Hot Jams from Young Jeezy and Lil J

Commercial and Underground Hardcore Rap Hits

Young Jeezy has been a rapper for well over a decade, much of it in the urban underground and primarily in southern rap circles. He’s been previously known as Lil J and a member of Boyz N Da Hood.

Master of Self-Promotion

In 2001 he released his first solo album Thuggin’ Under the Influence. This was his Lil J era. A number of tracks featured Fidank and Kinky B. His follow-up effort was a double CD release, Come Shop Wit’ Me. He was expert for his self-promotion and both previous albums were independent productions. In fact, this is one of Jeezy’s concerns, the over-hype and monetization of rap and hip-hop. He’d prefer to keep his work underground or as married to the traditional roots of rap as possible. Critics, though have argued he spends too much time rapping or talking about getting rich to really have long-term allegiance to independent recording and self-promotion.

After the moderate success he managed with Come Shop, he joined on with Boyz. Here is where Jeezy tasted true commercial success—the album, Boyz N Da Hood, hit Billboard charts hard and won big fans. Being the marketer that he is, Jeezy used the Boyz momentum to release his first album under the name Young Jeezy. He was now with Def Jam Records, a major label that has made commercial successes of Jay-Z, Ludacris, and LL Cool J, to name a few. Def Jam launched Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 in the middle of 2005. The album hit the rap charts at #2 right out of the chute.

His single, “I Luv It,” was released just before its 2006 album, The Inspiration. Artists, R. Kelly and Timbaland are featured along with a number of others.

Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (2005):

1. Thug Motivation 101
2. Standin’ Ovation
3. Gangsta Music
4. Let’s Get It/Sky’s the Limit
5. And Then What
6. Go Crazy
7. Last of a Dying Breed
8. My Hood
9. Bottom of the Map
10. Get Ya Mind Right
11. Trap Star
12. Bang
13. Don’t Get Caught
14. Soul Survivor
15. Trap or Die
16. Tear it Up
17. That’s How Ya Feel
18. Talk To Em
19. Air Forces

The Inspiration (2006):

1. Hynotize (Intro)
2. Still On It
3. U Know What it Is
4. J.E.E.Z.Y.
5. I Luv It
6. Go Getta
7. 3 A.M.
8. The Realest
9. Streets on Lock
10. Bury Me a G
11. Dreamin’
12. What You Talkin’ Bout
13. Keep it Gangsta
14. Mr. 17.5
15. I Got Money
16. The Inspiration (Follow Me)