Take note: Master P and his family aren't the only New Orleans cats who are 'bout it, 'bout it. In '96, rapper Juvenile pushed 200,000 units of his second LP, Solja Rag, creating a success story that helped his Cash Money Records ink a deal with a major label earlier this year. On his third album, joined by label mates Big Tymers, B.G. and Hot Boyz, Juvenile sticks to his hitmaking crew's gumbo recipe of funk. On the consistent 400 Degreez, his gruff, clear vocals are merged with producer Manny Fresh's roaming bass lines, catchy keyboard riffs and rattling drum-machine kicks. Songs like the ashy-to-classy tales of hustling ("Gone Ride With Me," "Ghetto Children") rise above the album's few lackluster moments (the spacey title track and the Forrest Gump-inspired "Run for It") to provide a potent platter on par with the efforts of that other N'awlins hip-hop label. (RS 801)

ELLIOTT WILSON