Key Takeaways
- Jeezy called Jay-Z "more so a brother" on All the Smoke, praising his loyalty and guidance through major life decisions.
- Jeezy said his connection to Jay-Z, then Def Jam's new president, gave him leverage to negotiate his Def Jam and Bad Boy deals.
- He also recalled Jay-Z and Beyoncé attending his Trap or Die release party and described Hov's "Go Crazy" feature as a major sign of respect.
Jeezy has nothing but respect for Jay-Z, and has credited their relationship with helping him make some of the biggest moves of his career.
During a recent appearance on All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, the Atlanta rapper opened up about his longtime bond with Hov, explaining why he considers him more than just a friend.
"There's been situations I've been in where I've seen the person he is, so when I hear people say stuff, it throws me off," Jeezy said. "Dude, different, we been through altercations with people; he's solid, just as a friend, but more so as a brother, because I had to make life decisions that he already had to make."
He continued: "I could be like, 'Yo,' and he'd be like, 'Yo, man, listen. If it were me...' and we just have a conversation, not to say I'm gonna do what he says, but he's giving me something I can process. It's something like somebody who's played ball and went on with like it's like you talking to Magic Johnson."
Jeezy's comments came as he reflected on the advice and support he's received from Jay-Z over the years, particularly during the early stages of his music career.
According to Jeezy, knowing Hov gave him an advantage when negotiating his record deals, including his contract with Def Jam and his involvement with Diddy's Bad Boy Records through the rap group Boyz n da Hood.
He explained that he negotiated both deals "off the fact that I know Jay-Z, he just became the president."
Jay-Z became president of Def Jam in 2004, around the time Jeezy was preparing to launch his major-label career. Jeezy also recalled telling Diddy he would commit to recording only one album with Boyz n da Hood.
Their relationship extended beyond business, with Jay-Z and Beyoncé showing up to support Jeezy at his Trap or Die release party. The event drew an enormous crowd, according to Jeezy, who recalled having "6,000 people inside, another six outside that couldn't get in."
Jeezy also discussed how important it was to secure a Jay-Z feature on "Go Crazy," especially after repeatedly telling his business partners that he could make the collaboration happen.
He admitted that he didn't fully understand the significance of earning Hov's respect at the time. "I didn't know what that came with. You know, the type of top tier respect cause Brooklyn cats, New York people really don't do records with people they don't respect," Jeezy said.
