Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
Young Jeezy is hardly breaking new ground in rapping endlessly about the similarities between the trap game and the rap game. He joins a distinguished line of former 'caine slangers turned MC--Scarface, Jay-Z, the Clipse, Biggie, etc. However, despite the familiarity of Jeezy's topics, this Atlanta rapper has managed to make a bi-coastal splash through the strength of his mic presence and charisma. As the stand-out member of ATL's Boyz N Tha Hood, Jeezy has distinguished himself against the field of contemporary rappers. More rugged than the Game, though not as charming as Cam'ron, Jeezy's work-horse flow and lyrics are draped into evocative street-level realism. Though the Southern influence is obvious in many of the album's bounce and crunk-influenced beats, he shows an impressive diversity of sound selection including on his current street anthems for this summer like"Trap Star," "My Hood," and the sublimely melancholy "Go Crazy."-- Oliver Wang