If there’s one concept that Jeezy knows about it’s adversity. The 45-year-old rapper and businessman is currently in the beginning stages of a divorce, and his book “Adversity for Sale” is an exploration of the hip-hop artist’s life highlighting his struggles with depression and his music career.
“This is a life-changing moment for me and for all of us,” Jeezy told The Source. “We did this together for the culture. To witness people embracing my story and evolution is an incredible feeling. It’s distinct from my experiences in rap because, through this book, I am not only entertaining them but also helping them educate themselves by sharing my personal journey. It’s a powerful realization that my story has the potential to inspire and empower others in a profound way.”
From Hauling Watermelon To Sold Out Arenas
Jeezy reportedly has a current net worth of $10 million and is credited with helping to popularize the trap music subgenre of rap music along with other rappers such as T.I. and Gucci Mane. In 2004, Jeezy was known as Young Jeezy.
Jeezy was born in South Carolina and his family moved to Atlanta when he was a child. He was always interested in working and doing better. At times he worked as a roofer, tossed watermelons in a field, and washed cars. As an adolescent, he landed in a juvenile detention center for selling drugs but his love for hip-hop music helped him find a path to success.
“I was willing to do anything to provide for my mom and my sister,” he said in a recent BET interview. “What can I do to help my mom get a house? My sister finish school?”
By 2001, Jeezy was going by the name Lil J and released his independent album, “Thuggin’ Under the Influence.” Two years later, he released “Come Shop Wit Me,” and by 2004 he had signed to Bad Boy Records with the group Boyz n da Hood.
The group’s album hit No. 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Jeezy, then known as Young Jeezy, would go solo and sign with Def Jam Recordings. His debut album “Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101” was released in 2005, hit the No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200, and would go on to be certified platinum.
Since then, Jeezy has released nine other solo albums and collaborated with artists such as Kanye West, Rihanna and Usher.
In 2019, he retired from music to focus on other entrepreneurial endeavors.
He recently revealed that he owns a steakhouse and owns a spirits house. One in particular, Avion Tequila, was sold to Pernod Ricard, a company specializing in wines and spirits. Since then, he has purchased Naud Spirits, and Defiance, a fuel water.
“I’mma tell you what they know, ’cause’ I can’t tell you what they don’t know cause’ I’m still street. I can’t give it all up, but what they do know,” he said in an interview with Forbes. “My uncle always told me don’t let ya right hand know what ya left hand doin.”
Motivation By Blessings
The inspiration for the memoir came after the pandemic, while Jeezy was reading “Think and Grow Rich” by self-help author Norman Vincent Peale. It was during this time that he became increasingly reflective on his life, realizing the powerful opportunities and blessings that he experienced in his life.
“Life was really happening. I was blessed,” Jeezy said in an interview with BET. “Things just started to change overnight–relationships, experiences, conversations.”
Jeezy is the father of four children, two adult sons, a daughter from a previous relationship, and a 1-year-old through his marriage to Jeannie Mai Jenkins. Although he recently filed for divorce, Jeezy is seeking joint custody of their daughter — a testament to his desire to build solid relationships.
The memoir was released in August as part of the ongoing 50th anniversary of hip-hop celebration. Within days of hitting bookstores and online marketplaces, the book reached the No. 13 spot on The New York Times Best Sellers list. By the week of Sept. 7, the book reached the No. 10 spot.
“This is for all my day ones and everybody that’s been down with me since the beginning,” Jeezy said in an Instagram post. “This is the greatest story never told. In this motivational memoir, I use parts of my life story, every step, every mishap, every up and down that I’ve gone through to get to this point in my life to motivate the hustlers, entrepreneurs, and believers.”
