Jay Wayne Jenkins (born October 12, 1977),[1] better known by his
stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper and member of the hip
hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America (USDA) and a former
member of BMF (Black Mafia Family). He began his career in 2001 under
an independent label and joined Boyz N Da Hood in 2005, the same
year his solo major label debut Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
was released. Its single "Soul Survivor", which featured
Akon, became a top-ten hit in the U.S.
The Inspiration followed in 2006, and The Recession followed in
2008; both albums yielded chart-topping singles. Jeezy has also appeared
on numerous other rap and R&B singles such as "Say I" by
Christina Millian, "I'm So Paid" by Akon, and "Love
In This Club" by Usher, the later being a number one single
on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008.
Jay Wayne Jenkins was born in Columbia, South Carolina[1] and relocated
to Atlanta, Georgia when he was a toddler.[2][3] Because his parents
were separated, custody of him transferred between family members
frequently. In an interview with XXL magazine, he described his childhood
as "empty". In 1994, he spent nine months in YCA (Youth
Challenge Academy), a boot camp in Fort Stewart, Georgia, for narcotics
possession.[4]
[edit] Music career
[edit] Independent debut
Young Jeezy released his first independent album, Thuggin' Under
the Influence (T.U.I.), in 2001 under the name Lil J.[5] It featured
artists such as Freddy J.,Kinky B, Fidank, and Lil Jon, who also
produced some of the tracks. In 2003, Jeezy released (also independently)
Come Shop wit Me, a two CD set featuring completely new tracks with
some songs from T.U.I. Jeezy signed with Bad Boy Records in 2004
and joined the group Boyz n da Hood, whose self-titled album was
released in June 2005 and peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 albums
charts.
[edit] Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (2005)
In May 2004, Jazze Pha's manager Henry 'Noonie' Lee showed Young
Jeezy's demo to his friend Shakir Stewart, VP A&R at Def Jam.[6]
Stewart "fell in love with it the first time [he] heard it" and
promptly took it to L.A. Reid.[6] Reid also recognised the talent
and gave Stewart the green light to sign him.[6] As the "hottest
thing on the street" at the time, various labels – including
Warner and Interscope – were after his signature but Jeezy
decided he wanted to be in business with Stewart and Reid and so
signed with Def Jam Records.[6]
Jeezy's major label debut, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, was
released on July 26, 2005 and debuted at #2, selling 172,000 copies
in its first week.[7] It spawned several hit singles: "Soul
Survivor" featuring Akon, which reached #4 on the Billboard
Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts, "And Then What" featuring
Mannie Fresh, which reached #67 on the Hot 100 and #13 on the Hot
Rap Tracks, and "My Hood", #19 on the Rap chart. In an
interview with HitQuarters, A&R Shakir Stewart said that Jeezy
had recorded over 60 songs for the album.[6]
Jeezy partially wrote and performed on Gucci Mane's song, "Icy".
Supposedly, Jeezy was never paid properly for his services. Those
in Gucci Mane's camp have suggested that gang members from the Mechanicsville
area attacked Gucci Mane to defend Jeezy's honor.[8] Jeezy put out
a track called "Stay Strapped" dissing Gucci Mane to the
beat of T.I.'s song "A.S.A.P." Jeezy responded to Gucci
Mane's diss, rapping "even his own momma know, Radric Davis
a bitch". In a recent Cutmaster C mixtape, The Hood News Page
3: Jay-Z Boycotts Cristal, Gucci disses Jeezy along with Jay Z in
his track, "745". Jeezy also addresses Gucci on the same
mixtape, in the track "Break It Down", featuring Cmillz.
On "Streets On Lock", from The Inspiration, Jeezy once
again addressed Gucci Mane, saying "What type of real nigga
name himself after a bag?/Nigga you's a hoe, a Louis Vuitton fag".
Near the end of 2009, DJ Drama brought Young Jeezy to the radio station
and called up Gucci Mane to settle the beef once and for all. The
two stopped feuding but throughout early 2010, the crews of Jeezy & Gucci
(CTE & Brick Squad) have been in and out altercations with each
other despite the fact Jeezy & Gucci have nothing to do with
that.
In interviews and on several records, Jeezy has affirmed his resistance
to commercialism in his music.[9] Maintaining his street credibility,
according to Jeezy, is of the utmost concern to him as an artist.[4]
In 2005, Jeezy was featured in several popular hip hop songs including
Gucci Mane's "Icy"[10] and Boyz n da Hood's "Dem Boyz".
Due to having a successful solo career, he left the group. From time
to time he still keeps in contact with a few of the members but early
2010 Jeezy & Jody Breeze (who is still a member of Boyz N Da
Hood) began to diss each other which started a new beef between them
two.
[edit] The Inspiration, U.S.D.A. (2006–2007)
In 2006, he was featured in Christina Milian's single "Say
I". Jeezy's second major label album was The Inspiration, released
in 2006. The album's first single "I Luv It" peaked at
#14 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Bury Me a G" and "Go
Getta" featuring R. Kelly, and "Dreamin’" featuring
Keyshia Cole followed.
He also portrayed himself in the hip-hop fighting themed game Def
Jam: Icon. In 2007, Jeezy released Cold Summer, an album by rap group
USDA which consists of Jeezy, Slick Pulla, and Blood Raw.[1]
Jeezy presented a week-long toy drive and charity event series with
his CTE family with the first annual Toyz n da Hood toy drive. The
series presented 1,000 toys for 1,000 kids at various locations in
Macon and Atlanta, which began on December 17, 2007, with the CTE
Christmas Kickoff from 10 pm to 5 am at Club Miami. The toy giveaway
took place in the Unionville neighborhood of Macon and at the Old
Fourth Ward Community in Atlanta.[11]
[edit] The Recession (2008)
His third album, The Recession, was released in 2008. "Put
On" featuring Kanye West was the lead single, which also led
to a Grammy Nomination for Best Rap performance by a duo, but it
came short. Put On was followed by "Vacation", "Crazy
World", "My President" with Nas, and "Who Dat" to
complete the Recession's singles. Jeezy appeared on the R&B singles "Love
in this Club" by Usher and "I'm So Paid" by Akon (also
with Lil Wayne). "Love in this Club" peaked at #1 on the
Billboard Hot 100. Later, he performed on Ciara's single "Never
Ever", from her album Fantasy Ride.[12]
In the summer of 2008, Jeezy was at the center of a controversy
over his choice for president. While he had previously endorsed Barack
Obama, he spoke about meeting and supporting John McCain during an
interview with Vibe magazine. The statement caused a stir, and Jeezy
quickly clarified his choice, via a viral video. In the four-minute
explanation, Jeezy made it clear, Obama was his main choice. "I
represent the Democratic party. ... I've never been nor do I ever
plan to be a John McCain supporter", the rapper said. "I
support Barack Obama."[13] Jeezy and Jay-Z performed in a concert
to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January
18, 2009.[14] On The O'Reilly Factor, commentator Bill O'Reilly criticized
their performance as a "rant that offended people",[15]
but Jeezy responded: "I got white friends. It's nothing like
that. I'm a taxpayer, I got a right to voice my opinion at any point
in time. I don't think he really understands my struggle."[16]
[edit] TM 103 (2009–present)
Jeezy is working on TM 103, his latest LP, as of November 2009.[17]
In March 2010, It was reported that Young Jeezy dropped "Young" from
his stage name.[18] But in April 2010, Young Jeezy denied name change
and it was just a rumor.[19] Yet on the cover for his single "Lose
My Mind", his name is printed as "Jeezy". After a
few push backs there is currently no release date for the album.[20]
On March 4, 2010 Jeezy released the track "Illin", featuring
the group Clipse; specifically Pusha T. On the track Pusha T raps, "No
amount of record sales could derail this ...Stuffing dead prezzies
in the wall like that Yale bitch..." The line was controversial
and many felt the line was in bad taste and demeaned Yale student
Annie Le, who was murdered on September 8, 2009, by making light
of a crime that had grabbed a lot of media attention due to its extremely
upsetting and tragic nature.[21]
[edit] Personal life
He is a personal friend of fellow Atlanta rapper Yung Joc.[22] After
Hurricane Katrina, Jeezy opened his house to the victims in an effort
to help them have a place to stay. In October 2005, the mother of
his 9 year old son used this as the basis to petition for child support.
Early in the year, she had claimed that she had little income, no
assets and did not even have a house.[23]
On March 11, 2005, Jeezy was arrested after an alleged shooting
involving some of his friends in Miami Beach, Florida.[24] He was
charged with two counts of carrying a concealed firearm without a
permit; however, prosecutors dropped his charges two months later
over lack of evidence.[25] In the early hours of September 29, 2007,
Jeezy totaled his Lamborghini when it was hit by a taxi crossing
Peachtree Street, outside of Justin's, Sean Combs’ restaurant
in Atlanta. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported his claim that
this gave him "a new appreciation for life".[26] In Atlanta
on June 18, 2008, police arrested him for DUI.[27]
[edit] Discography
Main article: Young Jeezy discography
Studio albums
* 2005: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
* 2006: The Inspiration
* 2008: The Recession
* 2011: Thug Motivation 103
Independent albums
* 2001: Thuggin' Under the Influence (T.U.I.)
* 2003: Come Shop wit Me
Collaboration albums
* 2005: Boyz n da Hood (with Boyz n da Hood)
* 2007: Cold Summer (with U.S.D.A)
* 2011: The Afterparty (with U.S.D.A)
[edit] Filmography
* 2009: Janky Promoters [28]
[edit] Awards
* BET Awards
o 2010, Viewer's Choice Award ("Hard") with Rihanna [Won]
o 2009, Best Male Hip-Hop Artist [Nominated]
o 2008, Best Collaboration ("I'm So Hood [Remix]") with DJ Khaled,
Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman, & Rick Ross
[Nominated][29]
* BET Hip-Hop Awards
o 2008, Best Hip-Hop Video ("I'm So Hood [Remix]") with DJ Khaled,
Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman, & Rick Ross
[Nominated][30]
o 2008, Best Hip-Hop Collabo ("I'm So Hood [Remix]") with DJ Khaled,
Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman, & Rick Ross
[Won][31]
o 2008, People's Champ Award ("Put On") with Kanye West [Nominated][32]
o 2006, Hip-Hop CD of the Year ("Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101")
[Nominated][33]
o 2006, Hip-Hop MVP of the Year [Nominated][33]
* Grammy Awards
o 2009, Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group ("Put On") with Kanye
West [Nominated][34]
*
o 2010, Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group ("Amazing") with Kanye
West (Nominated)
o 2011, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group ("Lose My Mind") with
Plies (Nominated)
* Ozone Awards[citation needed]
o 2008, Best Rap Artist [Nominated]
o 2008, Best Rap/R&B Collaboration ("Love in this Club") with
Usher (Won)
o 2007, Best Rap Album The Inspiration (Won)
o 2007, Best Rap/R&B Collaboration ("Go Getta") with R. Kelly
[Nominated]
o 2007, Best Video ("Grew Up a Screw Up") with Ludacris [Nominated]
o 2007, Best Group with Slick Pulla & Blood Raw as USDA [Nominated]