Young Jeezy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Young Jeezy | |
|---|---|
.jpg/220px-Young_Jeezy_(cropped).jpg) |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jay Jenkins |
| Born | September 28, 1977 |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia United States |
| Genre(s) | Southern rap Gangsta rap Crunk Pop rap |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Label(s) | Corporate Thugz Entertainment, Def Jam |
| Associated acts | T.I., U.S.D.A., Akon, Young Buck, B.G., Bun B, Mannie Fresh, Juelz Santana, Trick Daddy, Lil Wayne, Young Dro, Rick Ross, Yung Joc, Usher |
| Website | Young Jeezy at Def Jam |
Jay Jenkins (born September 28, 1977), better known by his stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper.
Contents |
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 / 120 km south of Atlanta). At a young age, his parents separated. As a result, he was constantly sent to stay with his aunts and grandmothers when he was not being sent between his father and mother. During these years, he built a strong relationship with his older cousins, who were also drug dealers. They often shared their earnings with him, which attracted him to the drug dealer lifestyle. When Jenkins was 12 years old, he started selling drugs in his neighborhood. By 1994, he was arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine, and served nine months in a boot camp in Savannah, Georgia. He eventually moved to West Atlanta’s 4th Ward between late 1999 and early 2000. Jeezy has described his childhood as “empty”.[1]
Personal life
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.[2] 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.[3] After Hurricane Katrina, Young Jeezy opened his house to the victims in an effort to help them have a place to stay.[4]
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. Jeezy also has an 12 year old son that he often speaks about.”[5]
Music
Young Jeezy released his first independent album, Thuggin' Under the Influence (T.U.I.), in 2001 under the name Lil J.[6] 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 50,000 copies world wide.[7] 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.[8] In interviews and on several records, Young 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.[10] In 2005, Young Jeezy was featured in several popular hip hop songs including Gucci Mane’s “Icy”[11] 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 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.Recently, he is featured on Usher's song "Love In This Club".
Toyz n da Hood
Young Jeezy presented a week-long toy drive and charity event series with his Corporate Thugz Entertainment (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.[12]
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.[13] 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 kinda real nigga name himself after a bag, nigga you's a hoe, a Louie Vutton fag".
Discography
Albums
- 2005: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
- 2006: The Inspiration
- 2008: The Recession
References
- ^ XXL Magazine. Jeezy wants street cred. Retrieved on 28 April, 2007.
- ^ Mark Lelinwalla (March 13, 2006). Jeezy arrested. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
- ^ Krista Desens (July 11, 2006). Yung Joc. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
- ^ Jeezy helps hurricane victims. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
- ^ 40/40 Club Stabbing. SOHH. Accessed October 10, 2007.
- ^ Thuggin' Under the Influence. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
- ^ Ethan Brown (May 4, 2006). Come Shop Wit' Me sales. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
- ^ Ethan Brown (May 4, 2006). Album sales. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
- ^ My Hood lyrics. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
- ^ XXL Magazine. Jeezy wants street cred. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
- ^ Popular single “Icy”. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
- ^ HHWorlds.com – Young Jeezy Hosts 'Toyz n da Hood' (December 14, 2007)
- ^ Beef with Gucci Mane. Retrieved on 29 November, 2006.
External links
- Young Jeezy Interview at prefixmag
- Young Jeezy Talks About Nas
- Official website
- Young Jeezy at the Internet Movie Database
- Young Jeezy at MySpace
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