Young Greatness
Birth nameTheodore Joseph Jones III
Birth dateSeptember 19, 1984
Birth placeNew Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Death dateOctober 29, 2018 (aged 34)
Death placeNew Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
GenreHip hop
OccupationsRapper
Years active2012–2018
LabelCash Money · Interscope Records · Quality Control
Past member ofDrumma Boy · Jazze Pha · Juvenile

Theodore Joseph Jones III (September 19, 1984 – October 29, 2018),[1] better known by his stage name Young Greatness, was an American rapper. He was best known for his 2015 single "Moolah",[2] which peaked at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3] He was shot and killed in October 2018.[2]

Early life

Jones was born on September 19, 1984, in New Orleans. He moved to Houston after Hurricane Katrina.[4] He grew up listening to Juvenile, Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G.[5]

Career

Taking the stage name Young Greatness, he began attracting notice from Houston rappers such as Bun B and Mike Jones, resulting in a deal with the record label Quality Control Music and Motown in 2015.[5] In November 2015, he released the single "Moolah", which peaked at number 85 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[3] In March 2016, Rolling Stone included Greatness in their list of "10 New Artists You Need to Know".[6] In July 2016, Greatness performed "Moolah" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[7]

Death

On October 29, 2018, Jones was fatally shot in the back while in the parking lot of a Waffle House on Elysian Fields Avenue in New Orleans.[8][9] He was 34 years old.[8] Two men, Donald Reaux and Donny Maxwell, and a juvenile were indicted for Jones' murder in March 2019.[10] Reaux, who was believed to be the main orchestrator of the attack and the one who fatally shot Jones, was a friend of Jones who prosecution alleged attempted to steal marijuana from him.[9][10] Reaux also was believed to have armed his two accomplices, who each received less severe armed robbery-related criminal charges.[10][9] Wix would receive a prison sentence of 20 years after pleading guilty to numerous armed robbery charges, while Maxwell would receive a 19 year prison sentence after pleading guilty to similar charges in December 2019.[9] In January 2023, Reaux would be convicted by a jury of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.[9]

Discography

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes with selected details
TitleDetails
Rich & Famous[11]
Trap Jumpin 2.0[11]
  • Released: 2013
  • Format: Digital download
Dollar for Hate[citation needed]
  • Released: 2014
  • Format: Digital download
I Tried to Tell Em[12]
  • Released: July 24, 2015
  • Format: Digital download
Seven (VII)[13]
  • Released: October 27, 2015
  • Format: Digital download
I Tried to Tell Em 2[14]
  • Released: July 8, 2016
  • Format: Digital download
Bloody Summer[15]
  • Released: October 30, 2017
  • Format: Digital download
A Tribute To Greatness[16]
  • Released: October 29, 2021
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[17]		US R&B
/HH
[18]
"Yeah"
(featuring Quavo)		2015——I Tried to Tell Em
"Moolah"8530
"Ball"2016——I Tried to Tell Em 2
"We Rollin'"2017——
"Drugs & Money"2017——Bloody Summer

See also

References

  1. ^ "Theodore J. Jones, III September 19, 1984 – October 29, 2018". davismortuaryservice.com. Retrieved January 25, 2019.[dead link]
  2. ^ Strauss, Matthew (October 29, 2018). "Rapper Young Greatness Shot and Killed". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  3. ^ "Young Greatness - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  4. ^ Young Greatness at AllMusic
  5. ^ "The Break Presents: Young Greatness". XXL. July 31, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "10 New Artists You Need to Know: March 2016". Rolling Stone. March 24, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "Young Greatness Performs "Moolah" on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'". XXL. July 13, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  8. ^ "Rapper Young Greatness Killed in Shooting at New Orleans Waffle House: Report". Billboard. October 29, 2018.
  9. ^ Kramer, Jillian (January 20, 2023). "Jury convicts man in murder of New Orleans-born rapper Young Greatness". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Lane, Emily (March 28, 2019). "3 indicted on murder charges in death of rapper Young Greatness, New Orleans police say". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  11. ^ "7th Ward Hero: The Story Of Young Greatness". HipHopDX. July 24, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  12. ^ "Young Greatness - I Tried To Tell Em". HotNewHipHop. July 24, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  13. ^ "Stream Young Greatness' Seven Mixtape". The Fader. October 27, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  14. ^ "Young Greatness - I Tried To Tell Em 2". HotNewHipHop. July 8, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  15. ^ "Young Greatness Unleashes "Bloody Summer" Mixtape A Day Early". HotNewHipHop. October 30, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  16. ^ "Young Greatness A Tribute To Greatness". Spotify. October 29, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  17. ^ "Young Greatness Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  18. ^ "Young Greatness Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  19. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved June 17, 2021.