#Socialites, are you ready for new Jeezy? Upon celebrating the final show of his sold-out, 23-stop ‘Thug Motivation: 101’ 20th Anniversary Live Orchestra Tour, Jeezy made two huge announcements.
RELATED: Social Media Reacts To Jeezy’s Tiny Desk Performance
Jeezy Announces 2-Part Vegas Residency With 101-Piece Live Orchestra And New DJ Drama Project ‘Still Snowin”
On Friday (September 12), Jeezy hosted his final ‘Thug Motivation: 101’ 20th Anniversary Live Orchestra in Detroit at the Fox theatre. The show, like the rest, was arranged and conducted by Derrick Hodge, who heads up the Color of Noize Orchestra. During a press conference after his heartfelt stop, Jeezy spoke on the history he made with his 26-piece touring Orchestra. He also spoke on how he’s planning to continue his success and historic feats.
With his first big announcement, he revealed a new Gangsta Grillz project with DJ Drama called ‘Still Snowin’.’ The collaboration will be dropping on the rapper’s birthday, September 28. Jeezy said the new joint is “one of [his] favorite projects ever.” He also teased that he has one special guest featuring on the project. However, he’s keeping that name quiet for now.
In a second announcement, Jeezy addressed the tons of phone calls and texts sent about ‘TM: 101: Live’ skipping the West Coast. But fear no more! Jeezy is bringing his historic tour to Las Vegas with a 2-part residency in October (October 31 and November 1) and December (December 19 and 21). AND he’s upgrading his 26-piece orchestra to a 101-piece.
The Vegas residency, taking place at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, is also holiday-themed with October’s labeled, ‘TM 101: Live – The Masquerade,’ for Halloween, and December’s labeled, ‘TM 101: Live – The Nutcracker,’ for Christmas and other winter holidays. As with his tour, Adam Blackstone will be producing the show. Derrick Hodge and the Color of Noize Orchestra will perform with sets from DJ Drama and DJ Ace.
RELATED: Jeezy And Jeannie Mai’s Divorce Finalized With Undisclosed Settlement Reached
Jeezy ‘Grateful’ To Celebrate 20-Year Music Career And Gives Advice To Younger Generation In Music Wanting To Live By Certain Codes
At his press conference, Jeezy answered several questions about his historic feat, successful and decades-long music career, and much more. Jeezy was first asked, “This album started off with a scorned intern leaking it, and now 20 years later, multiple times Platinum, multiple venues sold, how does it feel to be in this moment? And what’s one word that you would use to describe the last two decades of your life?” He replied:
“Grateful. That’s the word I would use. Where I come from, people don’t make it. Music is almost like sports, you have a short career. I think for me, I never took it was work. I took it as a purpose. It was always about leadership for me. Now, I’m still processing it because this is like…
By the way, just so you know, we did this tour on our own. Me and my team, and my partners, we did this whole tour. People told us it was crazy and it wouldn’t work, it wouldn’t sell, but it sold out. I’ve never been a part of a tour that before we was fourth day in. So, that was a blessing…
But, grateful. This is an amazing milestone, because for me, it was more so two-fold to show the young generation that you can also evolve in this. Like, an artist is supposed to grow. You don’t have to be stuck in this place, where you’re this certain person, and trick yourself out the game because you’re trying to live by a certain code or be a certain person. Once you get into this game, you’re a businessman at that point, you’re a leader. You don’t have to succumb to what you were dealing with in the environment you were in, because you’re no longer in that environment. You’re going around the world. So, it was to show them that as well.
But, 20 years, I’m grateful because I don’t think a lot of people have 20 years in anything. So, that would make me an expert in hustling.”
Jeezy Talks 2-Part Vegas Residency And History He Plans To Continue Making With 101-Piece Orchestra
While acknowledging his trailblazing efforts in the Trap Rap genre and now appearing to pioneer a Trap Rap and Orchestra mix, Hollywood Unlocked asked Jeezy how he got here and where he’s headed next. He said:
“I think your art, in music, whatever your contribution is, it should grow with you. You gotta think big. You gotta think colossal. To take this tour around Midwest, down South, and everywhere we’ve been before going to Vegas, it’s just a proof of concept. I’ve always wanted to have a residency because I feel that if you build it, they will come.
I don’t know, to date, anyone that’s gone to Vegas with a 101-piece orchestra, so that’s something I wanted to do first. I feel like the culture should own that. We should say that. I also feel like a lot of times they get us, they offer us money, and they come do these shows, but they’re not elevating us. And what I mean by ‘us’ is I mean everybody that’s a part of it. If it’s always just about the bag, then what is that really? My goal is making it about the impact, the legacy. When you think about Vegas, it’s like Frank Sinatra, The Rat Pack, and all those guys.
But think about it, Jeezy’s about to go out here and take his crew. We’re about to set up in Vegas, tuxedos, and Cuban cigars, and have my people come out there and have a good time and just celebrate this art. To me, that’s what it’s really about. It’s about pushing the envelope. You never heard that. Nobody has ever said that there’s been any type of Culture that’s been out there and done anything besides what they expect Culture to do. And that’s to get a mic and just do songs, get your bag, and get out of there.
No, we’re coming there to leave our imprint. And that’s what it’s about to be like when we leave. They’re gonna be like, ‘Damn, ‘TM:101,’ yeah, it was real.’ You gotta think about it. We’re going out there to do ‘The Masquerade’ and ‘The Nutcracker.’ I don’t care who else is doing ‘The Nutcracker’ in Vegas, it’s ours this Winter. Snoman’s ‘Nutcracker,’ you heard?”
RELATED: Jeannie Mai Talks Challenges While Reflecting On Co-Parenting With Jeezy
#Socialites, be sure to check out the post below, then leave us your thoughts in a comment after!