Being Myself

Released in 1995 on Warlock Records, Being Myself is Juvenile's second studio album and a crucial precursor to his breakout success with Cash Money Records. Recorded before the high-gloss production of Mannie Fresh became his signature backdrop, this album features a much rawer, lo-fi aesthetic that leans heavily into the traditional New Orleans bounce sound. The lyrical content is deeply rooted in the social realities of the 3rd Ward, touching on themes of drug addiction, systemic poverty, and street survival with a level of grit that was somewhat smoothed over in his later pop-crossover hits. While it lacks the massive commercial singles of 400 Degreez, it is highly regarded by hip-hop historians for its uncompromising portrayal of the NOLA underground. The album showcases the early development of Juvenile's staccato, nasal delivery, which would eventually become one of the most imitated flows in rap history.