Because he doesn’t stray from his usual themes, Cocky & Confident isn’t going to speak to anyone who lacks patience with coarse language and ghetto themes. Still, what sets Juvie apart besides his song sense is the matter-of-fact quality of his flow. He doesn’t deliver “We Be Gettin’ Money” or “Top of the Line” as boasts; he presents them as the truth. He’s not celebrating or doing the equivalent of an end zone celebration; he raps as if he’s been there before.
That same measured quality extends to the nature of his songs. They’re ghetto-centric, but they’re not necessarily tales of crime and violence, which so often invite listeners to doubt the song and all its claims. Unlike Atlanta’s crunk crew that can’t get away from strip clubs, Juvenile doesn’t concern himself with what getting paid can get him. Instead, the songs have a zen quality as they celebrate the experience of being in a good place, admittedly by his standards.
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