Ultimately, Jeezy decided he wanted to be in business with Stewart and Reid and signed with Def Jam Records as a result. However, due to Jeezy's rising popularity, other record labels began pursuing him simultaneously to sign with them, most notably, Warner and Interscope. Reid recognized Jeezy's talent and gave Stewart the green light to sign him. Stewart 'fell in love with it the first time heard it' and took it to L.A. In May 2004, Jazze Pha's manager, Henry 'Noonie' Lee, showed Jeezy's demo to his friend Shakir Stewart, then Vice President Artist and Repertoire (VP A&R) at Def Jam. In 2004, Jeezy signed with Bad Boy Records and joined the group Boyz n da Hood, whose self-titled album was released in June 2005 and peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 album chart. In 2003, Jeezy independently released Come Shop wit Me, a two-CD set featuring new tracks along with some songs previously released on T.U.I. The album included features from artists Freddy J., Kinky B, Fidank, and Lil Jon, who also produced some of the songs. In 2001, under the name Lil J, Young Jeezy released his first independent album, Thuggin' Under the Influence (T.U.I.). Four years later, in 1998, Jeezy launched the label imprint CTE World, then known as Corporate Thugz Entertainment. In 1994, Jeezy spent nine months in YCA (Youth Challenge Academy), a boot camp in Fort Stewart, Georgia, for narcotics possession. He had lived in Macon, Georgia at an older age where he befriended many Crip gang members and even affiliated himself with the Crips and started his affiliation with Kinky B who helped his career along with many others. At a point in time he lived in Hawkinsville, Georgia, at 600 N Lumpkin. In an interview with XXL magazine, he described his childhood as 'empty'. When he was a toddler, Jenkins relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he lived with different family members, as a result of his parents separating.

Jay Wayne Jenkins was born on September 28, 1977, in Columbia, South Carolina. 1.7 Trap or Die 3, Pressure, TM104: The Legend of the Snowman and retirement (2016–2019)īiography Early life and career beginnings (1977–2004).1.6 Boss Yo Life Up Gang, Seen It All: The Autobiography and Church in These Streets (2013–2015).1.5 TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition and Its Tha World (2010–2012).1.1 Early life and career beginnings (1977–2004).Outside of his solo career, Jeezy is also the de facto leader of the southern hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America (U.S.D.A), and a former member of the Bad Boy Records' rap group Boyz n da Hood. In addition, Jeezy has also been featured on numerous hip hop and R&B hit singles, including ' Say I' by Christina Milian, ' I'm So Paid' by Akon, ' Hard' by Rihanna and ' Love in This Club' by Usher, with the latter reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2008. Kelly), and ' Put On' (featuring Kanye West). In total, Jeezy has released ten studio albums, as well as numerous successful singles, including the top ten hit ' Soul Survivor' (featuring Akon), as well as the top 40 hits ' I Luv It', ' Go Getta' (featuring R. Jeezy began his music career in 2001 as Lil J with the release of Thuggin' Under the Influence (T.U.I.). and Gucci Mane, for helping to pioneer and popularize trap music with a mainstream audience. Jeezy is credited, along with fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. Signing to Def Jam Recordings in 2004, his major label debut, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, was released the following year and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, selling 172,000 copies in its first week and was later receiving platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Jay Wayne Jenkins (born September 28, 1977), known by his stage name Jeezy (formerly Young Jeezy), is an American rapper.

Young jeezy album discography