Steve 'Flash' JuonUndoubtedly, if you’re reading this review, you already know the steez: of the Cash Money Millionaires. Juvenile is the one with the most distinctive voice, best lyrics, and Mannie Fresh never comes short on his beats. Last time around, Juvenile lit a big fat one on the hip-hop charts and blazed cuts like “Ha”, “Follow Me”, and most notably “Back Dat Azz Up”.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is his sophomore album though – Juvenile ain’t no youngster. Before he blew up on a national level, Juveezy already had several records out on Cash Money in N’Awleans. Most of them have been re-released by now but then most of them don’t hold a candle to “400 Degreez” and the new album “Tha G-Code”. On the latter, his newest release, the beats and rhymes are coming even tighter than ever. Starting with the lead single “U Understand” things are immediately rocking and bouncing – and the hook at the end of each line won’t be found nearly as annoying as “Ha” became to a whole click of Southern rap haters and naysayers.
More than that though, Mannie Fresh rocks all kinds of grooves throughout that make this one listenable from beginning to end while on the last one the temptation was to skip right to the club/radio hits. The repeat play of songs like “A Million and One Things”, “Take Them 5”, “Something Got 2 Shake”, “Da Magnolia”, “Lil Boyz”, “Never Had Shit” and “Tha Man” is extra tight – and with raps like “I be cool at all times and acknowledge, when I’m wrong/shit I went through in the past got my game real strong/I’m not the smartest motherfucker walkin/but I can tell a fake motherfucker when he talkin,” on “The Man” you can’t help but respect his game. You’ll undoubtedly be familiar with the topic matter (drugs, money, and the hustle) but Juvenile’s charisma and honesty push him apart from the pack.
Simply put, it’s hard to hate on the CMM’s when they push something this tight. The problem is that Juvenile is so good, he tends to embarass his fellow Hot Boys (esp. Lil’ Wayne) in terms of talent and cohesiveness of his album. Them Boys could take a few notes from what Juvenile does right and study up. Even the experimental tracks like “March Nigga Step” and “Catch Your Cut” come tight. Skip A through F in the record bin and go straight to Tha G. You’ll be glad you did.