For the NPR staple, the New Orleans rapper along with producer Mannie Fresh drew out the steamy old-soul roots of Southern rap, with help from some special guests.
On the cusp of a Fourth of July weekend likely to leave many young Americans freshly panicked about student debt and other ills, let Juvenile lift your spirits instead.
The 48-year-old New Orleans rapper — an elder-millennial favorite for tacks like “Slow Motion” and “Back That Azz Up” — came through with the set of the summer for his Tiny Desk concert. Alongside legendary Cash Money producer Mannie Fresh, he enlisted a cracking live band and horn section for a 10-song set to remind fans of the deep jazz, R&B and soul roots of Southern rap.
Although scores of major stars have passed through the Tiny Desk studios (Usher spawned a meme ecosystem out his performance), Juvenile’s appearance on the NPR staple was largely ginned up by fan demand.
