How Bob Marley influenced Jeezy’s career: “I took a position of leadership”
Bob Marley is one of the pioneers of reggae and profoundly affected the world through hits such as ‘Could You Be Loved’, ‘Three Little Birds’ and ‘Is This Love’. He was a Rastafarian icon who helped spread Jamaican music across the globe and was well-known for supporting the legalisation of cannabis. Jeezy was one of those influenced by Marley, but he didn’t quite realise the impact he had on the people of Jamaica.
The Atlanta rapper went to Nine Mile, where Marley grew up, and finally understood everything the iconic musician stood for. He found greater understanding in his work ethic and was stunned by the many stories people had about him in his local community. Marley was someone everyone looked up to and loved.
“I listened to the music, then I finally made it to Jamaica,” he told Forbes. “And when I went to where he was raised I got it. I understood what the whole Jamaican culture was about, why they worked so hard, why they done what they did, with his music that he was a leader. Everybody in his neighbourhood had a story about Bob Marley. His people loved him. He put himself on the line and he stood for something. And his intent was always first. And look at the intent.”
Through his music, Jeezy thinks of himself as a leader who motivates the people, inspired by greats like Marley. He wants fans to see things on a bigger scale than they’re currently at. His goal is far greater than making money from music.
“When I got into music, I never really strayed from my music. I didn’t consider it as being an artist and I still don’t to this day,” he said. “When you say ‘rapper’ that almost offends me because I always took a position of leadership. I just do what’s right, and that’s it. Any leader that’s really a leader knows you make mistakes and you fix them and keep moving.”
He continued, “But you lead, you continue to lead and create other leaders. That’s what it’s really about. So for me, I never looked at the music as music. I looked at it as a vehicle for my message. And my message was always motivation, desperation, inspiring people of doing aspirational things so they can see a bigger picture.”
In another interview with Billboard, Jeezy spoke about wanting to change people’s lives through his music, which is something he felt when he went to Marley’s birthplace.
“When I see these youngsters coming up, I see what I did for their fathers and brothers — it’s generational,” he said. “That’s what it’s really about. You don’t want to be a hit record. It’s a flash in the pan. But when you in the hearts of women, men, and children, it’s a real thing.
“I do it for someone to walk up and say, ‘Jeezy, you changed my life.’ They just giving you these different ways you helped them out and for me, that’s the fulfilment. It ain’t the awards, it’s that love. I got that when I went to Nine Mile.”