Juvenile has made his case for being one of the best rappers of all time by putting 400 Degreez up against JAY-Z and Nas‘ best efforts.
In an interview with HoodClips, the Cash Money Records legend argued that to be considered an all-time great in Hip Hop, an MC must have hit records in addition to talent on the mic.
“Some of those cats [up north], they got their own definition of what they call Hip Hop, and Southern Hip Hop just don’t fit the bill at certain points,” he said.
“Look, man, some of the best rappers — they got some muthafuckas that can rap they ass off but can’t make a fucking hit. [Being] the best rapper in the world don’t mean nothing if you ain’t got no fucking hits!”
Juvie then boldly challenged listeners to pick their favorite JAY-Z and Nas album and compare their sales to that of his classic 1998 LP 400 Degreez.
“Go check the numbers. N-ggas always talk about, ‘Nas da-da-da. JAY-Z da-da-da.’ Okay, who sold the most records? I think that’s what counts, right?” he continued.
“Let’s see who sold the most records on each solo album. Pick your best Nas album, pick your best JAY-Z album. I’ma take 400 [Degreez] and you tell me who sold the most on their solo album.”
He added: “I’m telling you, numbers don’t lie […] Go pull up Billboard numbers for all-time record sales per album, and see where all these Hip Hop heads that you love so much, see where they rank at.
“I posted it one time ’cause I wanted people to see it. Just go pull that up and see where your all-time favorite rapper is, ’cause I think a lot of them got it fucked up.”
Juvenile is partly correct. 400 Degreez has been certified four-times platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), meaning it has sold at least four million copies in the U.S. alone.
Hov’s Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, also released in 1998, is currently six-times platinum, while The Black Album is also quadruple platinum.
Outside of his solo catalog, his 2011 collaboration with Kanye West, Watch the Throne, has sold at least five million units domestically, according to the RIAA.
Nas, on the other hand, has never surpassed more than three million sales for a single album, with It Was Written being his highest-certified release at triple platinum.
Juvenile previously made headlines for JAY-Z-related comments when he dismissed the idea that the Roc Nation mogul is the greatest rapper of all time, arguing that the crown instead belongs to his former Hot Boys groupmate Lil Wayne.
When asked about Weezy’s own belief that Jigga is the best MC to ever grace the mic, the New Orleans native replied: “We’ve argued over the years. He say JAY-Z the G.O.A.T., I say he the G.O.A.T. My lil’ bro the greatest rapper of all time. He know how I feel about that.”
Damn I love Juvie but 2 things he forgot. First, Jay outsold him with Vol 2 and Black album. Secondly it’s about consistency. Juvenile did 8 million records for his career, and 400 degrees is like 2/3 of that number. Nas is 20 million+ and Jay-Z is at 45 million.
I like Juve, but numers do lie. Statistics are bs. Sold copies, hits, streams, views – those people care about these things who only scratch the surface. Btw 400 Degreez is a great album and most of his LPs are good including the ones with the Hot Boys and UTP. Nas and Jay-Z are extremely overrated. They are good, they have some good songs, some good albums, but extremely overrated. HipHop is still an artform and these rappers should set up new aims to reach like where could an artist take hiphop where it remains hiphop, they should push their lyrical limits, stortelling skills, expand vocabulary etc. Who sold the most? LOL. What are you? A stock broker or an artist?
It’s a great album…but there’s several albums from Nas and Jay that are way better
Can’t say i’ve ever properly taken to southern rap. Juv’s argument ain’t worth shit there’s been a wave of southern artist pumping out new trash and have been dominating sales like forever. Plus Lil Wayne ain’t an mc he a rapper
U lost it on Wayne not being an MC
Wayne is definitely an MC, bruh.
I agree. Wayne aint no MC. I seen him live and he’s ass and belongs in a studio. Jim Jones puts on a better show.
To be fair, it was kinda hard not to sell millions of records in hiphop in 1998.
Hiphop was at an all-time high record sales wise during that period.
The majority of rappers were on their A game.
400 Degrees was a great album but he has Jay-Z to thank for the sales, as the song HA didn’t really take off like it did until Jay-Z hopped on the remix. He then followed with back that a$$ up which was another smash but not as big as HA. That song was everywhere.
To be fair, it was kinda hard not to sell millions of records in hiphop in 1998.
Hiphop was at an all-time high record sales wise during that period.
The majority of rappers were on their A game.
400 Degrees was a great album but he has Jay-Z to thank for the sales, as the song HA didn’t really take off like it did until Jay-Z hopped on the remix. He then followed with back that a$$ up which was another smash but not as big as HA. That song was everywhere.
To be fair, it was kinda hard not to sell millions of records in hiphop in 1998.
Hiphop was at an all-time high record sales wise during that period.
The majority of rappers were on their A game.
400 Degrees was a great album but he has Jay-Z to thank for the sales, as the song HA didn’t really take off like it did until Jay-Z hopped on the remix. He then followed with back that a$$ up which was another smash but not as big as HA. That song was everywhere.
Ha was hot way before Jay jump on the remix. Jay jumped on it because it was hot. Most people don’t even remember the remix with Jay on it and back that azz up was and is a way hotter song that Ha in terms of commercial success. I prefer Ha but back that azz is one of the biggest rap songs ever.
Facts
It probably is Cash Money’s greatest album over any of Wayne or Drake’s shits. It was a bonified classic.
Can’t lie, that was the first down south hood album I remember checking. But respectfully it’s nowhere close to Jay and Nas mid albums, definitely not their classics.
bruhhh you know how much bullshit sells in America? so what you did numbers… it doesn’t necessarily mean your album is good… lol
Saying numbers makes you a goat is like saying McDonalds is fine dining. It’s not JUST about numbers, bruh.
So the ones who sell the most are the best?! Holy hell, he’s an adult and believes this?? Jay-Z has way more hits that Juve. Hell, even Nas has more hits and Nas isn’t a guy who sells a crazy amount of albums.
Juvie’s 400 degrees album was dope but he needs to really credit Mannie Fresh for those beats. Juvie never made another hot album afterwards. Nas made like six albums (King Disease and Magic) within three year span and they’re all light years better than 400 degrees. Nas has sold well over $20+ million albums worldwide. I am not even going to talk about Jay Z because Juvie needs to not even say his name. Jay could buy the entire Cash Money albums and still be a billionaire 2x over.
Fuck is he sniffing? First his math is way off. Jay and Nas sold way more than him. Bangers? Wtf does that mean? Jay and Nas don’t have bangers????
Ok ok, tell Juvie check the quality of of his albums, yes you have some sales congratulations but 20 years later no one is looking forward to a new Juvie album 🤔 where as Nas and Jay always have fans anticipating their next album, so Juvie check your quality, skill and most of all your LONGEVITY