by Bayer L. Mack

What kind of nigga tell lies to himself, then turn around and tell the same lies to his fans?

Despite its various job titles, markets and divisions, the music industry can be summed up in two words: party and bullshit. To be honest, I’m not much interested in either one. For me, hearing MC Lukewarm brag about Soundscans (he more than likely paid for) ranks right alongside post-sex pillow talk on the list of things I like to do. Please, can’t I just go to sleep?

In an industry dominated by backstabbers, yes men and con artists, truth is the proverbial needle in the haystack. You can imagine how refreshing it is to meet somebody real, like a T.I., Willie D or a Slim Thug. The type of cats that aren’t afraid to say what’s in their hearts, not just what’s on their minds. Def Jam recording artist Young Jeezy, who will release his major label debut Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 on July 26, is that type.

The 25-year-old former street hustler from Atlanta turned a love for music into a legitimate grind and hasn’t looked back since. Getting his foot in the door by promoting Cash Money Records releases through his own Corporate Thugz Entertainment, Young Jeezy peeped the game from the inside.

“Relationships, grind and staying down,” Jeezy says when asked what he has learned from his experience in the music business. “Everybody got money. If it was all about money, then everybody would be [successful]. You have to have goals and make plans. If niggas knew better, they would do better.”

After seeing the riches Cash Money was making, Young Jeezy struck out on his own with b>Come Shop With Me. The solo debut sold more than 50,000 copies independently and set the stage for his major label deal with Def Jam. While the entrepreneur admits that he “ain’t no rapper,” Jeezy does recognize the importance of getting just the right beat. Selling yourself, he says, is the key to avoiding the outrageous prices some producers ask for.

“Niggas is coming with twenty to thirty stacks [thousand] in grocery bags to pay for beats,” explains Jeezy. “People will keep [charging that] as long as there are niggas willing to pay it. Most producers will work with you [on price] if they think you got potential. If all a producer do is drop off some beats and expect to get paid, you know something is wrong.”

Beyond little nuggets of wisdom like this, Jeezy says there’s not much more to the rap game.

“Real talk? There’s no business to learn,” admits Jeezy. “Do you. I really don’t do shit. I don’t watch Rap City or anything. Maybe I should, but I’m out grinding. [Def Jam] ain’t never dealt with a cat they had to catch up with. I be doing shit they don’t even know about.” Continued on page 2 »