Life and career

Early life

Jay Jenkins was born in Columbia, South Carolina. As an infant Jenkins and his family relocated to Duncan Block, a neighborhood in Macon, Georgia (75 miles south of Atlanta). He eventually moved to West Atlanta's 4th Ward between late 1999 and early 2000.

Jeezy has described his childhood as "empty". He has made innumerable references in his music to his previous occupation as a cocaine dealer, although he rarely provides details of his childhood in interviews. Also, according to his lyrics, which may or may not be factual, he has or had an uncle named Grady. This portion of his life, as is often the case with rappers, remains highly veiled and subject to much exaggeration in order to increase his street reputation. However, there is no doubt that Young Jeezy was involved at least to some degree in the illegal cocaine trade, and he is affiliated somehow with the slightly defunct Black Mafia Family.

Personal life

Young Jeezy has a 10 year old son who is often mentioned in his lyrics, along with his son's mother, who is not on good terms with Jeezy. He was arrested after an alleged shootout involving some of his friends in Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 12, 2006. He was charged with two counts of carrying a concealed firearm without a permit, however, he was acquitted over lack of evidence. Though many people believed he is related to fellow rapper Yung Joc, he cleared the rumor up by telling the media that he is not related to the fellow Atlanta rapper, though they are friends. Both rappers are known for their slow, southern flow. After Hurricane Katrina, Young Jeezy opened his house to the victims in an effort to help them have a place to stay.

In the early hours of the morning on September 29th, 2007, Young Jeezy totaled his Lamborghini when it was hit by a taxi crossing Peachtree Street, outside of Justin's, Sean Comb's restaurant in Atlanta. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported his claim that this gave him "a new appreciation for life."

Music

Young Jeezy released his first independent album, Thuggin' Under the Influence (T.U.I.), in 2001 under the name Lil J. It featured artists such as 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 along with some songs from T.U.I. Come Shop Wit' Me sold 50000 copies world wide. In 2004, he signed with Bad Boy Records and joined the Boyz n da Hood group. 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 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. Guest appearances include Young Buck, T.I., Trick Daddy, Akon, Mannie Fresh, Lil Scrappy, Bun B, Lloyd, Slick Pulla, & Lil Will. 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. In 2005, Young Jeezy was featured in several popular hip hop songs including Gucci Mane's "Icy" and Boyz n da Hood's "Dem Niggaz".

In 2006, he was featured in Christina Milian's single "Say I". Jeezy's second major label album is The Inspiration, which features Project Pat, T.I., Keyshia Cole, Three 6 Mafia, R. Kelly, Bloodraw and Slick Pulla (the latter two of which are members of Jeezy's rap group USDA). The album's first single "I Luv It" has peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Jeezy's second highest single to date. The second single is "Bury Me a G". The 3rd single is the club banger "Go Getta" which features R. Kelly. Young Jeezy's "I am the Street Dream" tour started in March of 2007. He also appeared as himself in the hip-hop fighting themed game Def Jam: Icon that can be added to the player's record label. Young Jeezy appeared on BET's Access Granted for his song "Dreamin" with Keyshia Cole on May 2, 2007. In 2007, Young Jeezy released Cold Summer, an album by rap group USDA which consists of Young Jeezy, Slick Pulla, and Blood Raw.

Controversy

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 have suggested that gang members from the Mechanisville area attacked Gucci Mane to defend Young Jeezy's honor. 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. Recently, Jeezy has become involved in a beef with his former BMF affiliate Bleu Da Vinci after Bleu dissed him on the song, 'Star in The Hood'.

Discography

• 2001: Thuggin' Under the Influence (as Lil' J)
• 2003: Come Shop Wit' Me
• 2005: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
• 2006: The Inspiration
• 2008: Brothers In Arms (with Akon)