Supposedly, Jeezy was never paid properly for his services. Jeezy partially wrote and performed on Gucci Mane‘s song, “ Icy“. In an interview with HitQuarters, A&R Shakir Stewart said that Jeezy had recorded over 60 songs for the album.
“And Then What” featuring Mannie Fresh, which reached #67 on the Hot 100 and #13 on the Hot Rap Tracks. It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts. It spawned several hit singles such as “ Soul Survivor” featuring Akon. He debuted at #2, selling 172,000 copies in its first week. Jeezy’s major label debut, Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, was released on July 26, 2005. As a result, signed with Def Jam Records. However, Jeezy decided he wanted to be in business with Stewart and Reid. As the “hottest thing on the street” at the time, various labels – including Warner and Interscope – were after his signature. Reid recognised the 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 Young Jeezy’s demo to his friend Shakir Stewart, Vice President Artist and Repertoire (VP A&R) at Def Jam. Jeezy signed with Bad Boy Records in 2004 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 albums charts. In 2003, Jeezy released (also independently) Come Shop wit Me, a two CD set featuring completely new tracks with some songs from T.U.I. It featured artists such as Freddy J.,Kinky B, Fidank, and Lil Jon, who also produced some of the tracks. Jeezy released his first independent album, Thuggin’ Under the Influence (T.U.I.), in 2001 under the name Lil J. In 1994, he spent nine months in YCA (Youth Challenge Academy), a boot camp in Fort Stewart, Georgia, for narcotics possession. In an interview with XXL magazine, he described his childhood as “empty”.
At one point, he lived with his grandmother in Hawkinsville, Georgia. Because his parents were separated, custody of him transferred between family members frequently. Jay Wayne Jenkins was born in Columbia, South Carolina and relocated to Atlanta, Georgia when he was a toddler. Jeezy has also appeared on numerous other rap and R&B singles such as “ Say I” by Christina Milian, “ I’m So Paid” by Akon, “ Hard” by Rihanna, and “ Love in This Club” by Usher, the latter being a number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2008. The Inspiration followed in 2006, and The Recession followed in 2008 both albums yielded chart-topping singles. Its single “ Soul Survivor“, which featured Akon, became a top-ten hit in the US. He began his career in 2001 under an independent label and joined Boyz ‘N Da Hood in 2005, the same year his solo major label debut Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 was released. He is a member of the hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America (USDA) and a former member of BMF (Black Mafia Family). Jay Wayne Jenkins (born October 12, 1977), better known by his stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper.