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Young Greatness
Jones in an interview, 2018
Jones in an interview, 2018
Background information
Birth nameTheodore Joseph Jones III
Born(1984-09-19)September 19, 1984
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedOctober 29, 2018(2018-10-29) (aged 34)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresHip hop
OccupationsRapper
Years active2012–2018
Labels
Formerly of

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

[edit]

Jones was born on September 19, 1984, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He moved to Houston after Hurricane Katrina.[4] He grew up listening to Juvenile, Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls.[5]

Career

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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

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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 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

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Mixtapes

[edit]
List of mixtapes with selected details
Title Details
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

Singles

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List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[16] 		US R&B
/HH
[17]
"Yeah"
(featuring Quavo) 		2015 — — I Tried to Tell Em
"Moolah" 85 30
"Ball" 2016 — — I Tried to Tell Em 2
"We Rollin'" 2017 — — Non-album single
"Drugs & Money" 2017 — — Bloody Summer

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Theodore J. Jones, III September 19, 1984 – October 29, 2018". davismortuaryservice.com. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Strauss, Matthew (October 29, 2018). "Rapper Young Greatness Shot and Killed". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Young Greatness - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  4. ^ Young Greatness at AllMusic
  5. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Rapper Young Greatness Killed in Shooting at New Orleans Waffle House: Report". Billboard. October 29, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "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 Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  17. ^ "Young Greatness Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  18. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved June 17, 2021.


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