Young Jeezy

Jay Wayne Jenkins, born on September 28, 1977, and widely recognized by his stage name Jeezy (or Young Jeezy), is a prominent American rapper who played a significant role in bringing trap music into the mainstream. Hailing from Georgia, he is known for his collaborations with fellow artists T.I. and Gucci Mane, who are also influential in the genre. Jeezy embarked on his musical journey in 2001, initially releasing two independent albums before signing with Def Jam Recordings, leading to his major label debut, "Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101," in 2005. This album made a remarkable impact, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 172,000 copies in its first week, and earning double platinum status from the RIAA. Its hit single, "Soul Survivor" featuring Akon, reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Jeezy's highest-charting track.

His subsequent albums, "Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration" (2006) and "The Recession" (2008), both achieved number one on the Billboard 200, with the latter receiving a Grammy nomination for the single "Put On" featuring Kanye West. Over the years, Jeezy has produced several platinum singles, including "I Luv It," "Go Getta" featuring R. Kelly, and "My President" featuring Nas. In addition to his solo work, he has contributed to numerous collaborations in the R&B genre and leads the Southern hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America (U.S.D.A.). He also founded the label CTE World in 2001, signing notable artists like YG and Freddie Gibbs.

Jeezy was married to television personality Jeannie Mai from 2021 to 2023 and has a daughter, along with three older children from previous relationships.