Young Jeezy (born Jay Jenkins), 29, claims his alias dates back to his days hustling in Atlanta, long before he even started rhyming professionally. "I was always the young dude in the clique so the OG homies used to call me 'Young,'" he says. But at age 29, Jeezy who is preparing to release his sophomore disc, "The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102," in December knows he may not be able to call himself Young too much longer.
"I feel young though. I feel I represent for the young; this is my way of kind touching base with them," he explains, adding, "Yeah, ain't nobody want to (deal) with you if they think you old." Tamara Palmer, author of "Country Fried Soul: Adventures of Dirty South Hip-Hop," recalls an earlier time when rap names such as Grandmaster Flash or Grand Wizard Theodore often denoted age and wisdom.
Palmer acknowledges that historically rap artists have used similar pseudonyms. One could compile a long list of variations: Lil (Lil Kim, Lil Scrappy, Lil Wayne) or Big (Big Pun, Notorious B.I.
G). "People are afraid to be too esoteric or 'out there' with their aliases, because they want to have a name that doesn't scare away the masses.
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