The Evolution of Jeezy

A toast to the CTE founder's 37th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Jeezy! - When Jeezy says he’s Seen It All, it’s kind of hard not to agree with him. Before he was a key member of Def Jam’s empire and topping the Billboard charts, he was building his own brand as an independent businessman on the rise. With a handful of indie releases, five major studio albums, a record label and ties to a tequila brand among many accolades, Jizzle has a lot to be thankful for on his 37th birthday, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. In honor of his born-day keep clicking to see how Jeezy has evolved over the years. — Dominique Zonyeé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Ouzounova/Splash News)

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Happy Birthday, Jeezy! - When Jeezy says he’s Seen It All, it’s kind of hard not to agree with him. Before he was a key member of Def Jam’s empire and topping the Billboard charts, he was building his own brand as an independent businessman on the rise. With a handful of indie releases, five major studio albums, a record label and ties to a tequila brand among many accolades, Jizzle has a lot to be thankful for on his 37th birthday, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. In honor of his born-day keep clicking to see how Jeezy has evolved over the years. — Dominique Zonyeé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Ouzounova/Splash News)

From the Bottom of the Map - Born in North Carolina on Sept. 28, 1977, Jay Wayne Jenkins better known by his stage name, Young Jeezy moved to Atlanta when he was still baby Jeezy. Due to a difficult upbringing, he fell into the street life and even did a stint in boot camp for narcotics possession. But he didn’t let his street smarts go to waste, he was determined to become a successful businessman.(Photo: Jason Nocito/Corbis)

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From the Bottom of the Map - Born in North Carolina on Sept. 28, 1977, Jay Wayne Jenkins better known by his stage name, Young Jeezy moved to Atlanta when he was still baby Jeezy. Due to a difficult upbringing, he fell into the street life and even did a stint in boot camp for narcotics possession. But he didn’t let his street smarts go to waste, he was determined to become a successful businessman.(Photo: Jason Nocito/Corbis)

The Streets to the Studio - He got his first taste of the rap game with the 2001 release of Thuggin Under the Influence (T.U.I.), under the name Lil J. T.U.I. featured appearances by Lil Jon, who also produced many of the tracks.(Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

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The Streets to the Studio - He got his first taste of the rap game with the 2001 release of Thuggin Under the Influence (T.U.I.), under the name Lil J. T.U.I. featured appearances by Lil Jon, who also produced many of the tracks.(Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

A Corporate Thug - By 2003, Jizzle was gaining fame on the ATL underground hip hop scene. He formed his Corporate Thugz Entertainment company and released his indie debut, Come Shop Wit’ Me, a tone-setting double disc featuring appearances from Bone Crusher and Pastor Troy. The hood chronicle sold more than 50,000 copies.(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

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A Corporate Thug - By 2003, Jizzle was gaining fame on the ATL underground hip hop scene. He formed his Corporate Thugz Entertainment company and released his indie debut, Come Shop Wit’ Me, a tone-setting double disc featuring appearances from Bone Crusher and Pastor Troy. The hood chronicle sold more than 50,000 copies.(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

A Bad Boy in the Hood - The success of Come Shop Wit’ Me caught the attention of Diddy, who was in the process of forming an all male rap group. Jeezy signed with Bad Boy Records and joined Jody Breeze, Gorilla Zoe, Big Gee and Duke to make up Boyz n Da Hood.(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

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A Bad Boy in the Hood - The success of Come Shop Wit’ Me caught the attention of Diddy, who was in the process of forming an all male rap group. Jeezy signed with Bad Boy Records and joined Jody Breeze, Gorilla Zoe, Big Gee and Duke to make up Boyz n Da Hood.(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

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Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 - Not shortly after releasing Boyz n Da Hood, the crew’s debut album, Jizzle released his first major label solo effort, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, in 2005 via Def Jam Recordings. Led by the singles “And Then What” featuring Mannie Fresh and “Soul Survivor” featuring Akon, it appeared to be just what the streets needed. It even reached commercial success, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images for Universal Music)

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Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 - Not shortly after releasing Boyz n Da Hood, the crew’s debut album, Jizzle released his first major label solo effort, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, in 2005 via Def Jam Recordings. Led by the singles “And Then What” featuring Mannie Fresh and “Soul Survivor” featuring Akon, it appeared to be just what the streets needed. It even reached commercial success, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images for Universal Music)

Young Jeezy vs. Gucci Mane (Round 1) - Jeezy and Gucci have been clashing for years. Jeezy was featured on Gucci's breakthrough hit "Icy," but later claimed he was never paid for his work on the song and a war of words on wax and in the press escalated to real-life violence. Five men who were allegedly part of Jeezy's camp stormed a house Gucci was visiting and one was later found dead. Gucci and Jeezy eventually squashed, unsquashed and resquashed the beef with help from DJ Drama and seemed to have settled into a wary truce until the latest uproar.  (Photos: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images; Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

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Downhome Rivalry - While Jeezy was on the rise, so was fellow Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane. Jeezy and Gucci started off as boys, collaborating on the 2005 track “Icy.” But to Jeezy’s dismay, the track was featured on Gucci’s indie classic Trap House as opposed to making the tracklist on his Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101. Salty over the “Icy” move, Jizzle “announced a bounty” on Gucci’s chain on “Stay Strapped.” Gucci responded with “Round One.” The verbal assassinations turned physical when Gucci was charged with the murder of Jeezy’s associate. The fellas would not settle the score until 2012.(Photos from left: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images, Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Jeezy - Can't ban the snowman — but plenty tried in 2005. As Jeezy and his snowman shirts were becoming popular nationwide, particularly among teens, many schools and districts began attempting to ban the attire. (Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

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Da Snowman - It was time to unleash Da Snowman, his drug pushing alter ego. Jeezy dropped the mixtape Trap or Die featuring snow covered bars on the 2005 street anthem “Trap or Die” featuring Bun B and Slick Pulla and the club hit “Do the Damn Thang” featuring Fabolous. The Snowman became a movement, taking over urban street wear as Jeezy Snowman icon T-shirts became a staple in hip hop wardrobes. The snow kept falling on the 2006 DJ Drama-hosted Can’t Ban Da Snowman mixtape.(Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

A Helping Hand - After Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast in 2005, Jeezy opened his 12-bedroom Atlanta home to displaced survivors. “At the end of the day, it’s our people in need of help,” Jeezy told MTV in 2005. “This is the same place I did a gang of shows, the same people who supported me over the years. You’re talking about a place we used to go to support the Super Bowl, and it’s like a Third World country now.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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A Helping Hand - After Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast in 2005, Jeezy opened his 12-bedroom Atlanta home to displaced survivors. “At the end of the day, it’s our people in need of help,” Jeezy told MTV in 2005. “This is the same place I did a gang of shows, the same people who supported me over the years. You’re talking about a place we used to go to support the Super Bowl, and it’s like a Third World country now.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Cold Summer - On the heels of his solo success, Jizzle decided it was time to introduce the world to his United Streets Dopeboyz of America (U.S.D.A.) crew. Jeezy, Slick Pulla and Blood Raw dropped Cold Summer in 2007. Led by the single “White Girl,” the album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 charts and established the CTE boss as an influential member of hip hop's rising elite.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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Cold Summer - On the heels of his solo success, Jizzle decided it was time to introduce the world to his United Streets Dopeboyz of America (U.S.D.A.) crew. Jeezy, Slick Pulla and Blood Raw dropped Cold Summer in 2007. Led by the single “White Girl,” the album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 charts and established the CTE boss as an influential member of hip hop's rising elite.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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Young Jeezy – "Air Forces" - Young Jeezy named this hit after hip hop's favorite footgear and thusly rapped about that rubber-bottom life: "I went from old school Chevys to drop top Porsches/You couldn't walk a mile off in my Air Forces/And you ain't did what I did/When you from where I from, you gotta get it how you live." (Photo: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

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The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102 - Jeezy came for the Billboard No. 1 spot again in 2006 with the release of The Inspiration. The album became a hit in part from the success of the first single, “I Luv It,” which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 14. It also featured hit singles “Go Getta” featuring R. Kelly and “Dreamin” featuring Keyshia Cole.(Photo: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

The Recession - Always speaking for the streets, Jeezy empathized with Americans who were affected by the economic depression in 2008, so much so it influenced Da Snowman’s fifth and second consecutive No. 1 album, The Recession. The album’s first single, "Put On" featuring Kanye West, produced by frequent Jeezy collaborator Drumma Boy, received a Grammy nod for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.(Photo: Scott Legato/FilmMagic)

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The Recession - Always speaking for the streets, Jeezy empathized with Americans who were affected by the economic depression in 2008, so much so it influenced Da Snowman’s fifth and second consecutive No. 1 album, The Recession. The album’s first single, "Put On" featuring Kanye West, produced by frequent Jeezy collaborator Drumma Boy, received a Grammy nod for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.(Photo: Scott Legato/FilmMagic)

My President Is Black - The 2008 recession also marked the first time a Black man ran and was elected as president of the United States. Jeezy was in full support of Barack Obama and displayed his allegiance with the release of the fourth single off The Inspiration, “My President” featuring Nas. The song was particularly significant because it not only marked Jeezy’s mainstream appeal, it also became a hood anthem providing a voice for those who weren’t necessarily involved in politics.(Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

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My President Is Black - The 2008 recession also marked the first time a Black man ran and was elected as president of the United States. Jeezy was in full support of Barack Obama and displayed his allegiance with the release of the fourth single off The Inspiration, “My President” featuring Nas. The song was particularly significant because it not only marked Jeezy’s mainstream appeal, it also became a hood anthem providing a voice for those who weren’t necessarily involved in politics.(Photo: The Island Def Jam Music Group)

Young Jeezy vs. Bill O'Reilly - Bill-O struck again in 2009, when he lit into Jeezy for his celebratory performance of "My President Is Black" in Washingotn, D.C. when Barack Obama was inaugurated. He called it "hateful" and offensive. Jeezy responded by adding an additional verse to the song, going at O'Reilly. (Photos from left to right: John Ricard / BET, Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

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Bill O’Reilly Sounds Off, Jizzle Stands Up - Although the streets had his back, not everyone was feeling Jizzle’s “My President” movement. Bill O’Reilly, host of the O’Reilly Factor, blasted Jizzle and Jay Z (who appeared on one of several remixed versions) for "offending many people" during a 2009 performance of the anti-Bush song at Jeezy’s “Presidential Status” inauguration ball in D.C. The “Seen It All” rapper stood by his lyrics, stating that he just wanted to do his part and continue to deliver music based on how he feels.(Photos from left to right: John Ricard / BET, Mike Coppola/Getty Images) 

Fallout With DJ Drama - DJ Drama and Jizzle go all the way back to before Jizzle’s Trap or Die days. So when Drama hosted Jeezy’s nemesis Gucci Mane’s mixtape The Movie, it didn’t sit well with the CTE boss. The tension brewed and Drama and Jeezy’s camps got into it at the 2009 Atlanta screening for the movie Notorious. “Drama just started acting like a b---h. Drama wanted to be Khaled, but he didn’t want to help nobody,” Jeezy told XXL about what led to their feud.(Photos from left: Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Trey Songz and Angels With Heart Foundation, Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)

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Fallout With DJ Drama - DJ Drama and Jizzle go all the way back to before Jizzle’s Trap or Die days. So when Drama hosted Jeezy’s nemesis Gucci Mane’s mixtape The Movie, it didn’t sit well with the CTE boss. The tension brewed and Drama and Jeezy’s camps got into it at the 2009 Atlanta screening for the movie Notorious. “Drama just started acting like a b---h. Drama wanted to be Khaled, but he didn’t want to help nobody,” Jeezy told XXL about what led to their feud.(Photos from left: Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Trey Songz and Angels With Heart Foundation, Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)

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Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition - Jeezy strayed away from his Thug Motivation series, but he was ready to complete the trilogy when he announced in 2010 that he began working on the third installment, Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition. He dropped the Plies-assisted single “Lose My Mind” followed by the album’s first official single, “Ballin” featuring Lil Wayne. Several singles and more than a year after the album was announced, Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition was finally available in it’s entirety in December 2011. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 charts and showcased the rapper’s evolution since 101.(Photo: Chris McKay/Getty Images)

Battle of the Bosses - Jizzle and Rick Ross were once considered collaborators, but their relationship turned sour when Ross dropped his club hit “B.M.F.,” shouting out the crew’s head honcho Big Meech. Jizzle, a friend, released his track “Death B4 Dishonor,” firing shots that seemed to be directed towards Ross. “How you blowin’ money fast/You don’t know the crew/Oh, you part of the fam?/S--t, I never knew,” he rapped. Although Jeezy claimed he wrote the song before “B.M.F.” was released, the rappers got into a shoving match and heated argument backstage at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards.(Photos from left: Chris McKay/Getty Images, John Ricard/BET)

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Battle of the Bosses - Jizzle and Rick Ross were once considered collaborators, but their relationship turned sour when Ross dropped his club hit “B.M.F.,” shouting out the crew’s head honcho Big Meech. Jizzle, a friend, released his track “Death B4 Dishonor,” firing shots that seemed to be directed towards Ross. “How you blowin’ money fast/You don’t know the crew/Oh, you part of the fam?/S--t, I never knew,” he rapped. Although Jeezy claimed he wrote the song before “B.M.F.” was released, the rappers got into a shoving match and heated argument backstage at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards.(Photos from left: Chris McKay/Getty Images, John Ricard/BET)

Seen It All - Although Jeezy kept the streets flooded with mixtapes like his The Real Is Back and Its Tha World series, it would be three years before he released an album. The lapse allowed Jizzle to get introspective with his fifth studio LP, Seen It All: The Autobiography. Led by the self-assuring single “Me OK” and the Jay Z-assisted single “Seen It All,” the album dropped on Sept. 2 debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The critical acclaim further solidified Jeezy as one of the best rappers in the game.(Photo: Thaddaeus McAdams/Getty Images)

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Seen It All - Although Jeezy kept the streets flooded with mixtapes like his The Real Is Back and Its Tha World series, it would be three years before he released an album. The lapse allowed Jizzle to get introspective with his fifth studio LP, Seen It All: The Autobiography. Led by the self-assuring single “Me OK” and the Jay Z-assisted single “Seen It All,” the album dropped on Sept. 2 debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The critical acclaim further solidified Jeezy as one of the best rappers in the game.(Photo: Thaddaeus McAdams/Getty Images)