Vevo just dropped the mic on their latest Ctrl series installment, and it’s packing some serious Southern heat. Enter Juvenile and Mannie Fresh—two titans of New Orleans hip-hop—who are stepping back into the spotlight with a double feature performance of their classic bangers, “Back That Azz Up” and “Party,” premiering today.
Vevo’s Ctrl series isn’t just another platform for music—it’s a high-octane showcase that puts the raw energy and talent of today’s most impactful artists front and center. Whether they’re emerging voices or industry veterans, these performers don’t just make music; they make statements. And who better to do that than Juvenile and Mannie Fresh, whose collaboration in the late ‘90s redefined the sound of Southern rap?
For the uninitiated, Juvenile—born Terius Gray—was one of the pioneers of New Orleans’ bounce music, a frenetic blend of gangster rap and party vibes that took the early ‘90s by storm. His 1997 entry into Cash Money Records marked the beginning of an era, with his debut Solja Rags laying the groundwork for what would become a legendary career. But it was his 1998 album, 400 Degreez, and its explosive single “Back That Azz Up,” produced by Mannie Fresh, that catapulted Juvenile into the mainstream, solidifying his place as a Southern rap icon.
Mannie Fresh, the production mastermind behind much of Cash Money’s early success, didn’t just create beats—he crafted anthems. As one-half of Big Tymers, alongside Birdman, Mannie dropped hit after hit, eventually stepping out on his own with The Mind of Mannie Fresh in 2004. His collaboration with Juvenile has been the stuff of legend, and their 2012 reunion on Juvenile’s album Rejuvenation proved that their chemistry is as potent as ever.
Now, the duo is back at it, bringing that same magic to Vevo’s Ctrl series. With a performance that’s equal parts nostalgia and pure, unfiltered energy, Juvenile and Mannie Fresh are reminding everyone why they’ve been running the game for over two decades. Don’t sleep on this one—Vevo’s Ctrl just got a whole lot hotter.
