
03 Greedo
rapper•singer•songwriter•record producer
Also known as: Jason Jamal Jackson
Birthday
July 26, 1987
Birth Sign
Leo
Birthplace
South Los Angeles, California
Age
39 years old
About
Jason Jamal Jackson, better known as 03 Greedo, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer from South Los Angeles. Born on July 26, 1987, he first turned heads with his Purple Summer mixtape series, which kicked off in 2016. The project showcased his melodic, Auto-Tuned delivery and raw street narratives, quickly earning him a devoted following. He gained even wider attention with The Wolf of Grape Street (2018), a mixtape that many consider his breakout. His debut studio album, God Level, dropped just months later on June 26, 2018, and featured collaborations with artists like Chief Keef and Maxo Kream.
But just as his career was accelerating, Jackson was arrested on drug and firearm charges. In April 2018, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He began serving his sentence at the end of June 2018, a stark turn for an artist on the rise. However, after a successful parole hearing in June 2022, it was announced on January 8, 2023, that he would be released. He walked free on January 12, 2023, after roughly four and a half years behind bars.
Since his release, 03 Greedo has wasted no time getting back to work. Just seven days after his parole, he dropped his fifth studio album, Halfway There, a project that picks up where he left off, blending his signature West Coast sound with a more reflective tone. Across his career, he has released five studio albums and over a dozen mixtapes, cementing his place as a distinctive voice in modern hip-hop. His story is one of resilience, and his music continues to resonate with fans who appreciate his unfiltered honesty and melodic grit.
Early Life & Background
Jason Jamal Jackson came into the world on July 26, 1987, in South Los Angeles, a neighborhood that would shape his music and his life. The streets were his classroom, and trouble found him early. By his own account, his stage name traces back to a jail stint: “03” was his inmate number, and “Greedo” evolved from his childhood nickname “Greedy.” In his hood, names ending in “-y” got flipped to “-o,” so “Greedy” became “Greedo.”
That early incarceration was just the start of a pattern. His upbringing was rough, and his future A&R, Jeremiah “Picaso” Aubert, later noted the mental toughness Greedo developed from those experiences. Aubert discovered him after finding his music online, a moment that would change both their trajectories.
Before any mainstream buzz, Greedo was grinding in the Los Angeles underground, dropping mixtapes and building a regional fanbase. His sound was already taking shape: Auto-Tuned melodies layered over West Coast beats, with lyrics that pulled no punches about street life. The breakthrough came in 2016 with the first installment of his Purple Summer series. That project, along with collaborations in the local scene, put him on the radar of tastemakers and set the stage for what was coming next.
Career Growth
The year 2018 was a whirlwind for 03 Greedo. In January, Vice crowned him “the Future of West Coast Rap,” and by March, DJBooth was asking if he was the future of rap, period. That same month, his mixtape The Wolf of Grape Street dropped and hit like a sledgehammer. Then came God Level, his debut album, released on June 26, 2018, with guests like Chief Keef and Maxo Kream. The buzz was real, and the industry was watching.
But on April 2018, a judge handed down a 20-year sentence for drug and firearm charges. Greedo entered prison at the end of June, right as his career was exploding. Yet he refused to go quiet. He had stockpiled over 3,000 songs, and he kept releasing them from behind bars. In November 2019, he teamed up with producer Kenny Beats for Netflix & Deal, a project that kept his name alive. Dazed magazine described him as “running west coast rap from prison.”
After a successful parole hearing in June 2022, he walked free on January 12, 2023. A week later, he dropped Halfway There, his fifth studio album, with a more reflective tone that showed his growth. Rolling Stone profiled him in July 2023 as “Back Home and Working on Building an Empire.” By October 2025, NPR was highlighting his embrace of the mini-album format. And in 2026, he’s back on the road, with a Phoenix show scheduled for May and a recent feature on “Nasty.Frfr” with $amaad and Kalan.Frfr.
Career Timeline
Public Image & Style
03 Greedo’s public persona is a study in contradictions: melodic yet gritty, vulnerable yet streetwise. His signature sound pairs Auto-Tuned vocals with raw, unfiltered narratives about life in South LA. He’s known for his “No Genre. No Stylist” approach, blending rap, R&B, and even pop sensibilities. Media portrayals often highlight his resilience, especially his ability to maintain creative output from prison. His fanbase is fiercely devoted; one Michigan Daily writer admitted he might be Greedo’s biggest fan, citing him as his most-streamed artist. Greedo’s style extends to his fashion, often seen in designer fits that contrast with his streetwise lyrics. He’s a figure who commands respect in the underground while pushing the boundaries of West Coast rap.
Fame & Fandom
Jason Jamal Jackson, known to the world as 03 Greedo, commands a niche yet fiercely loyal following rooted in the gritty realism of South Los Angeles. Despite his status as a defining voice in the new wave of West Coast rap alongside Drakeo the Ruler, he currently holds no placement in the published Global Top 1,000 rankings or any Top-100 scope list according to iFANN's August 2026 evaluation. The system has processed his digital footprint and media coverage, confirming that while his influence is palpable in hip-hop circles, he does not yet occupy a specific numeric slot on the global stage. His audience lacks a formal name; there is no organized "stan" community, no fan-funded billboards, and no codified rituals surrounding his releases. Instead, his listeners engage through organic digital interaction, waiting years for tracks like "If I, Pt. 3" with Ty Dolla $ign to finally drop. This quiet devotion mirrors the mythos surrounding his career: a rapper who maintained creative output from behind bars before his parole release in March 2023. The narrative of the "Watts prophet" driving a cultural reset from prison resonates more than any chart position ever could. While mainstream pop stars rely on massive, structured fanbases to drive metrics, Greedo's reach is defined by the sheer volume of his catalog, over 3,000 recorded songs, and the raw authenticity of his "No Genre. No Stylist" approach. He remains an artist whose fame is measured by endurance and artistic integrity rather than algorithmic ranking, proving that a dedicated listener base can sustain a career without needing a formal title or a specific rank.
Interesting Facts and Legends
The rapper's Instagram bio reads like a self-deprecating manifesto: "Producer/Singer/Rapper/Liar/Cheater Drumz!!!" paired with the tagline "No Genre. No Stylist." This declaration matches his prolific nature; he once revealed he had over 3,000 songs recorded and ready to release. His journey began with legal troubles, specifically a 2016 arrest stemming from a traffic stop where police discovered four pounds of methamphetamine and two stolen pistols in his car trunk. Greedo often calls himself a "Watts prophet," a title some outlets have adopted to describe his influence on the local scene. His collaborations with Drakeo the Ruler and Shoreline Mafia helped launch a new wave of West Coast rap that shifted the sound of Los Angeles music. A central piece of lore involves the origin of his stage name. According to a verified interview with Vice in January 2018, the name was born in jail where nicknames ending in "-y" became "-o." Since his original nickname was "Greedy," it transformed into "Greedo," with the "03" added to signify his status within that environment. Another pivotal moment occurred in March 2023 when he was released on parole, marking a cultural reset where he stated, "I don't believe in anything but art." More recently, the long-awaited collaboration "If I, Pt. 3" featuring Ty Dolla $ign fulfilled years of anticipation, cementing his legacy as an artist who maintained relevance despite incarceration.
Notable Quotes
“Naw, I been was '03' in jail. I been 'Greedo.' See, if your name end with a -y in the hood, they change it to an -o. So my name was 'Greedy'”
“I don't believe in anything but art”
“No Genre. No Stylist”
Family & Personal Life
Details about 03 Greedo’s family are scarce in public sources. He was born and raised in South Los Angeles, but little is known about his parents or siblings. His music often references the struggles of his upbringing, but he keeps his family life private. Since his release from prison in January 2023, he has been focused on rebuilding his career and spending time with those closest to him, though specifics remain out of the spotlight.
Notable Connections
03 Greedo has collaborated with a range of artists who helped shape his sound and career. Drakeo the Ruler was a close collaborator, and together they helped usher in a new West Coast wave. Shoreline Mafia, especially on tracks like “Traphouse,” brought him wider recognition. Producer Kenny Beats teamed up with him for Netflix & Deal. His debut album God Level featured Chief Keef and Maxo Kream. A&R Jeremiah “Picaso” Aubert discovered him, playing a key role in his early rise. More recently, he’s worked with $amaad and Kalan.Frfr on “Nasty.Frfr.”
Relationships & Dating History
As of 2026, 03 Greedo’s relationship status is not publicly documented. He keeps his personal life private, and no credible sources have confirmed any romantic partnerships, marriages, or children. His Instagram bio’s playful self-description as a “Liar” and “Cheater” appears to be humor rather than a confession. Given his time in prison from 2018 to 2023, any relationships from that period would have been challenging to maintain. Since his release, he’s focused on his music career, and fans have seen little of his personal life. It’s possible he’s single, but without confirmation, it remains a mystery.
Salary, Net Worth In 2026
$3 Million
iFANN Editorial Team estimate
As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates 03 Greedo's net worth at $3 Million. While he is not a mainstream superstar, his consistent output and dedicated fanbase have built a solid financial foundation. His income streams include music sales, streaming royalties, and live performances, evidenced by his 2026 tour dates. He also earns from feature appearances on tracks like "Nasty.Frfr." Greedo's prolific catalog, with over 3,000 songs recorded, provides a steady royalty stream. Since his release from prison in 2023, he has been actively releasing music and performing, which has helped grow his earnings. His social media presence, with nearly 467,000 Instagram followers, also opens doors for brand partnerships and merchandise sales. While not a millionaire by hip-hop standards, Greedo has built a sustainable career on his own terms.
Awards & Accolades
View 1 records, honours and achievementsKnown For
The Wolf of Grape Street
2018 · Mixtape
God Level
2018 · Album
Halfway There
2023 · Album
Netflix & Deal
2019 · Collaborative album with Kenny Beats
Keywords
Sources
Quick Facts
- Born
- July 26, 1987
- Birthplace
- South Los Angeles, California
- Real Name
- Jason Jamal Jackson
- Genres
- Hip hop, West Coast hip hop, R&B
- Instruments
- Vocals
- Years Active
- 2016–present
- Labels
- Alamo Records
Personal Details
- Full Name
- Jason Jamal Jackson
Frequently Asked Questions
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