Juelz Santana: The Game’s Most Improved


“Man, Juelz sucks. That nigga can’t rap!”
Yep, that used to be me. For years, I’ve defecated on Santana’s rhyme book. Although I enjoyed some posse cuts (“Dip Set Anthem”, “I’m Ready”) and tolerated his Back Like Cooked Crack mixtape, Elz’s raps were tainted with onomatopoeias and  incoherence.

These days, things are much different.With his album Born To Lose, Built To Win dropping later this year, Santana’s been feeding the streets with savory guest verses and freestyles. He eclipses Lloyd Banks on “Beamer, Benz, Or Bentley” ( I got a girl named cigar, call her that because she Cuban/ Got a black chick that be boostin’/Got a white girl that be boofin‘) then skillfully commandeers Snoop’s “I Wanna Rock” and Drake’s “Forever“.

As for his singles, “Back To The Crib” is a smash and “Home Run“‘ a lead-off hitter. Hey Mr. DJ, can “Mixin’ Up The Medicine” get some TLC? There’s no doubt that Santana’s stepped his rap game up. And if Born To Lose holds up, Bandana can die a winner. A!

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  1. Incilin says:

    Couldn’t agree more. Ever since Juelz verse on Wayne’s “Nothing On Me” I just looked at differently.

  2. HUSH P. says:

    Always had it. He wss weilding his style, building his lane. Now when u hear him its no ?whether or not its a good record.

  3. Rhyme says:

    I agree, but son cant write a full songs by himself though.
    Elz bars are there, but solo’s not so much.

  4. NR>RR says:

    B. Dot and YN are DICKRIDERS. How much did def jam have to pay you for this post? Any real fan of Juelz Santana will tell you that he has gradually gotten WORSE since about 2006. Banks owns him on Beemer Benz or Bentley but u prally only listened to the song once, so u wouldn’t know. Take ur nose out of the industry’s ass and listen to some music

  5. Chris Franco says:

    Great post, B. Dot. I enjoyed Juelz’s debut album, but feel he has improved a TON. If ya’ll get a chance, check my interview with Juelz Santana: http://tiny.cc/GaUMn

  6. iceyjesse says:

    ya he’s good now especially his tracks from last year from the i cant feel my face album leaks like “Rockstar”, “Rewind”, and “Rap Cemetary” and “One Arm” that shit was ill

  7. Killerchris2k8 says:

    @NR>RR I couldn’t agree more. LJ’s current material is trash. I used to be a big fan but the music has just gotten worse not better. I almost feel like RR is really getting a check from Def Jam. Any real fan and listener of his knows this. Step ya game up LJ.

  8. B.Dot says:

    ^
    ain’t no1 getting a check, so stop it. i been biggin up santana improvement since october.

    https://rapradar.com/2009/10/20/new-music-trey-songz-ft-juelz-santana-x-fabolous-say-aah-remix/

    the music’s gotten better plain and simple.

  9. Jeffro says:

    How can you even say that his songs are good? Rhyming the same word three times in a row, in songs about benzes, bentleys, etc is just plain boring. I would say that he is better than someone who doesn’t rap, but how could you compare him to rappers like Jay Elec? Or Nas? Or Hov? Or even off the radar dudes like Yelawolf? I mean come one, saying you call a girl a cigar because she is cuban is like a 4th grade simile….B Dot, you need to improve your posts and step up your game!

  10. NR>RR says:

    the music’s gotten better plain and simple.

    ^^^

    they get fly, i am fly is better music? Answer this B, have u even listened to a Juelz Santana album or mixtape before he got on with Wayne? Or any of the original diplomat mixtapes? cause now he’s just talking the money bullshit with no substance. And if ur using that as an argument maybe I should b posting here instead

  11. JohnBlack says:

    Are u being sarcastic? Cause i can’t seem to figure it out. I like Juelz as much as the next man but to say that he has improved let alone “The game’s Most improved” is just ridiculous. He still uses the same rhyme pattern, no evolution in that aspect. Could you point me to some lyrical gems that I’m missing. Cause all I heard from him lately is straight cubic zirconium.

  12. Mark says:

    these random congratulatory posts are suspect,santana has nothing to promote,has only dropped a few verses of late but you see fit to big him up.
    not arguing with your point,just feel its part of the current problem with rr,somethings fishy and the site is moving away from what made it what made it good in the beginning.

  13. B.Dot says:

    @NR>RR

    Of course i have. I still own Diplomat Vol.1 with Oh Boy on there. Anyway, Santana was spewing nonsense back in the day “boo-boo-gang-choo-choo-train”? stop it. His flow is more crisp and rhymes are sharper than b4.

  14. jamdawham says:

    I thought juelz came weak on BBB. “U missing ya proof like D12” still love dat nigga raps tho.

  15. NR > RR says:

    It’s watered down and apparant how he’s tryin to sell out to reach Wayne status

  16. HipHopSnob says:

    Damn B.dot,u done got Industrialized my nigga lol….I agree with NR > RR,I never liked Juelz as a Rapper so maybe I’m biased

  17. B.Dot says:

    ^
    Psssh, I’m in-da-streets. That’s what an op-ed is. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. But i think he’s gotten better from his earlier days…especially as of late.

  18. mac DIESEL says:

    @ B. Dot

    CAN U BE THE GAME’S MOST IMPROVED AND STILL BE WACK???

    DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!!

  19. Jeffro says:

    haha, I like that you’re “in the streets” B Dot…probably about as much as me, and I’m an IT Recruiter in Connecticut. Juelz rhymes are shallow, he never learned to swim. I have a bunch of his songs on my ipod, but they’re only on there incase some ladies want to hear Hot 97 type rap…otherwise its trash rap to me. What really has improved though? He still rhymes terrible, his “forever” remix is absolutely terrible…I mean come on bro…do you really want to go on record as saying he is improved when all he speaks about is women and how much money he has? Thats the antithesis of what people want right now…we want substance, we want to believe rappers when they say something….come harder or go back to being an aggregate blogger.

    easy.

  20. Jeffro says:

    or have Elliot hire me if he wants a real opinion.

  21. B.Dot says:

    ^
    Well, If i’m not in bed-stuy or south side queens, i’m at Rap Radar mansion. Peace Connecticut. I never billed Julez as the best rapper. What i said was that he’s improved a lot since his early days. If you listened to his current stuff, I can’t see how u can disagree. And oh yeah, I loathe the term “blogger”.

  22. NotoriousRambo says:

    WHERES THE REAGAN-ERA MIXTAPE???

  23. Barry Washington says:

    While Juelz has improved I would say that the undisputed most improved in the game would have to go to Rick Ross.

  24. Tha Advakit says:

    I’m sure he has a ghostwriter.

  25. Deangelobailey says:

    My lil sister use to bump santana. I’d trash him cuz his stuff was elementary but so was she so it made sense. Nice to see his progression.

  26. raspberry-lime says:

    the shot of JS is appropriate.

  27. Interscope Employee says:

    Yall niggaz backwards…………

    From Me 2 U > Whats The Games Been Missing

  28. herbsaac says:

    Juelz album with the song concrete jungle bumps so hard.. Cam’ron is still waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy doper than Juelz Santana.. Especially after the great, great showing that Cam’ron put on during the “boss of all bosses part 2” mixtape.. If Juelz can even have a cd that goes as smoothly and with raps as clever as cam’s..(yes i said as clever as cams) then maybe juelz deserves some props.. these little songs with R&B artists dont do it for me like they do for you bdot.. Clock work was a classic song as well as juelz on Oh Boy.. Bdot get your knowledge up.. I need a asection on this site dedicated to me.. my knowledge of main artists in the game is superior to most.. haha jk..(no im serious) ( I got a girl named cigar, call her that because she Cuban/ Got a black chick that be boostin’/Got a white girl that be boofin‘) and that rap does not showcase Juelz as anything more than average at best.. I would say slightly below average with this rap as an example **smh**

  29. Frontrunner says:

    I like juelz, but further I appreciate YN and BDot stating their opinion…I see the kind of response you get when its done and I see why others like NahRight rarely do it…and it doesnt sound paid for to me…

  30. C. Baines says:

    Once again the iArmy of the hip hop community says that you’re a dickrider if you like something. “oh, you like bananas?! Aww, you a dickrider for Chiquita!”

  31. SR says:

    Santana isnt just the most improved hes the best in the game

    nas?? juelz tears nas and nashawn to shreds in the freestyle over champions beat

    hov?? please that old man has been old since day one elz destroys him too in several songs like the we fly high freestyle

    not to mention he spits way better than wayne jus check out the number one spot freestyle

    right now everyone tinks wayne n young money r sick but wayne n drake r the only thing that is keepin that group up
    wayne writes for EVERYONE on YM except for drake

    people always say skull gang is wacc but there pretty good and atleast they all write their own shit

    this is how i see the game right now top 3
    1.Juelz
    2.Gillie Da kid
    3.Reed Dollaz

    i know wayne dont want me to mention gillie haha

  32. Barry Washington says:

    ^
    Can this comment go into the “you played yourself” section?

  33. young 23 says:

    youre a fagot why u riding his dickk now becuz of the songhe got with banks i bet soo as he make a wack song u be a hater again Juelz always been Nice Check S.D.E and his first mixtape that 1st album was trash to me he went plat becuz of bitchez B dot is a bitch now pull ya skirt up rapradar be dead now i thought ya had shyt 1st

  34. Real Talk says:

    People get crazy…
    Juelz has always been nice he was usually overshadowed by the entire Dipset movement. If u listen to his most recent joints i.e. I Wanna Rock Freestyle and his verse on BBB, he definately murdered the tracks. Lately he’s been hitting it EVERY time! I Can’t Feel My Face should have dropped like it was supposed to cuz Juelz was the only dude who could fuck with Wayne like that. He’s def got nicer…

    …and B.Dot, how dudes be trying to clown u on your own site, y’all don’t like it u could keep the crazy negativity moving…

  35. Rakim Aallah says:

    Gotta say, Juelz has improved significantly.

    Most improved? Not sure. But easily up there.

    Has the ability to become on the elite rappers out there, remarkable how he’s still so young. Been around for ages.

  36. nirus xhonda says:

    JUELZ BEING on is crazy rhyming spree i cant even lie he be eating weezy on them tracks sometimes he cold on most tracks.

  37. Elliot says:

    I was gonna give it to rick ross but paul would have fired me

  38. dajumpoff44 says:

    He is still wack!!!And no he does not out shine Banks on Beamer!rapradar,ya buggin!!!

  39. Em Jones says:

    Stop it PLEASE! This dude juelz did the opposite of what u said he mos definantly feel off, all crazy.

  40. young dizzy says:

    Juelz fell off. He used to spit that shit that would get you hype, ready to spazz out. The energy is just not there anymore. his stuff from ’03 to ’07 was much better. His last cd came out like damn near 5yrs ago. Him and wayne were neck and neck for a while , then poof he was gone. He came back but the energy is gone. Black democrat was them at their best. No wonder cam stopped fuckin with him. He was the heir to the throne prince juelz. Fuck wit’cha boy. A!

  41. Don Mac says:

    Between Elz & Ross? Juelz

    Was he ever THAT guy? Neva that.

    IMO, I think he ate Wayne’s food so bad that the okey-doke went on w/Baby & Cam (Universal), there was a lot of momentum/investment in Wayne at that time.

    Juelz fell off after the smoke cleared (missed opportunity?). He’s coming out of that funk now. .

    But he was rawer when he came out…aren’t they usually?

    Good read.

  42. naughty says:

    Juelz had a different flow, saying he wack, I can’t agree wit that. Yeah sometimes he come across simple but I always liked his flow. Don’t get my next comment twisted, I love lyrics over anything when it comes to music, but I recently seen a interview with wacka flocka and he said some real shit. He said he never was trying to be a lyrical dude but all the lyrical dudes ain’t gettin no money, and I must admit he got a point. R.I.P. – B.I.G. the greatest rapper ever!!!!!!

  43. HipHopSnob says:

    ok,I’ll agree,he has improved since his early days but…he’s still a gabage* (not a typo,I mean to type that)

  44. K.S says:

    I Disagree with This Juelz Was Always Hot In My Opion He Dumbed Dwn Hes Bars Smh But AnyWho Hes Stl 1 of My Fav Rappers A!

  45. SR says:

    i really cant belive all u haters juelz is great

    u guys dont like him just becuz he dnt throw on a t-pain track like wayne

    juelz is literally the current king of hip hop just listen to his mixtapes he spits fire
    he can even take wayne beats and murder them just like on the got money freestyle

  46. Davie baby says:

    whoever wrote this dont know shittt…. Juelz beeen gooood

  47. Myma says:

    I ALWAYS LOVED ME SUM JUELZ SANTANA HE’S ALWAYS BEN A GOOD RAPPER TO ME

  48. Keon Banner says:

    i think juelz was a good artist when he was with cam because he kept it hood. but when left the set he started going with the main stream which soften up his lyrics….

    most rappers who go mainstream soften up there lyrics

    Wayne
    Juelz
    Gucci ( he isnt even that great with lyrics)
    the stanky leg person

    im done with the “new” rap

    ill stick to the rap from 2006 – 1996

  49. uniiquenine says:

    Lol yall buggin. Juelz stepped his game up 100% he went from sayin shit like ” my gun hotter than the stove was on.. so hot u would think that the stove was on.. but the stove was off i was jus rollin hot” (lol wtf) to ” its for respect yall hustlin for a check… i’m paid. Thomas edisons on my neck. light bulbs i send con Edison checks”

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