Atlanta rapper Jeezy also known as Young Jeezy, was a big name in Southern hip-hop during the 2000s who came to prominence as the frontman of the Bad Boy Entertainment rap group Boyz n Da Hood.
Prior to joining Boyz N Da Hood, Jeezy (real name Jay Jenkins) was part of an Atlanta Crip gang where he met Kinky B, who helped him jumpstart his career. In 2001, Jenkins released an independent project entitled, Thuggin’ Under the Influence, which featured several features and tracks produced by the Godfather of Crunk Lil Jon.
Jeezy’s independent projects, like his double-disc album, Come Shop Wit Me, did exceptionally well in the South and boosted the rapper into stardom. Following his split from Boyz n Da Hood, Jeezy pursued a solo career and released his major label debut, Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, certifying Jeezy as a prominent artist.
Since his arrival, Jeezy has worked with the likes of Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Kanye West and others. However, there is one artist he has collaborated with that was his idol as a child. In 2009, following the inauguration of Barack Obama, Jenkins released a track alongside the legendary Nas entitled ‘My President’. However, how the two artists met was strange and slightly awkward.
In 2021 on Nas’ podcast, The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip-Hop, the two lyricists recalled the day they first met. Recalling the night at Club 112 in New York, Jeezy told the Illmatic artist, “I remember it like it was yesterday! I think it was like ’02 or ’03 and I got on about 20 diamond chains, a big Rolex watch, a Lexus GS 400 outside, and I’m in there poppin’ bottles.”
He continued, “I go to the bathroom, and the guy next to me in the stall is Nasty Nas. I’m like, ‘Yo! I’m a be big!'” Jeezy remembered explaining to Nas how he wanted to emulate his success. Within three years of their first encounter, Jeezy was at the top of the charts, and Nas gained a new respect for him as a big dreamer and hard worker.
The pair concluded by reminiscing about the making of ‘My President.’ Revealing how much he loved Nas’ lyrics, Jenkins stated, You sent me this legendary verse back. It was so legendary, my man Jay-Z [even] hit me about a remix.” Jeezy and Nas laughed about how the now-friends casually ran across each other in a nightclub toilet and decided it must have been fate. You can listen to ‘My president’ below.
