Seen It All: The Autobiography

Seen It All: The Autobiography
Studio album by Jeezy
Released September 2, 2014 (2014-09-02)
Recorded 2012–14
Genre Hip hop
Length 44:26
Label
Producer
Jeezy chronology
TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition
(2011)		 Seen It All: The Autobiography
(2014)		 Church in These Streets
(2015)
Singles from Seen It All: The Autobiography
  1. "Me OK"
    Released: May 30, 2014
  2. "Seen It All"
    Released: July 1, 2014

Seen It All: The Autobiography is the fifth studio album by American rapper Jeezy. The album was released on September 2, 2014, through CTE World and Def Jam Recordings.[1] The production was handled by several Southern hip hop producers, namely Drumma Boy, Mike Will Made It and Childish Major, among others. It features guest appearances from Jay Z, Future, Rick Ross, The Game, Lil Boosie, August Alsina and Akon.

The album was supported by two singles, "Me OK" and "Seen It All" featuring Jay Z. Seen It All: The Autobiography received generally positive reviews from critics. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and sold 121,000 copies in its first week.

Background

On December 12, 2012, Jeezy released his twelfth mixtape, titled It's tha World.[2] The second single "R.I.P." was released in February 2013, and eventually was certified Platinum.[3][4] In August 2013, Jeezy released a compilation mixtape with CTE World artists, Doughboyz Cashout and YG, titled Boss Yo Life Up Gang. Both singles from its mixtape, "My Nigga" by YG and "Mob Life" by Doughboyz Cashout (the former of which was certified platinum by the RIAA).[5] On September 18, 2013, he announced his plans to release his next album soon, saying it will detail deeper into his street origins, revealed that Future, Usher, Ludacris and Don Cannon, would be involved in the album.[6]

Jeezy also spoke about the album, saying: "A lot of y'all know when I came in the game, I pretty much came in the game with my hands behind my back. 'Cause a lot of the shit I'd like to talk about or could've talked about probably would have got me in a lot of trouble. This is probably my first album where I can explain and let niggas know where I stand. In layman's terms, the statute of limitations is over with."[7] On June 30, 2014, Jeezy announced that his fifth studio album would be titled Seen It All and announced it would be released on September 2, 2014.[8] On July 25, 2014, Jeezy revealed the cover art for Seen It All: The Autobiography.[1]

Singles

On October 8, 2013, the album's first promotional single "In My Head" was released.[9] On May 30, 2014, Jeezy released the album's first single "Me OK".[10] On July 1, 2014, he released the second single, the title-track "Seen It All" featuring Jay Z.[11] On August 4, 2014, the music video for "Me OK", was released.[12] The video was directed by Motion Family and features cameo appearances from Rich Homie Quan, Trey Songz and T.I.[13] On August 22, 2014, the music video was released for "No Tears" featuring Future.[14] The remixed version of the song "Holy Ghost", which was released on September 3, 2014, features Kendrick Lamar and includes an introduction by T. D. Jakes.[15][16] On September 15, 2014, the music video was released for "Holy Ghost".[17]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.3/10[18]
Metacritic70/100[19]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
The A.V. ClubB–[21]
Exclaim!7/10[22]
HipHopDX3.5/5[23]
Now4/5[24]
Pitchfork6/10[25]
Rolling Stone[26]
RapReviews.com6.5/10[27]
Slant Magazine[28]
XXL4/5[29]

Seen It All: The Autobiography received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 70, based on 14 reviews.[19] Luke Fox of Exclaim! said, "Sure, the usual Jeezy tropes of hustling and encouraging others to also hustle haven't gone anywhere — the rote "Been Getting Money (featuring Akon)" could be plopped on any Jeezy album and no one would notice — but there's a heap of real-life wisdom here, too. The reactionary Jeezy probably got your attention, but the reflective Jeezy is determined to maintain it. He's a rare, diamond-encrusted rapper who still plausibly speaks for the poor."[22] James Rainis of Slant Magazine stated, "On Seen It All, Jeezy proves you don't need to overcome your own one-dimensional lyrical perspective in order to become a trap star: All you need is the right work ethic and a willingness to adapt to whatever craziness the kids are digging these days."[28] Sheldon Pearce of HipHopDX said, "At its very best, Seen It All is a glimpse into how Jeezy can make his living on the back nine in a crowded subgenre with no use for him anymore: By recalling the most chilling details of his drug dealing past with a flashback-like crispness."[23] Roger Krastz of XXL stated, "At this moment in Jeezy's career, he's managed to find a new way to own his lane by staying consistent to what's made him a household name. Seen It All: The Autobiography is a solid offering, and shows growth of Tha Snowman who is 10 years deep in the rap game."[29]

David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "Strange thing is, Jeezy should have worn out his welcome in the land of drug talk by now, and yet everything here feels fresh and inspired, perhaps validating the rapper's pre-release declaration that some lyrics are here because "the statute of limitations is over." Whatever the reason, Seen It All: The Autobiography shakes off all the challenges of Jeezy's lesser releases and finds new inspiration from the same old rap sheet."[20] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times stated, "This is a strong, if unimaginative album — Jeezy is confident in what he's done, and uninterested in tweaking it. He may not drag his words out as alluringly as he once did, but the sternness of his delivery is intact."[30] Clayton Purdom of The A.V. Club said, "Jeezy's career is built on the heartfelt banger, and, after a decade, it's understandable that he's trying to place his unearthly voice in other settings. The fact that those settings don't work turns Seen It All into the very thing it had hoped to avoid becoming: a fussy major-label rap album."[21]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 121,000 copies in the United States.[31] This was nearly a 50% decrease in sales from his last studio album TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition which sold 233,000 copies in its first week.[32] In its second week, it dropped to number 6, selling 33,000 copies.[33] In its third week, it dropped to number 14, selling 21,000 copies.[34] In its fourth week, it dropped to number 25, selling 14,000 copies.[35] As of October 2016, the album has sold 342,000 copies in the US.[36]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."1/4 Block"  
Childish Major3:21
2."What You Say"  
  • Jenkins
  • Randle
Childish Major3:33
3."Enough"  
  • Jenkins
  • Maurice Jordan
Ke'noe3:54
4."Holy Ghost"  
4:41
5."Me OK"  
Drumma Boy4:47
6."Been Getting Money" (featuring Akon)
Childish Major3:37
7."Seen It All" (featuring Jay Z)
Cardo3:27
8."Win Is a Win"  
  • Jenkins
  • Byron Forest II
Black Metaphor1:39
9."Beautiful" (featuring The Game and Rick Ross)
Black Metaphor5:42
10."Beez Like" (featuring Lil Boosie)
  • Will-A-Fool
  • Rey
4:31
11."No Tears" (featuring Future)
4:24
12."How I Did It (Perfection)"  
  • Jenkins
  • Forest II
Black Metaphor3:30
Total length:44:26

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[37] 8
US Billboard 200[38] 2
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[39] 1

References

  1. 1 2 "Album Cover: Jeezy – 'Seen It All: The Autobiography'". Rap-Up. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  2. ↑ "Young Jeezy – Its Tha World Hosted by Dj Drama". DatPiff. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  3. ↑ "iTunes – Music – R.I.P. (feat. 2 Chainz) – Single by Young Jeezy". iTunes. 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  4. ↑ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  5. ↑ "Download Young Jeezy, YG & DoughBoyz Cashout's 'Boss Your Life Up Gang' Mixtape". The Source. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  6. ↑ "Jeezy Announces New Album – XXL". XXL. 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  7. ↑ "Jeezy New Album Future, Ludacris, and Usher". Complex. 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  8. ↑ "Jeezy Announces Seen It All Release Date". MTV. 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  9. ↑ "iTunes – Music – In My Head – Single by Jeezy". iTunes. 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  10. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Me OK – Single by Jeezy". iTunes. 2014-05-30. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  11. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Seen It All (feat. JAY Z) – Single by Jeezy". iTunes. 2014-07-01. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  12. ↑ "Rap-Up.com – Video: Jeezy – 'Me OK'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "T.I., Trey Songz And Rich Homie Quan Join Jeezy In 'Me OK' Video – MTV". MTV News. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Rap-Up.com – Video: Jeezy f/ Future – 'No Tears'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  15. ↑ Fleischer, Adam. "Kendrick Lamar Catches The 'Holy Ghost' On New Jeezy Remix". MTV. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Did TD Jakes Hear This? Mega Pastor Featured on Jeezy's Profane 'Holy Ghost' Remix Single". eewmagazine. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "Rap-Up.com – Video: Jeezy – 'Holy Ghost'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Seen It All by Jeezy reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Reviews for Seen It All: The Autobiography by Jeezy – Metacritic". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  20. 1 2 David Jeffries. "Seen It All: The Autobiography – Jeezy,Young Jeezy – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Review: Young Jeezy shows up to rap on the weird, overwrought Seen It All". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  22. 1 2 "Jeezy – Seen It All: The Autobiography". Exclaim!. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  23. 1 2 "Jeezy – Seen It All: The Autobiography". HipHopDX. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  24. ↑ "Jeezy – NOW Magazine". Now. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  25. ↑ "Jeezy: Seen It All: The Autobiography – Album Reviews – Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  26. ↑ "Jeezy's New Album: Seen It All: The Autobiography – Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  27. ↑ "RapReviews.com Feature for September 23, 2014 – Jeezy's "Seen It All: The Autobiography"". RapReviews.com. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  28. 1 2 James Rainis (2 September 2014). "Jeezy: Seen It All: The Autobiography – Album Review – Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  29. 1 2 "Jeezy Is At The Top Of His Game On 'Seen It All: The Autobiography'". XXL. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  30. ↑ "New Music From Earth, Yob and Jeezy". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  31. ↑ "Maroon 5 Tops Billboard 200 With 'V' – Billboard". Billboard. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  32. ↑ "Young Jeezy's "Thug Motivation 103" First Week Sales Are In... » RealTalkNY Brought To You By Nigel D.". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  33. ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-09-17). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Lecrae, Jhene Aiko, Jeezy". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
  34. ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-09-24). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Chris Brown, Lecrae, Jeezy, Jhene Aiko". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2014-09-24.
  35. ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-10-01). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson, Lecrae, Jeezy". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  36. ↑ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Young Jeezy – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Young Jeezy.
  38. ↑ "Young Jeezy – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Young Jeezy.
  39. ↑ "Young Jeezy – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Young Jeezy.
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