Jay Wayne Jenkins , better known by his stage name Young Jeezy or simply Jeezy, is an American rapper and hip hop recording artist from Atlanta, Georgia. He is the de facto leader of Southern hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America and a former member of Boyz n da Hood as well as the Black Mafia Family . He embarked on his career in 2001, under an independent label and joined Boyz n da Hood in 2005, the same year his solo major-label debut Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 was released. Its lead single "Soul Survivor", which featured R&B singer Akon, became a top-ten hit in the US.