Young Jeezy extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Young Jeezy
Background information
Birth name	Jay Jenkins
Born	October 12, 1977 (1977-10-12) (age 31)
Origin	Macon/Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genre(s)	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	2001–present
Label(s)	Corporate Thugz/Def Jam
Associated acts	T.I., U.S.D.A., Akon, Young Buck, B.G., Bun B, Mannie Fresh, Trick Daddy, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Young Dro, Ludacris, Rick Ross, Yung Joc, Usher, Ice Cube
Website	Young Jeezy at Def Jam

Jay Jenkins (born October 12, 1977¹), better known by his stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper.

Contents 1 Life and career 1.1 Early life 1.2 Personal life 1.3 Music 1.4 Toyz n da Hood 2 Controversy 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 4 Filmography 5 Awards 6 References 7 External links

Life and career

Early life

Jay Jenkins was born in Columbia, South Carolina.¹ As an infant, Jenkins and his family relocated to Duncan Block, a neighborhood in Macon, Georgia. 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 in Macon. 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”.²

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.³ 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.⁴ After Hurricane Katrina, Young Jeezy opened his house to the victims in an effort to help them have a place to stay.⁵

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 a 13 year old son that he often speaks about.”⁶

During the early morning hours of June 18, 2008, the Atlanta rapper was arrested in Atlanta and charged with DUI, speeding, reckless driving, no tags, driving with an open container and no proof of insurance. He made bail and was released, but later that day, a source close to the camp said that Jeezy had just driven it off the lot, and the temporary tags had fallen off, which is why he was pulled over. As for the open container, Jeezy said that was the passenger’s fault. ⁷

Music

Young Jeezy released his first independent album, Thuggin' Under the Influence (T.U.I.), in 2001 under the name Lil J.⁸ 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.⁹ 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.¹⁰ In interviews and on several records, Young Jeezy has affirmed his resistance to commercialism in his music.¹¹ Maintaining his street credibility, according to Jeezy, is of the utmost concern to him as an artist.¹² In 2005, Young Jeezy was featured in several popular hip hop songs including Gucci Mane’s “Icy”¹³ 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". He will also be featured in singer Ciara's new album "Fantasy Ride" due out in early 2009.

Milwaukee Brewers' All-Star Ryan Braun has used as an at-bat song "Go Getta," by Young Jeezy.[1]

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.¹⁴

Controversy

It has been suggested that some of the information in this article's Criticism or Controversy section(s) be merged into other sections to achieve a more neutral presentation. (Discuss)

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.¹⁵ 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".

In June & July 2008, Jeezy was at the center of a little controversy over his choice for president. While he had previously endorsed Barack Obama, he spoke about meeting John McCain during an interview with Vibe magazine, in which he was quoted as saying "No disrespect to my man Barack, but I f*** with John McCain." 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." ¹⁶

Discography

Main article: Young Jeezy discography

Albums

• 2005: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
• 2006: The Inspiration
• 2008: The Recession

Filmography

• 2009: Janky Promoters ¹⁷

Awards

• BET Awards
  • 2008, Best Collaboration ("I'm So Hood [Remix]") with DJ Khaled, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman, & Rick Ross [Nominated]

• 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]
  • 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 [Nominated]
  • 2008, People's Champ Award ("Put On") with Kanye West [Nominated]
  • 2006, Hip-Hop CD of the Year ("Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101") [Nominated]

• 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

• Nas Projected To Sell Over 300k, No Jeezy Beef

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

v • d • e Young Jeezy Albums Thuggin under the Influence (T.U.I.) · Come Shop wit' Me · Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 · The Inspiration · The Recession Singles "And Then What" · "Soul Survivor" · "Go Crazy" · "My Hood" · "Trap Star" · "I Luv It" · "Go Getta" · "Dreamin'" · "Put On" · "Vacation" · "Crazy World" · "My President" Related articles Discography · Boyz n da Hood · United Streets Dopeboyz of America