YOUNG JEEZY

'Jay Jenkins' (born September 28 1977 in Columbia, South Carolina, USA), better known by his stage name, 'Young Jeezy', is an American rapper. He was formerly known as "Lil' J" in his early rap career.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Personal life

Music

Controversy

Feuds with other rappers

Discography

References

External links

Biography

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" Jeezy wants street cred XXL Magazine . 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 as well as a cousin named Spencer Trygg who is a well respected street thug and underground rapper in the heart of the Mountian View CA rap scene. 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. Jeezy arrested Mark Lelinwalla
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. Yung Joc Krista Desens
After Hurricane Katrina, Young Jeezy opened his house to the victims in an effort to help them have a place to stay. Jeezy helps hurricane victims

Music

Young Jeezy released his first independent album, ''Thuggin' Under the Influence'' (''T.U.I.''), in 2001 under the name Lil J. Thuggin' Under the Influence 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. Come Shop Wit' Me sales Ethan Brown 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. '' was released on July 26 2005 and debuted at #2, selling 172,000 copies in its first week. Album sales Ethan Brown
In interviews and on several records, Young Jeezy has affirmed his resistance to commercialism in his music. My Hood lyrics Maintaining his street credibility, according to Jeezy, is of the utmost concern to him as an artist. Jeezy wants street cred XXL Magazine In 2005, Young Jeezy was featured in several popular hip-hop songs including Gucci Mane's "Icy" Popular single "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. It has already peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks, #11 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks and #18 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Young Jeezy "I am the Street Dream" tour started in March of 2007.
He also appeared as himself in the hip-hop fighting themed game '' 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 at 7:30PM
In 2007, Young Jeezy released , an album under rap group USDA which consists of Young Jeezy, Slick Pulla, and Blood Raw.

Controversy

Feuds with other rappers

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. Beef with Gucci Mane 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'.
In December of 2006, Young Jeezy appeared on Moni Luv's radio show. The two started arguing about how Hip Hop was dying and Young Jeezy dissed Nas.

Discography

Main articles: Young Jeezy discography


★ 2001: ''Thuggin' Under the Influence'' (as 'Lil' J')

★ 2003: ''Come Shop Wit' Me''

★ 2005: ''

★ 2006: ''The Inspiration''

★ 2009: ''Brothers In Arms (With Akon)

References

★ Young Jeezy Interview at Prefixmag

★ Young Jeezy Talks About Nas

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

External links

★ Young Jeezy's Official Site

★ Young Jeezy's CTE website

★ Young Jeezy at the Internet Movie Database

★ Young Jeezy at Myspace.