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Juvenile
*All About Juvenile*
"I'm from the projects. I ain't gonna say I'm an animal and attack people, but if you try me, dog ... I have good days and bad days." — Juvenile
Juvenile.
Whether Cash Money/Universal Records artist Juvenile meant to do it or not, he most certainly changed the game of Hip-Hop music. By blazing onto the national music scene just over a year ago with a tune called "Ha," Juvenile ignited the flame that led Hip-Hop junkies straight to the Bayou and Cash Money Records. With his last full-length effort, the soon-to-be quadruple platinum "400 Degreez", still smoldering on the charts, Juvenile is fanning the flames of his success once again with the release of "Tha G-Code."
A product of New Orleans' infamous Magnolia projects, Juvenile, born Terius Gray, has ascended way above sea level over the last 15 years. But it didn't start out that way. Always determined to stay focused on reaching his life's goals, Juvenile worked at the local gas plant
to help support his family and allow himself the "luxury" of following his dream of being a successful rapper. "I'm about the only one from where I come from that's doing my thing," says a reflective Juvenile.
As a burgeoning local rapper, Juvenile became instrumental in blending Hip-Hop with what is known as "bounce" music. The success of "Bounce For The Juvenile," the first-ever bounce record with New Orleans local icon DJ Jimi, led to a short-lived deal with a small New York record label. Unfortunately, the experience left a bitter taste in Juve's mouth. He eventually opted to give up his cherished hobby, rather than do it injustice. Thinking back to those trying times, Juvenile laments, "They wanted me to [only] do bounce music and I was telling' them, 'hey man, I'm a rapper; y'all got me twisted.'" But he couldn't stay away from what he loved so dearly. He kept his day job, as he began to frequent New Orleans' House Of Blues on Hip-Hop night to get back into his groove of his passion. "I got my feel back and I
realized one thing," he says, "We didn't have a New Orleans rapper that straight up used our language, rapped for our people. Everybody wanted to be either east coast or west coast. That's where I came in."
On his way home from another exasperating day on the job, Juvenile caught the attention of Cash Money Records, then a local boutique label making big noise in the southern region. After convincing Co-CEOs Ronald "Slim" and Bryan "Baby" Williams of his abilities and determination, the Williams brothers signed Juvenile on.
Juve's first release for Cash Money Records was the underground smash "Solja Rags" in 1997. "Solja Rags" sold nearly 200,000 copies in the southern region alone and gainfully set up the super-group, Hot Boys. Composed of Juvenile and CMR labelmates Turk, Lil' Wayne, and B.G., Hot Boys debuted with "Get It How U Live" in 1997, mounting close to a half million sales. The success of Cash Money Records was brought to the attention of
Universal Records, who promptly struck a P&D (pressing and distribution) deal with the indie label in 1998. Under this new deal, Cash Money/Universal released Juvenile's sophomore solo project, "400 Degreez." Cannoned onto the charts by heavily rotated radio hits like the infectious "Ha," "Ha (remix)" featuring Jay-Z, and "Back That Thang Up," the award-winning 400 Degreez has remained a staple on the charts for a year. Juvenile's groundbreaking album continues to be recognized as one of the top releases of 1999. The album received a Billboard Awardfor "R&B Album of the Year;" his hit song, "Ha," garnered a Source Award for "Single Of The Year;" and Juvenile earned an American Music Award nomination for "Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the Year." Not intent to rest on his laurels, Juvenile is aiming for the stars again on his new collection.
More About Juvenile..
Terius Gray, Was Born At 26 March 1975, So That Means He Is 29 Years Old!! Juvenile Was Born/Formed At New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. This highly talented New Orleans, Louisiana, USA-based rapper earned his name from a youth spent on the streets. He originally made his mark on the southern underground scene in the early 90s as part of the trio 3Grand, before signing a short-term solo deal with Warlock Records, who released 1995's Being Myself. His big break came when he signed to the pioneering New Orleans underground label, Cash Money Records. Cash Money, like the city's other leading label, Master P's No Limit Records, was responsible for establishing southern rap as a viable alternative to the east coast/west coast domination of the late 90s hip-hop scene. Juvenile's sophomore set, 1996's Soljah Rags, was one of the albums responsible for Cash Money's success, selling over 200,000 copies without any mainstream exposure and helping to alert major labels to southern hip-hop. The in-house production team's seamless G-funk beats provided the perfect backdrop for Juvenile to demonstrate his peerless technical ability and mastery of various styles. The following year he teamed up with label mates B.G., Lil Wayne and Young Turk as the Hot Boy$ on the highly popular Get It How U Live!!.
In 1998, Juvenile released his third set, 400 Degreez, an album which eventually reaped the benefits of Cash Money's lucrative distribution deal with Universal Records, climbing steadily to a peak position of US number 9 the following September. The album, which featured Mannie Fresh's usual high production standards and guest appearances from the Hot Boy$ and the Big Tymer$, was also helped by the radio success of the tracks "Ghetto Children" and "Ha". Juvenile's early albums were reissued in 1999, while 400 Degreez was joined in the US Top 10 by the second Hot Boy$ collection, Guerrilla Warfare. Juvenile's new album, Tha G-Code, followed in December.
Another Thing About Juvenile...
Juvenile info.--Juvenile is a name I got when I was young and thuggin, explains 29-year-Terius Gray. Juvenile hails from the infamous New Orleans Uptown region and was reared in the Magnolia projects. Like some other housing projects,the Magnolia projects have a serious reputation for being rowdy and wild. It's a place where few childern survive unscatched by the horrendous poverty that grips many of the residents there. But not Juve. Like the elders of old, he kept his eyes on the prize-his dream of being a rap star. "I had my struggles, says a solemn Juvenile when asked about life in the "wild " Magnolia. My pops went AWOL on me when I was four, so I had my struggles and I had peer presurres, but I didn't let things get to me. I always stayed focused on what I was tryin to do". Stayed tuned into the next update on Juvenile. You never know when there will be more info on him, and his clique. Rapping since the age ten, Juvenile formed a group called the UTP, a name that he has tattoed on his stomach in honor of his old Uptown crew, many of whom are either dead or locked up. UTP was like a coalition for Uptown rappers. Through his rap activity, Juvenile became instrumental in helping shape New Orleans' hip hop scene. However, by the mid-90's, Juvenile's career took a turn for the worst. Tune into it next time!! Resisting the lure of fast money and cars, he took on a series of odd jobs in between writing and doing shows whenever he could. His luck changed when he met Ronald "Suga Slim" Williams and his brother Brian " Baby" Williams , owners of Cash Money Records. On the way to work, he auditioned for them on the spot. Althrough the brothers liked what they heard, they didn't have a spot on their roster for new artists. They gave him a card and told him to check with them later. Juvenile showed up the next day, and the day after, and the day after, and then the day after that. In fact, he started hanging around the studio so much that the label finally gave him a shot and released Juvenile's debut album titled Solja Rag. Instantly, Solja Rag became an underground smash, selling close to 200,000 copies in the southern region alone. It also helped to set the stage for Juvenile's new group, The Hot Boys, whose debut LP Get It How You Live sold nearly 400,000 copies and landed in the #25 spot on the billbroad charts. So stay tuned you never know when there will be new info. Now Juvenile returns with his sophomore solo CD 400 Degreez, which will definitely prove to be Cash Money's Hottest release yet. Just listen to the sizzling lead single "Ha", with its rapid-fire rhythm, spacey keyboard and Juvenile's endless aggression on the mic. Everyone is sure to get caught up in the high energy of "Welcome To Magnolia" with it's bouncing organ chords and tight rhythms built around 70's rim shot, or the spine-chilling tracks My Nine Is Gonna Die With Me, and ''Back Dat Azz Up. On "Run For It", you can feel the hunger in Juvenile's voice and the heat coming from producer Mannie Fresh's tracks. Why 400 Degreez? Let Juvenile explain. The area I come from, they call it the hot block, when the police come, they draw the heat,and i'm a hot boy so that 400 degreez was perfect because that is the boiling point. Besides, given the amount of bubbling bass lines, steamy rhythms and scorching lyrical content that this CD packs, the album couldn't be called anything else. Till next time -Peace out
Juvenilez Police Recordz!!!
(1/31/03, 1 p.m. ET) -- New Orleans-based rapper Juvenile (Terius Gray) and three other men were arrested during a traffic stop in New Orleans on Wednesday (January 29). The rapper and Darrell Mitchell, 30, Alvin Gus, 29, and Morris Pete, 39, were arrested when they were pulled over during an insurance check by police at 11:15 a.m. CT at the intersection of Bienville Street and Claiborne Avenue.
Police smelled the strong scent of marijuana when the rented 2003 Lincoln Town Car proceeded through the checkpoint, according to reports. After pulling over the vehicle, officers found two marijuana cigarettes burning in the ashtray. Police also discovered small amounts of marijuana on Gus, who was driving, and Pete, who was in the back seat. According to New Orleans police department spokesman Sergeant Paul Accardo, a small amount of cocaine was also discovered in the trunk.
All four men were booked and charged with marijuana and cocaine possession. Juvenile was out on bail as of press time, while the other three men were still awaiting for bail to be set.
Juvenile has had his share of run-ins with the police. The rapper was arrested and charged with simple battery and simple burglary in September of 2002 in New Orleans. The arrest stemmed from an incident in May of 2002 when Juvenile allegedly punched his barber, Bert Williams, and then two unidentified associates of the rapper took $200 from Williams's pockets. According to police, Juvenile and Williams got into an argument because Williams has allegedly bootlegged copies of Juvenile's upcoming album from an advance CD he'd received from the rapper.
In March of 2001, Juvenile was charged with aggravated battery with a bottle, battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest without violence in Miami. According to a police report, two witnesses claimed to have seen Juvenile assault Jackson Saint Ange, 28, with a bottle of Moet when the two had a heated exchange outside of the Improv Comedy Club.
(6/27/01, 7 a.m. ET) -- Rapper Juvenile was hit with a $5 million lawsuit by Jackson Saintagne, the man the rapper allegedly hit in the head with a champagne bottle during an altercation at the Improv Comedy Club in Miami on March 28. Juvenile was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a bottle, battery on a law-enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest without violence following the incident. The rapper was released on $17,000 bail and has subsequently entered a plea of not guilty.
Saintagne's attorney Andrew Boros said that his client has been hospitalized several times since the incident. Juvenile's attorney Morton Fry insists that his client is innocent. Witnesses have suggested that Saintagne may have provoked the rapper by being disrespectful to him during the comedy show.
(7/25/00, 4 p.m. ET) - Juvenile was arrested for five counts of aggravated assault and three counts of simple battery. The 25-year-old rapper was arrested at 4:46 a.m. Thursday (July 20) by officers from the Mandeville (Louisiana) Police Department responding to a 911 call.
When officers arrived on the scene, they say they found five females standing in front of the residence of the person who called 911. The females told police that they were from New Orleans and were picked up by Juvenile to dance at his housewarming party, police say. Juvenile and the girls were in Juvenile's kitchen when water began leaking from the ceiling, according to the police report. Juvenile went upstairs to locate the leak and discovered that the water had been running in the bathtub and had overflowed, according to the police report.
The females told police that Juvenile became enraged and demanded to know who left the water running, according to the police report. When none of the females claimed responsibility, Juvenile allegedly became verbally and physically abusive toward them, according to the police report.
Juvenile allegedly shoved three of the females to the ground and threatened to shoot them for causing the damage, according to the police report. The females say they never saw him with a gun, however, according to the police report. But the females did tell police that he armed himself with what appeared to be an ice pick and again threatened them, according to the police report. The females fled the residence on foot and said they heard Juvenile tell them that he would "take care of them," according to the police report.
The rapper was found guilty of several misdemeanors after chasing five strippers down the street with an "ice pick", after they let a tub over flow in his house during a housewarming party. And grabbing a police officer. He faces charges of aggravated battery, battery on law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
...This Is So Sad, Juvenilez Close Friend Died, Remalas Gray...
(9/27/01, 4 p.m. ET) - New Orleans-based rapper Juvenile is currently on his Set It Off tour promoting his new album, Project English, and his red hot new single, "Set It Off," but on Tuesday morning (September 25) the rapper's close friend Remalas Gray, 19, was found dead in his Oklahoma City hotel room. Gray had been traveling with Juvenile on the tour, and his body was discovered by Juvenile's brother Kenneth Landix Jr. In a statement, Juvenile's manager Aubrey Francis listed Gray's cause of death as a diabetic seizure, and added, "Juvenile is totally devastated."
Juvenile, i-squad
CASH MONEY RECORDS
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