Juvenile just dropped an unexpected piece of early-2000s hip-hop history, revealing that he played a key part in helping 50 Cent land his deal with Eminem and Shady Records.
In a recent interview with Nyla Symone, the New Orleans rapper shared how he stepped in to help 50 after the rapper was shot nine times and struggled to find studio access in New York — with most people refusing to work with him.
“I got 50 Cent his record deal with Eminem,” Juvenile said. “Ask 50, he’ll tell you, yeah, Juve was the one. 50 couldn’t really go to the studio at the time, and I was one of the first cats with a studio bus, so I let him record on my bus — him, [Tony] Yayo, and [Lloyd] Banks.”
Juvenile went on to explain that while Eminem was in town shooting a D12 video, he got invited to the set and decided to bring along Sha Money XL, one of the key players in 50’s early career.
“When I went over there with Sha Money, my first thing was telling him the type of music Em doing and the type of music 50 doing with the diss thing […] that’s going to work if he go with him. And it worked.”
He also pointed out that 50 Cent gave him his flowers in his book, adding, “In his book he gives me my credit. I always tell people — ask 50.”
Juvenile’s behind-the-scenes role also sheds light on how Nashville rapper Young Buck found his way into G-Unit. Though Buck was initially affiliated with Cash Money in the late ’90s, he later joined Juvenile’s UTP label in 2000, releasing music under the imprint before appearing on 50 Cent’s 2003 classic Get Rich or Die Tryin’. When Tony Yayo went to jail, Buck officially became a core member of G-Unit, playing a major part in the group’s Beg for Mercy album.
More recently, Juvenile hit the stage for the Cash Money vs. No Limit Verzuz battle at ComplexCon, where he told TMZ Hip Hop that performing his timeless hit “Slow Motion” was one of the night’s highlights.
While appearing at Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It booth, the New Orleans legend said it meant a lot to bring his city’s brass-heavy energy to the Vegas crowd — especially as it gave him the chance to honor his late friend and collaborator, Soulja Slim.
