Jeezy Says Kanye West Lived By 'What Would Jeezy Do?' Motto While Making '808s'

Jeezy has said that Kanye West lived by the mentality “What would Jeezy do?” while making 808s & Heartbreak.

In an interview with Ed Mylett on Siriux XM, the Atlanta rapper recalled flying to Hawaii to work with Ye on his 2008 album and seeing his name on a chalkboard in the studio.

“When he was doing that album 808s & Heartbreak, he called me and was like, ‘I need you to come out to Hawaii.’ And I’m like, ‘What for?'” said Jeezy, who appeared on the song “Amazing.”

“So when I get out to Hawaii, he has this chalkboard out there and it said, ‘What would Jeezy do?’ He had all these songs on there and he was playing the songs, and he would watch what I would bob my head to.”

“And he told me, he said, ‘You understand how to talk to them in a way they understand and it’s simple.'”

Jeezy also revealed that Kanye worked with him on songs such as “Put On” because the Chicago native wanted to attract a more “street” audience.

“I brought Kanye West out to Birthday Bash, it’s like the biggest show in Atlanta. We had a record together called ‘Put On’ and he’d never been in front of that many people that are, like, street people,” he explained.

“His audience was more broad. But he wanted that — we all do.”

Jeezy says Kanye West sought his approval musically to connect with the streets and mentions wanting to learn survival skills from Jay-Z.

(🎥 @EdMylett ) pic.twitter.com/i9ykG8MCaU

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) November 29, 2023

Previously, Jeezy revealed that Kanye West’s 2007 Graduation hit “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” was originally his record and was supposed to be on his Recession album.

“‘Wait Until I Get My Money Right’ was a song with me and T.I. for my album, The Recession,” he told HipHopDX. “I sent it to Ye and [he] put a verse on it, but wanted to know who produced the record.”

After informing him that DJ Toomp had crafted the instrumental, Jeezy said Ye contacted the producer and had him adjust the overall sound of the beat.

“When he sent it back, I’m just like, ‘Yo man, it’s a whole different song. And I gotta turn my album over to the label in two days,'” he added.

related news

Jeezy Recalls JAY-Z Advice After Failing To Cash 7-Figure Check: 'I Was Embarrassed To Ask'

November 10, 2023

Despite being told how dope the track was, Jeezy ultimately decided to leave it off the album.

“Time goes by, six months later, I’m in L.A. and [Kanye] calls me to come to the studio,” he continued. “He wanted to play me something … he played me ‘Wait ‘Til I Get My Money Right.’ It was the same song and same verse he sent me, he just added another verse to it.”

Ye then asked Jeezy if he could keep his original ad-libs which appear at the end of the track, and Jeezy granted him permission.

“I was just like, ‘Dang, I just gave you a hit record!’” he said. “In my mind, I was like, ‘Yo, he owes me one.’”