The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, sold 172,000 copies in its first week, and received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); its lead single, "Soul Survivor" (featuring Akon), peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting song.

[4][5] His second and third albums, Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration (2006) and The Recession (2008) were met with continued success as both peaked atop the Billboard 200; the latter earned a Grammy Award nomination for its lead single, "Put On" (featuring Kanye West).

In addition, Jenkins has guest featured on numerous R&B singles, including "Say I" by Christina Milian, "I'm So Paid" by Akon, "Hard" by Rihanna, and "Love in This Club" by Usher; the latter peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008.

Along with his solo career, Jenkins is the de facto leader of the Southern hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America (U.S.D.A.

His record label, CTE World was founded in 2001 and has signed artists including YG and Freddie Gibbs.

[6] When he was a toddler, Jenkins relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he lived with different family members, as a result of his parents separating.

In 1995, Jeezy spent six months in YCP (Youth Challenge Program), a boot camp in Fort Stewart, Georgia, for narcotics possession.

In 2004, Jeezy signed with Bad Boy Records and joined the group Boyz n da Hood, whose self-titled album was released in June 2005 and peaked at No.

In May 2004, Jazze Pha's manager, Henry 'Noonie' Lee, showed Jeezy's demo to his friend Shakir Stewart, then Vice President Artist and Repertoire (VP A&R) at Def Jam.

[12] Due to Jeezy's rising popularity, other record labels began pursuing him simultaneously to sign with them, most notably, Warner and Interscope.

Ultimately, Jeezy decided he wanted to be in business with Stewart and Reid and signed with Def Jam Records.

Also in 2007, Jeezy's group U.S.D.A, alongside Blood Raw and Slick Pulla, released their debut album, Cold Summer.

Separately, Jeezy made appearances on Usher's "Love in This Club" and Akon's "I'm So Paid", which was also with Lil Wayne.

While he had previously endorsed Barack Obama, during an interview with Vibe, Jeezy spoke about meeting and supporting John McCain.

Nearly two years after first announcing work on Thug Motivation 103, on May 17, 2011, Jeezy released the first single off the album, "Ballin", which features Lil Wayne and peaked at No.

Production came from Jahlil Beats, The Renegades, DJ Mustard, Warren G, Mike WiLL Made It, Cardo and Black Metaphor.

[29] On August 13, 2013, Young Jeezy released a compilation mixtape titled Boss Yo Life Up Gang with CTE World artists, Doughboyz Cashout and YG .

The mixtape has two singles, "My Nigga" by YG and "Mob Life" by Doughboyz Cashout, both featuring Young Jeezy.

[30] On September 17, 2013, Jeezy premiered the first single "In My Head", produced by Childish Major, from his CTE collaboration mixtape "Its Tha World 2".

[36] On December 15, 2017, Jeezy released his eighth studio album Pressure, originally titled Snow Season.

[39] On September 30, 2022, Jeezy announced a mixtape to be released the following month to help fulfill his contract with Def Jam Recordings, the label that housed him for over eighteen years.

[40][41] On Halloween 2023, Jeezy confirmed via Instagram that his contract with Def Jam has been fulfilled, while announcing a double album titled I Might Forgive, But I Don't Forget, which was released on November 3.

[47] On September 14, 2023, Jeezy filed for divorce[48] from Mai in Georgia's Superior Court of Fulton County, stating that “the marriage of the parties is irretrievably broken” and “there is no hope for reconciliation.” He is seeking joint legal custody of their daughter.

[51] On April 16, 2013, Brian Smith filed a copyright infringement complaint seeking an injunction, damages, and attorney fees against Jay W. Jenkins d/b/a Young Jeezy Music and others in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, concerning the work "Jizzle", which was released in July 2010.

[52] On August 27, 2013, Leroy Hutson also known as Lee Hutson Sr., former lead singer of 1970s R&B group The Impressions, filed a complaint against Young Jeezy and others alleging that Young Jeezy's song "Time" inappropriately incorporated the instrumental portion of "Getting it On", which was registered with the United States Copyright Office in 1973.

[53] On January 4, 2014, Jeezy was arrested for battery, false imprisonment, and terrorist threats, after an alleged fight with his son in September 2012.

When the police raided Jeezy's tour bus, they found an AK-47 military-style assault rifle and guns on several members of his entourage.

[55][56] On August 26, 2014, Jeezy, as well as the five other men he was arrested with, entered not guilty pleas to possession of an illegal assault rifle.

[57] Officers were reportedly told repeatedly that the registered owner of the AK-47 was the tour security chief, who was hospitalized at the time.