Juvenile – Interview [2006]

Terius Gray may call himself Juvenile, but he is no young buck when it comes to the music business. The New Orleans native has been consistently putting it down for fifteen years. He has released eight albums which have spawned some of rap’s most popular club hits, started his own UTP label imprint, and unbeknownst to many, laid the foundation for hip-hop’s southern revolution.

Now, with years of experience under his belt, Juvenile returns with Reality Check, his seventh solo album and Atlantic debut. “This is my best album,” says Juvenile. “I’m doing things I never would have done before. I’m making beats, engineering, storytelling. I’m not just rapping; I’m doing everything.”

Featuring guest artists Ludacris, Trey Songz, 8Ball, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Brian McKnight and others, Reality Check is Juvenile’s most well-rounded album to date. “I’m in the club like crazy on this one. All of the songs can be singles, no fillers.” On “Here I Come Again,” Juvenile tries his skill over a reggae-influenced track that features Rupee, for a whole new feel. But there are still songs like “Drop Down,” featuring Skip and Wacko, that give Juve’s core audience exactly what they want, that signature Juvenile cut.

We chat with Juve as he hits Detroit for the Super Bowl.

HIP: What brings you to Detroit?

Juvenile: We got a concert up here.

Are you going to the Super Bowl or just going to hang out and party?

I like to watch the game—but I just might tailgate. I might have to bring over the bus, get me a parking spot and pull out the grill and do it like that.

Tailgating is a lot of fun.

Tailgating is just as fun as being at the Super Bowl. It’s more fun! (Laughs)

I grew up in Buffalo. They know how to tailgate there.

Oh yeah.

JUVENILE

And you know we’re a little crazy because it’ll be a little cold.

A little cold? I’m talking about freezing. (We both laugh) You be freezing like a mother—

How much did the hurricane affect you as a person?

You learn to appreciate things a little better. You know? All the monuments in my city you pass them up all the time and don’t pay them no mind. And now a lot of the places we’ve been and things we did you don’t know the value until you lose them. That’s a reality check.

Did it piss you off that people were talking about New Orleans as being not worth rebuilding?

Of course it pisses me off. But you know what? We know that it’s going to come back. We just want to make sure we’re involved in it.

The whole Saints thing possibly moving and stuff had to piss you off, too.

I used to like the Saints—a lot—but after what the owner tried to pull this year I’m skeptical.

If he doesn’t want to stay there maybe New Orleans can get someone who does.

That’s exactly what I’m saying.

By now you’re an old pro. How did this album differ?

I’m more well rounded. I’ve got more features. I guess I’m getting all that out at one time. I’ve got some big bangers on it like Ludacris, Fat Joe, Paul Wall, Brian McKnight, R. Kelly. The list is long, man.

Did the album feel different when you started working on it?

Yeah. I’ve been working on the album for about a year but when the hurricane hit it changed everything. That made a big difference and then I worked with different producers.

Calling the album Reality Check can insinuate a lot of things. The hurricane, growing older, and the music what did it mean to you?

The album is a reality check. It’s for the people. It’s for us. It’s something we need, have, and are going through right now. It’s me doing an album but its not a for Juve album—its’ for the people.

“Rodeo” sounds like you—but the song sounds different from what you’ve done before.

That’s just straight up to motivate women.

How much did you work on the beats and engineering?

This whole album was engineered by me. My input is strong on this album. Compared to back in the days to now I pretty much control it.

How did you put together the beats?

Sometimes you just make beats and don’t think about the rhymes until afterwards. Sometimes I’ll hear a beat some other cat has and I like it. Sometimes the beat inspires what I’m going to say. So the song is just about where you at and what you’re thinking about.

I saw the bio was written in June so was the album done in the spring?

Yeah, but I went back and started working again after the hurricane.

JUVENILE

How many tracks did you end up changing?

We recorded about fifty songs. We just went through and picked the best ones.

Will you get those tracks out?

They will. I won’t waste nothing. I’ll get them out one way or another.

Finally, I was listening to my iPod today and had some old school hip-hop and I was wondering what old school artist you wish would come back.

Rakim.

I wish I could get some new Easy-E stuff myself.

Well the sun’s coming out—you might get it. (We both laugh)

[ed. note: Juvenile predicted that Pittsburgh would win.]

+ Charlie Craine