mannie Fresh, who made the spaceship-stutter beat, and brothers "Birdman" and "Slim" Williams, who turned a local DIY label into a Universal Records success story. And then, of course, there was Juvenile, whose motormouth flow and melodic raps showcased localized slang and Southern twang. Follow-up single "Back That Azz Up" was even bigger, providing the first national moment for the rhythms of NOLA's regional "bounce" music, an early appearance by emerging solo artist Lil Wayne and an elastic cadence that would be interpolated by rappers time and time again.
The entire roster of MCs that would define Cash Money's next three years—Lil Wayne, B.G., Big Tymers, Turk—are here to lend support, while Mannie Fresh's fireworks funk anchors every track with something between New Orleans second-line, bounce, electro, and James Brown. Both a gifted scene-setter and an infectious tunesmith, Juvenile is just as evocative when painting the struggles of the Magnolia Projects ("Welcome 2 Tha Nolia") as he is hustling to escape them ("Ghetto Children") and stunting with the spoils ("Flossin' Season"). This was the first hit album for Cash Money, creating the initial explosion for the eventual launches of Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and more.