Atlanta-based rapper's straightforward yet potent style rocketed him from underground mixtape status to the top of the pop charts.
Years before making his first Def Jam album -- Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 -- Young Jeezy set up Corporate Thugz Entertainment and promoted Cash Money releases. From there, he branched out as a label boss and artist. As a member of Boyz N da Hood, he was behind a self-titled album that debuted in the Top Ten of the Billboard album chart. Driven by the hit "Soul Survivor," Let's Get It eventually did even better, nestling at the number two spot in the Top 200. The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102 followed in late 2006, and by that point, Jeezy had become one of the most prominent MCs. ~ Andy Kellman
Def Jam
2011
Def Jam
2008