The Atlanta rap veteran is playing a Las Vegas residency with a 101-piece ensemble
On just the second night of rapper Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins new Las Vegas residency, the formative figure in trap music earned an official Guinness World Records title for the largest orchestra in a hip-hop music concert. The residency — named TM:101 Live after his hit album from 2005, Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 — is taking place at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
At the Nov. 1 show, Guinness World Records adjudicator Andy Glass personally presented Jeezy with an official certificate marking the achievement. “This isn’t just a win for me — it’s a moment for the culture, for music, and for Vegas,” Jeezy said while accepting the honor, according to a press release. “Thank you to every musician, every fan, and everyone who believed we could take this all the way. A winner is a dreamer who never gave up!” He went on to thank the massive team behind him: “Thank you to all 101 orchestra members, composer Derrick Hodge, musical director Adam Blackstone, DJ Drama, DJ Ace and most importantly, the fans.”
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Jeezy’s Vegas residency is backed by the Color of Noize Orchestra, which also performed with Afropop stars Wizkid at the Hollywood Bowl in June and Angelique Kidjo at Carnegie Hall last year. TM:101 Live is musically directed by Adam Blackstone, who also directed the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show featuring Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar as well as the the 2023 halftime show starring Rihanna. The new orchestral arrangements of Jeezy’s hits like “Soul Survivor” featuring Akon and “And Then What” featuring Mannie Fresh were composed by Derrick Hodge. Jeezy’s own DJ Ace and mixtape legend DJ Drama are TM101: Live supporting acts. The residency will continue with Nutcracker-themed shows on Dec. 19 and 21.
Last February, Jeezy made his NPR Tiny Desk debut backed by a full band. “I’m gonna take y’all on a journey so y’all can see how I got from there to here, to Tiny Desk,” Jeezy told the crowd at NPR’s Washington, D.C. office. “I used to stand on a tiny porch. But if you stick with your dreams and stay about your business, you can get anywhere.”