Jay 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 USDA and a former member of Boyz N Da Hood. 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 latter being a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008.
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Early life
Jay Jenkins was born in
Columbia, South Carolina and grew up in the city of
Macon, Georgia in neighborhoods from Duncan Blocc and Unionville. But later move to
Atlanta's 4th Ward.
[2] 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 a
boot camp in
Savannah, Georgia for narcotics possession.
Music career
Independent debut
Young Jeezy released his first independent album,
Thuggin' Under the Influence
(
T.U.I.
), in 2001 under the name Lil J.
[3] 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 chart.
Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
(2005)
Young Jeezy also released a solo album around this time, which was his major label debut, with
Def Jam Records.
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.
[4] 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.
Young 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 Young Jeezy’s honor.
[5] Young Jeezy put out a track called “Stay Strapped” dissing Gucci Mane to the beat of T.I.’s song “A.S.A.P.” Young Jeezy took a shot at Mane on the track, 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
, Mane disses Jeezy along with Jay Z in his track, “745”. Jeezy also addresses Mane in 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".
In interviews and on several records, Young Jeezy has affirmed his resistance to
commercialism in his music.
[6] Maintaining his
street credibility, according to Jeezy, is of the utmost concern to him as an artist.
[2] In 2005, Young Jeezy was featured in several popular hip hop songs including
Gucci Mane’s “Icy”
[8] and Boyz n da Hood’s “Dem Boyz”. Due to having a successful solo career, he left the group.
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, Young Jeezy released
Cold Summer
, an album by rap group
USDA which consists of Young Jeezy,
Slick Pulla, and Blood Raw.
Young 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 10PM to 5AM at Club Miami. The toy giveaway took place in the Unionville neighborhood of Macon and at the Old Fourth Ward Community in Atlanta.
[9]
The Recession
(2008-present)
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
.
[10]
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."
[11] Jeezy and
Jay-Z performed in a concert to celebrate the inauguration of
President Barack Obama on January 18, 2009.
[12]. On
The O'Reilly Factor
, commentator
Bill O'Reilly criticized their performance as a "rant that offended people",
[13] 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."
[14]
Jeezy is working on
Thug Motivation 103
, his latest LP, as of July 2009.
[15]
Personal life
He is a personal friend of fellow Atlanta rapper
Yung Joc.
[16] After
Hurricane Katrina, Young Jeezy opened his house to the victims in an effort to help them have a place to stay.
[17]
On March 12, 2006, Jeezy was arrested after an alleged shooting involving some of his friends in Miami Beach, Florida. He was charged with two counts of carrying a concealed firearm without a permit, however, he was acquitted over lack of evidence.
[18] In the early hours of September 29, 2007, Young 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".
[19] In Atlanta on June 18, 2008, police arrested him for
DUI.
[20]
Discography
Solo albums
- 2005: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
- 2006: The Inspiration
- 2008: The Recession
- 2009: 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: Young Jeezy Presents USDA: Cold Summer
(with USDA)
- 2009: Untitled
(with Akon) [21]
Filmography
- 2009: Janky Promoters
[22]
Awards
- BET Awards
- *2009, Best Male Hip-Hop Artist [Nominated]
- *2008, Best Collaboration ("I'm So Hood [Remix]") with DJ Khaled, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman, & Rick Ross [Nominated] [23]
- BET Hip-Hop Awards
- *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] [24]
- *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] [25]
- *2008, People's Champ Award ("Put On") with Kanye West [Nominated] [26]
- *2006, Hip-Hop CD of the Year ("Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101") [Nominated] [27]
- *2006, Hip-Hop MVP of the Year [Nominated]
- Grammy Awards
- *2009, Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group ("Put On") with Kanye West [Nominated] [28]
- Ozone Awards
- *2008, Best Rap Artist [Nominated]
- *2008, Best Rap/R&B Collaboration ("Love in this Club") with Usher (Won)
- *2007, Best Rap Album
The Inspiration (Won)
- *2007, Best Rap/R&B Collaboration ("Go Getta") with R. Kelly [Nominated]
- *2007, Best Video ("Grew Up a Screw Up") with Ludacris [Nominated]
- *2007, Best Group with Slick Pulla & Blood Raw as USDA [Nominated]
References
- Young Jeezy: Biography
- I'm a King
- Thuggin Under the Influence
- Black Mafia Family - Mo' Money, Mo' Problems
- Beef with Gucci Mane
- My Hood lyrics
- I'm a King
- Popular single “Icy”
- ''HHWorlds.com'' – Young Jeezy Hosts 'Toyz n da Hood' (December 14, 2007)
- Ciara's New Single Confirmed ''Rap-Up.com''. Accessed December 19, 2008.
- Young Jeezy Clarifies McCain Comments, Pledges Support For Obama
- Get Sillay: Young Jeezy enforces country’s racial segregation
- Young Jeezy Defends 'My President' Against Bill O'Reilly
- Kanye West Explains 'Jockin' Jay-Z' Sample, Drops Exclusive Freestyle, More In Mixtape Monday
- Young Jeezy Is Working On Thug Motivation 103 'Right Now'
- Yung Joc
- Jeezy helps hurricane victims
- Jeezy arrested
- 40/40 Club Stabbing. SOHH. Accessed October 10, 2007.
- Young Jeezy Arrested In Atlanta
- http://www.desihits.com/blog/article/akon-and-young-jeezy-working-on-new-album-together-20090121
- Jeezy Talks Movie With Ice Cube, Remix With Jay-Z
- Best Collaboration. BET Awards 2008.
- Best Hip-Hop Video. BET Hip Hop Awards 2008.
- Best Hip Hop Collabo. BET Hip Hop Awards 2008.
- Alltel People's Champ Award. BET Hip Hop Awards 2008.
- 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards
- The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winners List