Young Jeezy’s Connection to Black Mafia Investigated in Book

A new book examining the ties between notorious gang Black Mafia Family and rapper Young Jeezy is set to hit shelves next month. 'BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family' is penned by Creative Loafing magazine's editor-in-chief Mara Shalhoup, and investigates the organization's various ties with drug cartels and hip hop stars.

The organization, better known as BMF, began in Detroit, Michigan and in 2000 began to infiltrate hip hop circles, with alleged ties to Diddy, Fabolous, the diamond king Jacob the Jeweler, and most notably Jeezy, whose career is said to have been launched by his affiliation with gang.

The book is an extension of Shalhoup's award-winning three-part investigative report for Creative Loafing on the BMF, entitled Hip Hop's Shadowy Empire.

At the height of their hip hop involvement, BMF was nominated for a Source Award in 2004, and their artist, Bleu Davinci released a video for his song, 'Streets on Lock,' which featured Jeezy and Fab.

BMF leader's Big Meech and his brother Southwest T are each currently serving 30-year sentences for drug trafficking.

'BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family' will be published by St. Martin's Press, and hits stores on March 4.