In an interview with HoodClips, Juvenile confidently declared that his classic 1998 album, ‘400 Degreez,’ surpasses the best works of JAY-Z and Nas in terms of sales.
Juvenile, a Cash Money Records legend, argued that to be considered among Hip Hop’s all-time greats, an MC needs hit records as well as lyrical talent. He suggested that Southern Hip Hop often gets overlooked by those who have their own definitions of the genre.
Speaking about other top rappers, Juvenile stated, “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 emphasized that being a great rapper is not just about skills but also about having hit records. “The best rapper in the world don’t mean nothing if you ain’t got no hits!” he exclaimed.
Juvenile then challenged fans to compare their favorite JAY-Z and Nas albums to ‘400 Degreez.’ He urged listeners to “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?” According to him, record sales are a crucial measure of success.
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.” Juvenile was adamant that the numbers speak for themselves. “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,” he added.
‘400 Degreez’ has been certified four-times platinum by the RIAA, translating to over four million copies sold in the U.S. alone. Meanwhile, JAY-Z’s ‘Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life’ is six-times platinum, and ‘The Black Album’ also boasts quadruple platinum status. His collaboration with Kanye West, ‘Watch the Throne,’ has sold at least five million units.
Nas, on the other hand, has never achieved more than three million sales for a single album. His highest-certified release, ‘It Was Written,’ is triple platinum. Juvenile started a conversation around these numbers, suggesting that many hip-hop fans might have misconceptions about their favorite artists’ commercial success.
Juvenile has also sparked debates before, notably when he dismissed the idea of JAY-Z being the greatest rapper. He believes that title belongs to his former Hot Boys groupmate, Lil Wayne. When asked about Lil Wayne’s take that JAY-Z is the best MC, Juvenile said, “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.”
Juvenile’s bold statements have undeniably stirred the pot, inviting fans to re-evaluate the metrics by which they judge Hip Hop greatness. While numbers don’t tell the entire story, they certainly add an interesting dimension to the ongoing debate.
