Photos by: Aaron J. Thornton
Jeezy has always called Detroit his second home, and on the night of Friday September 12, he reminded the city why. The Atlanta rapper, who once went by Young Jeezy, closed out his 20th anniversary tour for Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 at the Fox Theatre with an 80-minute performance that merged nostalgia, elegance, and sheer energy. Fans filled the sold-out venue in tuxedos and gowns, giving the night the feel of a formal celebration of both an era and the endurance of a career that shaped hip-hop’s mid-2000s soundtrack.
Jeezy walked out in a mint green tuxedo, backed by a full band and the 25-piece Color of Noize Orchestra, led by Derrick Hodge. The strings and brass elevated songs like “Thug Motivation 101” and “Standing Ovation,” adding a cinematic weight to tracks that once pulsed through car speakers across Detroit in the summer of 2005. The mix wasn’t always even—the band often overpowered the orchestra—but the presence of both showed the ambition of the staging and Jeezy’s determination to present his music in a grander frame.
The set pulled heavily from TM: 101, with Jeezy performing 12 of its 19 songs, before moving into other crowd favorites. He let the audience take the lead on anthems like “Go Crazy” and “And Then What,” breaking down choruses to acapella call-and-responses. Video interludes placed the music in the broader arc of his career, reflecting not only on his highs but also on the struggles that defined his story.
For Jeezy, this wasn’t just a tour stop. It was a bridge between past and present, streamed live for fans worldwide, but tailored for Detroit. At 48, with new music on the way—including a DJ Drama mixtape later this month—and plans for a Las Vegas residency, he closed his anniversary run by affirming what Detroit has long shown him: respect for the Snowman never melted.
