Did You Know? Juvenile Didn’t Like His Hit Single "Back That Azz Up" at First

It’s hard to imagine a hip-hop party without hearing Juvenile’s iconic 1999 hit “Back That Azz Up.” The song became a Southern anthem, helped define an era of Cash Money Records, and remains one of the most recognizable tracks in rap history. But what most people don’t know is that Juvenile actually didn’t like the song at first.

During the recording process, Juvenile and producer Mannie Fresh went back and forth in the studio, re-recording the track four different times. Juvenile was hesitant about the direction of the song — he didn’t want to be labeled as an artist who only made “booty-shaking” music. At the time, he wanted to be respected as a lyricist and a “real rapper.”

However, Mannie Fresh saw something special in the record. He believed that the song had massive potential and could change the game for both Juvenile and Cash Money. Mannie’s faith in the track never wavered — he even took creative control by changing the intro, which would later become one of the most recognizable openings in hip-hop history.

When “Back That Azz Up” finally dropped, it exploded. The track not only became Juvenile’s biggest hit but also helped usher in a new era for Southern rap, putting New Orleans firmly on the hip-hop map. Decades later, the song remains a timeless classic — a record that still gets crowds moving from the first note.

In the end, Mannie Fresh’s vision proved right. What Juvenile once resisted became the defining anthem of his career — a reminder that sometimes the hits artists resist the most are the ones that make history.