Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration

"The Inspiration" redirects here. For other uses, see Inspiration (disambiguation).

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2006 studio album by Young Jeezy

Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration

Studio album by

Young Jeezy

Released| December 12, 2006
Recorded| 2005–2006
Genre| Hip hop
Length| 77:14
Label|

* CTE
* Def Jam

Producer|

* Jeezy (also exec.)
* Demetrius "Kinky B" Ellerbee (exec.)
* Antonio "L.A." Reid (exec.)
* Kevin "Coach K" Lee (co-exec.)
* Shakir Stewart (co-exec.)
* J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
* DJ Toomp
* Cool & Dre
* Timbaland
* Don Cannon
* The Runners
* Mr. Collipark
* Shawty Redd
* Anthony Dent
* Drumma Boy
* Midnight Black
* Key Pushas

Young Jeezy chronology
| Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
(2005)  | Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration
(2006)  | The Recession
(2008)

|
|

Singles from  Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration

1. "I Luv It"
Released: October 24, 2006
2. "Go Getta"
Released: December 11, 2006
3. "Dreamin'"
Released: February 28, 2007

Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration is the fourth studio album by American rapper Young Jeezy. It was released on December 12, 2006, by Corporate Thugz Entertainment, and Def Jam Recordings. Production was handled by Shawty Redd, Timbaland, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, The Runners, Cool & Dre, Mr. Collipark, Drumma Boy, Don Cannon and Midnight Black, among others. It features guest appearances from R. Kelly, Timbaland, Keyshia Cole, Blood Raw, Slick Pulla, T.I., Project Pat and Three 6 Mafia. The Inspiration was supported by three singles: "I Luv It", "Go Getta" featuring R. Kelly, and "Dreamin'" featuring Keyshia Cole.

## Singles

[edit]

The album's lead single, "I Luv It", was released on October 24, 2006. The song was produced by DJ Toomp.[1]

The album's second single, "Go Getta", was released on December 11, 2006. The song features a guest appearance from American R&B singer R. Kelly, while the production was handled by the duo The Runners.[2]

The album's third single, "Dreamin'", was released on February 28, 2007. The song features a guest appearance from American R&B singer Keyshia Cole, while the production was also handled by The Runners.[3]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsAggregate scores

Source| Rating
Metacritic| (70/100)[4]
Review scores
Source| Rating
AllMusic| [5]
Entertainment Weekly| B+[6]
HipHopDX| [8]
Los Angeles Times| [7]
Pitchfork| 8.1/10[9]
PopMatters| 6/10[10]
RapReviews| 7/10[11]
Rolling Stone| [12]
USA Today| [13]
XXL| [14]

The album has a score of 70 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "generally favorable reviews".[4] Vibe gave the album four stars out of five and stated that "Despite its frustratingly uniform theme--coke--and Jeezy's inflexible, one-speed rasp, his sophomore effort, The Inspiration, suggests that last year's victories were no fluke."[4] The A.V. Club gave it a B and stated that Young Jeezy "spits snowman raps with rough-hewn charisma and unseemly enthusiasm."[15] Chicago Tribune gave it three stars out of four and said that Jeezy "continues to improve, crafting songs that are distinctive and memorable, even if he sticks to the well-worn topics of rims, clothes and clubbing."[16] Blender gave it three-and-a-half stars and said that "the smallest suggestions of personality make a charismatic impact."[4] Spin gave the album seven out of ten and stated that "This time around, it's as if the script has been reshot by Michael Bay--glossy and viscerally stimulating--and we're watching a coming attraction for a film that never starts."[4] Billboard gave it a positive review and said that Jeezy's lyrics "have matured past coke-slinging to the drug's effect on his life."[4] The Phoenix gave it two-and-a-half stars out of four and said that "Fortunately, getting the money isn't all this follow-up to last year's breakthrough Let's Get It cares about, and the singles here are fire."[17]

Other reviews are average or mixed: Okayplayer gave it an average review and stated, "The Inspiration, an even darker work than the debut, finds the Snowman weaving paranoid street tales with eerie trunk-rattling beats. The album's main downside is the repetitive nature of many of the tracks."[18] Prefix Magazine gave it a score of six out of ten and called it "Spottily effective gangster posturing."[19] However, Stylus Magazine gave it a C− and said, "The strange thing about The Inspiration is how it's posited as an alternative to the much-bullied "conscious rap", and yet, it's among the least fun albums released this year."[20] The New York Times gave it a mixed review and said, "Young Jeezy's appeal was never his writing, but now words sometimes fail him."[4] Hartford Courant also gave it a mixed review and said that "Almost every dramatic synth swell, exploding snare and multi-tracked "Yeaaahhhh" has been done better elsewhere."[21]

## Commercial performance

[edit]

Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 352,000 copies in the first week.[22] This became Jeezy's first US number-one debut and his second US top-ten album.[22] In its second week, the album dropped to number 18 on the chart.[23] In its third week, the album returned to the top-ten at number five on the chart, selling an additional 92,000 copies.[24] In its fourth week, the album dropped to number seven on the chart, selling 45,000 more copies.[25] On January 23, 2007, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over one million copies.[26] As of October 2009, the album has sold 1,229,000 copies in the United States.[27]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Hypnotize (Intro)"|

* Jay Jenkins
* Demetrius Stewart

| Shawty Redd| 3:41
2.| "Still on It"|

* Jenkins
* Tracey Sewell

| Midnight Black| 3:46
3.| "U Know What It Is"|

* Jenkins
* Stewart

| Shawty Redd| 3:44
4.| "J.E.E.Z.Y."|

* Jenkins
* Stewart

| Shawty Redd| 3:49
5.| "I Luv It"|

* Jenkins
* Aldrin Davis

| DJ Toomp| 4:00
6.| "Go Getta" (featuring R. Kelly)|

* Jenkins
* Andrew Harr
* Jermaine Jackson
* Robert Kelly

| The Runners| 3:49
7.| "3 A.M." (featuring Timbaland)|

* Jenkins
* Timothy Mosley

| Timbaland| 3:56
8.| "The Realest"|

* Jenkins
* Christopher Gholson

| Drumma Boy| 4:09
9.| "Streets on Lock"|

* Jenkins
* Andre Lyon
* Marcello Valenzano

| Cool & Dre| 3:34
10.| "Bury Me a G"|

* Jenkins
* Erik Ortiz
* Kenny Bartolomei
* Kevin Crowe

| J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League| 4:43
11.| "Dreamin'" (featuring Keyshia Cole)|

* Jenkins
* Harr
* Jackson
* Keyshia Cole

| The Runners| 4:49
12.| "What You Talkin' Bout"|

* Jenkins
* Michael Crooms

| Mr. Collipark| 3:48
13.| "Keep It Gangsta" (featuring Slick Pulla and Blood Raw)|

* Jenkins
* Renaldo Whitman
* Bruce Falson

| Key Pushas| 4:36
14.| "Mr. 17.5"|

* Jenkins
* Donald Clark

| Don Cannon| 3:30
15.| "I Got Money" (featuring T.I.)|

* Jenkins
* Davis
* Clifford Harris, Jr.

| DJ Toomp| 3:59
16.| "The Inspiration (Follow Me)"|

* Jenkins
* Anthony Dent

| Dent| 4:25

Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)No.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

17.| "I Do This"|

* Jenkins
* Harvey Miller

| DJ Speedy| 4:13
18.| "Hood Rat" (featuring Three 6 Mafia and Project Pat)|

* Jenkins
* Paul Beauregard
* Jordan Houston
* Patrick Houston

* DJ Paul
* Juicy J

| 4:27

iTunes bonus trackNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

19.| "National Anthem"|

* Jenkins
* Scott Jung

| CHOPS| 4:04

Sample credits

* "I Luv It" contains a sample of "I Believe to My Soul" performed by Donny Hathaway.
* "Go Getta" contains a sample of "Born on Halloween" performed by Blue Magic, and samples "Gone Away" performed by Roberta Flack.
* "Streets on Lock" contains an interpolation of "Out of Touch" performed by Hall & Oates.
* "Bury Me a G" contains a sample of "Child of God" performed by Millie Jackson.
* "Dreamin'" contains a sample of "Dreaming" performed by Bill Summers.
* "What You Talkin' Bout" contains a sample of "Close the Door" performed by Teddy Pendergrass.
* "Mr. 17.5" contains a sample of "Give Me Just Another Day" performed by The Miracles.
* "I Got Money" contains a sample of "Phantom of the Opera" performed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
* "The Inspiration (Follow Me)" contains a sample of "Muscles" performed by Diana Ross.

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2006)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard 200[28] | 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[29] | 1

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2007)  | Position

|

US Billboard 200[30] | 35
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[31] | 5

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United States (RIAA)[32] | Platinum  | 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Young Jeezy - I Luv It". YouTube. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
2. ^ "Young Jeezy - Go Getta ft. R. Kelly". YouTube. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
3. ^ "Young Jeezy - Dreamin' ft. Keyshia Cole". YouTube. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
4. ^ a b c d e f g "Critic Reviews for The Inspiration". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
5. ^ Andy Kellman (December 12, 2006). "The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102 - Young Jeezy | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
6. ^ Dombal, Ryan (December 15, 2006). "The Inspiration Review". Entertainment Weekly. No. 911\. p. 87\. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
7. ^ Oliver Wang (December 18, 2006). "Jeezy plays it cool, and Ghostface just plays - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
8. ^ "Young Jeezy - The Inspiration". HipHopDX. December 11, 2006. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
9. ^ "Jeezy: The Inspiration". Pitchfork. December 11, 2006. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
10. ^ "Young Jeezy: The Inspiration". PopMatters. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
11. ^ "Feature for December 12, 2006 - Young Jeezy's "The Inspiration"". Rapreviews.com. December 12, 2006. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
12. ^ "The Inspiration : Young Jeezy : Review : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. December 12, 2006. Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
13. ^ "Listen up". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. December 12, 2006. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
14. ^ "Young Jeezy The Inspiration - XXL". Xxlmag.com. January 30, 2007. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
15. ^ Rabin, Nathan. "Music in Brief · Article · The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
16. ^ "Young Jeezy THE INSPIRATION RATING: 3 SOUND..." Articles.chicagotribune.com. December 12, 2006. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
17. ^ MATTHEW GASTEIER (December 19, 2006). "Young Jeezy - CD Reviews". Thephoenix.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
18. ^ "Young Jeezy". Okayplayer.com. January 2, 2006. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
19. ^ Amos Barshad (March 5, 2008). "Album Review: Young Jeezy - The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102". Prefixmag.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
20. ^ "Young Jeezy - The Inspiration - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
21. ^ "New On Disc - tribunedigital-thecourant". Articles.courant.com. December 14, 2006. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
22. ^ a b "Young Jeezy, Hicks Enter Atop The Billboard 200". Billboard. December 20, 2006. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
23. ^ "Billboard 200 - January 6, 2007". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
24. ^ Chris Harris (January 3, 2007). "OMARION GETS LATE CHRISTMAS GIFT — #1 DEBUT — AS OVERALL SALES SLIDE". MTV. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
25. ^ Chris Harris (January 10, 2007). "AFTER FIVE-WEEK CLIMB, 'DREAMGIRLS' IS #1 AS ALBUM SALES SLUMP". MTV. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
26. ^ "RIAA Certificaitons - Young Jeezy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
27. ^ Navjosh (October 18, 2009). "XXL Scans: Def Jam's Entire Discography & Record Sales". HipHop-N-More. Archived from the original on September 3, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
28. ^ "Young Jeezy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
29. ^ "Young Jeezy Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
30. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
31. ^ "Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
32. ^ "American album certifications – Young Jeezy – The Inspiration". Recording Industry Association of America.

## External links

[edit]

* Young Jeezy official website at defjam.com
* Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration at Metacritic

* v
* t
* e

Jeezy

Discography

Studio albums|

* Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
* Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration
* The Recession
* TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition
* Seen It All: The Autobiography
* Church in These Streets
* Trap or Die 3
* Pressure
* TM104: The Legend of the Snowman
* The Recession 2
* I Might Forgive... But I Don't Forget

Mixtapes|

* 1,000 Grams
* The Real Is Back
* The Real Is Back 2
* It's tha World
* Boss Yo Life Up Gang

Collaboration albums|

* Boyz n da Hood
* Cold Summer

Singles|

* "And Then What"
* "Soul Survivor"
* "Go Crazy"
* "My Hood"
* "I Luv It"
* "Go Getta"
* "Dreamin'"
* "Put On"
* "Vacation"
* "Crazy World"
* "My President"
* "Who Dat"
* "Lose My Mind"
* "Ballin'"
* "F.A.M.E."
* "I Do"
* "Leave You Alone"
* "R.I.P."
* "Seen It All"
* "All There"

Featured songs|

* "Icy"
* "Get Throwed"
* "Say I"
* "Grew Up a Screw Up"
* "Top Back (Remix)"
* "Diamonds"
* "5000 Ones"
* "I'm So Hood (Remix)"
* "100 Million"
* "Love in This Club"
* "Side Effects"
* "Louie"
* "Out Here Grindin"
* "I'm So Paid"
* "Never Ever"
* "Amazing"
* "Better Believe It"
* "I'm Goin' In"
* "Hard"
* "Put Your Hands Up"
* "(Ha Ha) Slow Down"
* "We in This Bitch"
* "Hold On (Shut Up)"
* "Champion"
* "My Homies Still"
* "Major Distribution"
* "Show Out"
* "Pour It Up (Remix)"
* "Act Right"
* "My Nigga"
* "Money Can't Buy"

Collaborative singles|

* "Dem Boyz"
* "White Girl"

Related topics|

* Boyz n da Hood
* U.S.D.A.
* CTE World
* Jeannie Mai

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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