After pioneering trap music with T.I. and Gucci Mane, Jeezy took time off from recording to focus on business deals. Now at age 45, he finds it hard to accept being called a legend.
"It just feels like you’re not in it no more, and that’s not the truth," the “Soul Survivor" rapper tells Billboard.
"My focus doesn’t have to always be rap. I’m building companies — Cognac, vodka, gin and performance fuel water — and my real estate portfolio is nuts. When I say I own half of Atlanta, I mean that s***," Jeezy, born Jay Jenkins, continues.
"Going to the 'legend' thing, it makes it sound like the run is over. How so? It’s because I believe in reinventing myself all the time," Jeezy adds. "It’s Snowman forever. I been on tour with the best of ’em, and I look in that crowd and see 500 Snowman shirts. I can identify my people, and that means it’s real and tangible."
Jeezy and longtime collaborator DJ Drama dropped SNOFALL on October 21, featuring Lil Durk, 42 Dugg and EST Gee. This is his first new album in two years.
After marrying Jeannie Mai from The Real in 2021, and having their first child together, some people thought Jeezy may retire. But after more than two decades in the game, he's focusing again on being an artist. Jeezy compares working with Drama to a famous duo from the six-time Chicago Bulls NBA championship team.
“Coming back with Drama for this SNOFALL was like Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan having a one-on-one in they background,” the four-time Grammy nominee says.
“It’s like getting to see your two favorite basketball players or boxers spar at the gym,” Jeezy says. "You like, 'Damn, that was legendary.'"