Jeezy
Template:Infobox musical artist 2
Young Jeezy (born Jay Jenkins on October 12, 1977) is a popular American rapper. Jenkins was born in Hawkinsville, Georgia, but as a toddler moved to Macon, Georgia. He grew up in the Atlanta metro area (Notably Old Fourth Ward, as well as briefly Mechanicsville and Decatur), where he still lives today.[1] Formerly signed to Bad Boy Records a member of the hip-hop quartet Boyz N Da Hood, he is now signed as a solo artist to Def Jam Records, and his own record label Corporate Thugz Entertainment.
Snowman
Young Jeezy is often referred to (by himself and others) as the "Snow man". This is widely assumed to be a reference to his previous occupation as a Drug dealer, Jeezy states that the Snowman is just a nickname. Snow refers to cocaine, a drug Jeezy has implied that he sold on the streets.
Snow Man T-Shirts
Young Jeezy has produced a popular line of "Snowman" t-shirts. These shirts depict a very simple snowman, with a menacing look. Due to their drug connotation, several high schools have banned these shirts [2].
In a September 2004 interview with MTV, Jeezy explained that the Snowman "...symbolizes a young hustler. If a cat goes and gets fresh, hits the club or goes to an event and he has a Snowman shirt on, it's almost like a white tee... Everybody can't afford the Gucci and everything. It's the next best thing, the Snowman... Snowman is a cool dude. There's a Snowman in every 'hood, several Snowmen in the 'hood. You gotta be that dude to look up to with the car and the boy. Whatever you do, be the best at it, because that's what the Snowman is going to do."[3]
Black Mafia Family
Young Jeezy has supposedly been associated with a crew of criminal associates known as The Black Mafia Family that resides in Detroit, Michigan, Inkster, Michigan, Ecorse, Michigan, Montréal,Québec and Atlanta, Georgia. The Black Mafia Family is currently under investigation by the FBI special task force for organized crime and their association with the Crips. Jeezy maintains his association with the group but is not under direct investigation.
Music
In interviews and on several records, Young Jeezy has affirmed his resistance to commercialism in his music. Maintaining his street credibility, according to Jeezy, is of the utmost concern to him as an artist.[citation needed]
Boyz N Da Hood's self-titled album was released on June 21, 2005 and peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Young Jeezy's major-label debut solo album, 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.[citation needed] The release was under Def Jam, however, and not on Bad Boy Entertainment.
Young Jeezy has been featured in several popular 2005 hip-hop songs including Gucci Mane's So Icy, Boyz N Da Hood's Dem Boyz and Christina Milian's new single Say I. Young Jeezy has also been praised for his rapping skills by The Game.
In 2005, Young Jeezy recorded a remix of "Go Crazy" with artists Jay-Z and Fat Joe. The success of this song skyrocketed Young Jeezy to nation-wide status. Jeezy is currently planning to record Best of Both Hoods, a mixtape with Harlem rapper Juelz Santana.
Young Jeezy has several recognizable phrases, such as a long, drawn-out "That's Riiiight!!!," "Ay," "Ha-haaaa," "Daammnnn," "Yup," "Let's get it!," "Cheee-ahhh!," and "Yeeeeaaah."
Young Jeezy is known for his unusual work-ethic and deep appreciation for a hard day's work. This is represented in several of his songs and interviews.
Young Jeezy worked with producer Shawty Redd on Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101. Young Jeezy has also collaborated with artists such as Fabolous, T.I. and Juelz Santana. Young Jeezy has his own record label called Corporate Thugz Entertainment (CTE). Those signed include Young Jeezy, the group USDA, Bloodraw, Slick Pulla & Lil' Will
There has been recent news about Young Jeezy's up coming album The Inspiration:Thug Motivation 102. Young Jeezy Says "This album is much more personal than the first."
Beef
Young Jeezy partially wrote and performed on Gucci Mane's hit single, "Icy." Supposedly, Jeezy was never paid properly for his services. Those in Gucci Mane's camp are suggesting that gang members from the Macon area attacked Gucci Mane to defend Young Jeezy's honor.
Young Jeezy put out track called "Pooper Scooper" dissing Tampons to the beat of T.I.'s song "A.S.A.P." Young Jeezy took a shot at Gucci 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 Fred Durst, Beyoncé and Jeezy in his track, "745". Jeezy also addresses Mane in the same mixtape, in the track "Break It Down", featuring Cmillz .
Discography
Albums
- 2001: Thuggin Under The Influence
- 2003: Come Shop Wit' Me
- 2005: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 #2 U.S. (Certified: 2x Platinum)
- 2006: The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102
Mixtapes
- Gangsta Grillz: Streets Iz Watchin
- Hustle & Snow (with T.I.)
- Gangsta Grillz: Trap or Die
- Paid in Full (with T.I.)
- Self Motivation
- Gangsta Grillz: Can't Ban the Snowman
- Strait Outta A-Town (with Boyz N Da Hood)
- Snowman
- Street Music (Bootleg)
Singles
| Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | UK singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "And Then What" (with Mannie Fresh) | 67 | 14 | 13 | - | Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 |
| 2005 | "Soul Survivor" (featuring Akon) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 |
| 2005 | "Go Crazy" (remix featuring Jay-Z) | - | 22 | 22 | - | Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 |
| 2005 | "Trap or Die" (featuring Bun B) | - | 77 | - | - | Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 |
| 2005 | "My Hood" | 77 | 30 | 19 | - | Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 |
| 2005 | "Trap Star" | - | 51 | - | - | Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 |
| 2006 | "I Love It" | TBR | TBR | TBR | TBR | The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102 |