Young Jeezy Holds His Own, Sans Surprise Guests, During NYC Show

Photos courtesy of Ralph Bristout

Young Jeezy performed to a sold-out crowd at Irving Plaza in New York City last night (March 4) for the second stop of his Hustlerz Ambition Tour.

The snowman took the stage as the classic monologue from the movie Goodfellas played in the backdrop. “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster,” spoke Ray Liotta as mobster Henry Hill through the speakers.

The crowd erupted as soon as Jeezy came onto the stage wearing all back everything expect for a matching MCM hat and belt and Tupac-inspired “angel of death” chain.

Jizzle wasted no time, kicking off the show with his top-five single “Soul Survivor” from his debut album Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101. The show became a music history of “your favorite trapper’s favorite trapper,” as Jeezy performed tracks from his albums in chronological order with the occasionally mixtape cut thrown in.

He continued with Thug Motivation 101 and performed “Standing Ovation” and had the crowd reciting the chorus, “I’m a T-R-A-P-S-T-AR” from “Trap Star.” As soon as the opening instrumental of  “Go Crazy” came on everyone held their breath for a possible appearance of Jay-Z to perform the remix, but Hov was a no show.

The hits continued as “I Luv It” and “Go Getta” from The Inspiration kept the energy high just as Jeezy brought out the only “guest,” his U.S.D.A partner Slick Pulla.

The rapper announced it was time for The Recession just before the words “Shawty Redd on the track” blared through the sound system, to which the crowd erupted for “Who Dat.” “Get Allot” and the hit “Put On” followed.

Jeezy took a brief break to speak some words of motivation, which he used as a time to transition to Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition. He performed “Nothing,” “Way Too Gone,” “Lose My Mind” and “I Do” before he broke out “OJ,” which concertgoers thought for sure would bring out Jadakiss and/or Fabolous, but neither New York rapper made an appearance.

In a testament to the buzz and growing popularity of 2 Chainz, Jeezy did not cut off “Supafreak” when the rapper’s verse came on. Instead, the crowd and Jeezy rapped “going online like, ‘when they gonna make that Bentley truck?’ My bankroll make em pay attention, the white girl like it when I whip it, whip it.”

While Young Jeezy didn’t bring out any superstar guests even with a catalog of popular collaborations with many New York MCs, he proved he can head up north and hold it down on his own. —Nicholas Sella @NickSella