ARTIST

Young Jeezy

Atlanta-based Young Jeezy originally planned on having a background role in the music industry as a businessman, not as a rapper. Years before making his first Def Jam album "Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101," released in July 2005, he set up Corporate Thugz Entertainment and promoted Cash Money releases.

From there, he branched out as a label boss and an artist in his own right, releasing albums and mixtapes. "Come Shop Wit' Me," his independently distributed debut from 2003, allegedly sold more than 50,000 copies. As a member of Boyz N Da Hood, he was behind a self-titled album (released just weeks before "Let's Get It") that debuted in the Top Ten of the Billboard album chart.

Written by Andy Kellman, All Music Guide