Where was you when you first heard “Ha”? I remember the first time I heard the lead single from New Orleans rapper Juvenile. Months prior to hearing the song blaring from the speakers of a car on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University, I would see ads for the up-coming label Cash Money records in copies of The Source and XXL and I knew that Juvenile’s album 400 Degreez was on the way. But this whole movement was rather new to me and many across the globe at the time.
For those us from up-North, Juvie was a new name. If you were from the South and fan of Southern rap at the time, then you knew of Juvenile, B.G., Lil Wayne and Turk. As a group, the Hot Boyz we’re becoming the Southern equivalent of N.W.A. Young, brash and fresh from the streets. The won over their region with ease, selling numerous copies of their first album Get It How U Live!
The success of the crew would eventually win a deal for Cash Money with Universal records. The first album as part of that deal would be 400 Degreez.
Shortly after it’s release, it would spawn several hit singles including “Ha” and “Back that Azz Up”. The album would go on to sell more than 4 million copies.
In honor of the albums 20th anniversary, stream Juvenile’s major label debut 400 Degreez below.