Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977), known professionally as 2 Chainz (or Tity Boi), is an American rapper. Born and raised in
College Park, Georgia
College Park is a city in Fulton and Clayton counties, Georgia, United States, adjacent to the southern boundary of the city of Atlanta. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,930. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is part ...
, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the
Southern hip hop
Southern hip hop, also known as Southern rap, South Coast hip hop, or dirty south, is a blanket term for a regional genre of American hip hop music that emerged in the Southern United States, especially in Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, Memp ...
duo
Playaz Circle
Playaz Circle is an American hip hop duo signed to the Def Jam Recordings record label, composed of rappers 2 Chainz and Dolla Boy.
History 1997–2010: Beginnings and debut album
The duo was formed in 1997 by childhood friends Tity Boi (lat ...
, alongside his longtime friend and fellow rapper Earl "Dolla Boy" Conyers. The duo was signed to fellow Georgia-based rapper
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges (born September 11, 1977), known professionally as Ludacris (, homophonous with 'ludicrous' in American English), is an American rapper, actor, record producer and record executive.
Born in Champaign, Illinois, Ludac ...
'
Disturbing tha Peace
Disturbing tha Peace Records (DTP) is an American record label founded by Ludacris, Jeff Dixon, and Chaka Zulu.
History
Beginnings
Disturbing tha Peace was founded in 1998 by Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges, manager Chaka Zulu, and Zulu's brother ...
label, and are best known for their debut single "
Duffle Bag Boy" (featuring
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
).
In February 2012, Epps signed a solo
record deal with
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The l ...
, an imprint of
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...
. The following August, he released his debut studio album ''
Based on a T.R.U. Story
''Based on a T.R.U. Story'' is the debut studio album by American rapper 2 Chainz. It was released on August 14, 2012, by Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from fellow rappers Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Drake, Nicki Minaj and P ...
'' on August 14, 2012, to commercial success despite mixed reviews. The album spawned three successful singles: "
No Lie" (featuring
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
), "
Birthday Song" (featuring
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
), and "
I'm Different", all of which charted in the top 50 of the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 and were certified Gold or higher by the
RIAA, along with the album being certified Gold. His second studio album ''
B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time'' was released on September 11, 2013; supported by the lead single "
Feds Watching
"Feds Watching" is a song written and performed by American rapper 2 Chainz featuring fellow American musician Pharrell Williams. Produced by the latter, it released on June 4, 2013 as the lead single from the former's second studio album '' B.O. ...
" (featuring
Pharrell Williams). Epps began working with TV network
Viceland
Viceland (stylized in all caps), and Vice TV in the United States, are brands used for television channels owned and programmed by Vice Media. Viceland launched on February 29, 2016, with two branded cable channels; the American version (rebra ...
on a show called ''
Most Expensivest
''Most Expensivest'' is an American reality television series hosted by 2 Chainz. It premiered on Vice TV
Vice (formerly known as Viceland and also known as Vice TV) is an American basic cable television channel that launched on December 2, ...
'', which debuted on November 15, 2017, and aired for three seasons.
Early life
2 Chainz was born Tauheed Epps in
College Park, Georgia
College Park is a city in Fulton and Clayton counties, Georgia, United States, adjacent to the southern boundary of the city of Atlanta. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,930. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is part ...
. He attended
North Clayton High School, where he played basketball and graduated second in his class.
While in high school, he dealt
marijuana and was arrested for felony
cocaine
Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from the leaves of two Coca species native to South Ameri ...
possession when he was 15 years old.
[
]
College basketball career
He later attended Alabama State University
Alabama State University (ASU) is a public historically black university in Montgomery, Alabama. Founded in 1867, ASU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
History
Alabama State University was founded in 1867 as the ...
on a scholarship, and played on its basketball team from 1995 to 1997.
When asked by ''Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' about longstanding rumors that he had graduated from Alabama State with a 4.0 GPA, which had been widely reported on many sources including Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a multilingual free online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and using a wiki-based editing system. Wikipedia is the largest and most-read refer ...
, 2 Chainz said: "Don't believe anything on Wack-ipedia. There's a lot of false stuff on there, to the point that every time I try to fix one thing, something else comes out." In fact, he transferred to Virginia State University
Virginia State University (VSU or Virginia State) is a public historically Black land-grant university in Ettrick, Virginia. Founded on , Virginia State developed as the United States's first fully state-supported four-year institution of hi ...
due to circumstances he was reluctant to speak about. "I got into some trouble, went somewhere else, and came back. But I graduated, and that's that. That was then," he said.[
]
Statistics
Musical career
1997–2010: Playaz Circle and Disturbing tha Peace
Epps formed the hip hop duo Playaz Circle
Playaz Circle is an American hip hop duo signed to the Def Jam Recordings record label, composed of rappers 2 Chainz and Dolla Boy.
History 1997–2010: Beginnings and debut album
The duo was formed in 1997 by childhood friends Tity Boi (lat ...
(the word "Playaz" being a bacronym
A backronym is an acronym formed from an already existing word by expanding its letters into the words of a phrase. Backronyms may be invented with either serious or humorous intent, or they may be a type of false etymology or folk etymology. The ...
for "Preparing Legal Assets for Years from A to Z") in College Park, Georgia
College Park is a city in Fulton and Clayton counties, Georgia, United States, adjacent to the southern boundary of the city of Atlanta. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,930. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is part ...
in 1997, with his high school friend Earl Conyers (known as Dolla Boy), while Epps adopted "Tity Boi" as his moniker. Following the release of an independent album
Independent music (also commonly known as indie music or simply indie) is music that is produced independently from commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, a process that may include an autonomous, do-it-yourself approach to recording a ...
titled ''United We Stand, United We Fall'' (2002),[ the duo was introduced to fellow Atlanta rapper ]Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges (born September 11, 1977), known professionally as Ludacris (, homophonous with 'ludicrous' in American English), is an American rapper, actor, record producer and record executive.
Born in Champaign, Illinois, Ludac ...
when he moved into their College Park apartment complex while he was acting as a DJ.[ After taking interest in Playaz Circle, Ludacris began to record several songs with the group, playing some of them on his ]radio station
Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radi ...
.[
Ludacris soon became one of the highest-selling rappers in the ]Southern United States
The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...
.[ After hearing of their situation, Ludacris requested of Epps that the duo join his newly formed record label ]Disturbing Tha Peace
Disturbing tha Peace Records (DTP) is an American record label founded by Ludacris, Jeff Dixon, and Chaka Zulu.
History
Beginnings
Disturbing tha Peace was founded in 1998 by Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges, manager Chaka Zulu, and Zulu's brother ...
, a subsidiary of Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The l ...
. Epps agreed to sign, although Conyers did not officially join the label until his mother regained her health a year after the initial signing.[
The duo's debut album '' Supply & Demand'', was released on October 30, 2007. The ]lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
and the duo's debut single, " Duffle Bag Boy", became an urban hit single. The song features Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
, and was performed by the duo at the BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006; it was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and w ...
. The duo released its second studio album '' Flight 360: The Takeoff'', on September 29, 2009. In January 2010, Playaz Circle filmed a music video for the single "Big Dawg" featuring
In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular band, cast, or other ...
Lil Wayne and Birdman at Studio Space Atlanta. Shortly afterwards, Epps left Disturbing tha Peace, a move he claimed was taken in order to advance his career. Although Ludacris was initially reluctant to allow Epps to leave the label (as he felt Epps could still prove financially successful), he eventually accepted the decision.
2011–12: Name change and ''Based on a T.R.U. Story''
Epp's has sometimes faced criticism of sexism for his original pseudonym
A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
"Tity Boi", although he has repeatedly denied such accusations. In early 2011, he decided to change his stage name to "2 Chainz," as he perceived it to be more "family friendly." Following the name change, Epps released a mixtape titled ''T.R.U. REALigion'', which became his first mixtape to appear on the music charts, peaking at number 58 on the US '' Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated ...
chart. Since the success of the mixtape, Epps has made numerous guest appearance
In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular band, cast, or other ...
s on tracks by prominent recording artists such as[ ]Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
("Mercy
Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French ''merci'', from Medieval Latin ''merced-'', ''merces'', from Latin, "price paid, wages", from ''merc-'', ''merxi'' "merchandise") is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, relig ...
") and Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated Flow (rapping), flow in her rapping, alter e ...
(" Beez in the Trap").
On March 24, 2012, Epps announced his debut studio album, whose title he had changed to ''Based on a T.R.U. Story
''Based on a T.R.U. Story'' is the debut studio album by American rapper 2 Chainz. It was released on August 14, 2012, by Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from fellow rappers Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Drake, Nicki Minaj and P ...
'' from its original title of ''T.R.U. to My REALigion,''[ which was set for an August 14, 2012, release date.] The album's lead single, " No Lie," featured Canadian rapper Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
, and was released on May 8, 2012. On May 11, it was under speculation that Epps had signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music
GOOD Music (also known simply as GOOD, stylized as G.O.O.D. Music; a backronym for Getting Out Our Dreams) is an American record label founded by rapper Kanye West in 2004. The label signed an exclusive long-term worldwide label agreement with t ...
label, after West tweeted
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
: "2 Chainz is charging 100k for a verse now cause he's G.O.O.D!!!!!" However, Epps later denied those rumors, saying: "He just said I'm good, like I'm ill. But we was talking and I think I was jeopardizing my brand sometimes by doing the homeboy special. So I think he felt like we should just put that out there that we ain't doing no more of that." On May 30, 2012, Ciara
Ciara Princess Wilson ( ; Harris; born October 25, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model and entrepreneur. She released her debut studio album, '' Goodies'' in 2004, which spawned four singles: " Goodies" (featuring Petey Pa ...
revealed 2 Chainz was featured on "Sweat
Perspiration, also known as sweating, is the production of fluids secreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals.
Two types of sweat glands can be found in humans: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. The eccrine sweat glands are distrib ...
," the intended first single from her fifth studio album, '' One Woman Army.''
''Based on a T.R.U. Story'' debuted at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200, selling 147,000 copies in its first week. The album was met with mixed reviews, earning a score of 55 on metacritic
Metacritic is a website that aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created by Jason Dietz, Marc ...
. As of September 23, 2012, the album sold 288,000 copies in the United States. That September, Epps performed at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, hosted by Kevin Hart, took place on Thursday, September 6, 2012, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. The awards were broadcast from the Staples Center arena at L.A. Live in Downtown Los Angeles. ...
, alongside longtime friend Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
. After the release of his debut, ''Based on a T.R.U. Story,'' Epps made momentous strides. He facilitated his first solo worldwide tour, selling out most of its dates; he was nominated for over 13 BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006; it was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and w ...
, bringing home four such trophies; he earned ''The Source'' Magazine's "Man of the Year" award; he released a collaborative endeavor with ADIDAS, and later Beats By Dre; and he was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album.
2012–15: ''B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time'' and ''Collegrove''
In late 2012, Epps stated that once he completed the ''B.O.A.T.S.'' concert tour, he would reenter the studio. In November 2012, he revealed he was three songs deep into his second studio album. The album's estimated release date was April 2013. The rapper made a guest appearance on NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
's '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' in an episode that aired May 8, 2013. He also appeared as himself in the second season (episode 16, titled "...And Just Plane Magic") of the CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
sitcom ''2 Broke Girls
''2 Broke Girls'' (stylized ''2 Broke Girl$'') is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 19, 2011, to April 17, 2017. The series was produced for Warner Bros. Television and created by Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cumm ...
,'' where he traveled on the same private planes as the two main characters. On May 23, 2013, he announced that his second studio album '' B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time'' would be released on September 10, 2013. On June 2, 2013, Epps premiered the first single from the album, titled "Feds Watching," at the Hot 97
WQHT (97.1 FM, ''Hot 97'') is a commercial radio station, licensed to New York, New York, which broadcasts an urban contemporary music format. The station is owned by Mediaco Holding and operated by Emmis Communications under a shared ser ...
's Summer Jam. The song featured Pharrell Williams, and it was recorded on 2013 Grammy Awards night. On June 15, Epps announced the title of his second album would be ''B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time.'' The album was released on Def Jam Recordings on September 10, 2013.
''B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time'' featured guest appearance
In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular band, cast, or other ...
s from Pharrell Williams, Fergie, Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
, Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
, Pusha T
Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 201 ...
, Mase
Mason Durell Betha (born August 27, 1975), better known by his mononym Mase (formerly Murda Mase and stylized as Ma$e), is an American rapper and minister. In the late 1990s, he recorded on the Bad Boy Records label alongside its founder Sean ...
, Chrisette Michele
Chrisette Michele Payne (born December 8, 1982) is an American R&B and soul singer. She won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2009 for her song " Be OK" (featuring will.i.am).
She was previously signed to Motown Record ...
, Iamsu!
Sudan Ameer Williams (born November 16, 1989), better known by his stage name Iamsu! (stylized as IamSu! or IAMSU!), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is also a part of the production team The Invasion and lead ...
, T-Pain, Dolla Boy, Rich Homie Quan
Dequantes Lamar (born October 4, 1989), known professionally as Rich Homie Quan, is an American rapper. He was previously signed to labels T.I.G. Entertainment and Motown, and is an independent artist as of 2021. Quan experienced commercial succ ...
, and Lloyd. The album's production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stati ...
was handled by Diplo, Mike WiLL Made It, Drumma Boy
Christopher James Gholson (born August 11, 1983), better known by his stage name Drumma Boy, is an American record producer.
Early life
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Cordova, Tennessee, he was exposed to music at a young age. His mo ...
, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Mannie Fresh
Byron Otto Thomas (born March 20, 1969), better known by his stage name Mannie Fresh, is an American music producer and rapper. He's best known for his productions on Cash Money Records releases, as well being half of the hip hop duo (alongside ...
, Wonder Arillo, Da Honorable C-Note and DJ Toomp
Aldrin Davis (born August 2, 1969), professionally known as DJ Toomp, is an American record producer, songwriter, and DJ. DJ Toomp received his start in 1985, with Atlanta MC Raheem the Dream, producing Raheem’s self-titled record when he was ...
. It was supported by the single "Used 2," along with the promotional single
A promotional recording, or promo, or plug copy, is an audio or video recording distributed free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available. Promos are normally sent directly to broadcasters, such as ...
s " Where U Been?" and "Netflix." The album was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. It also fared decently commercially, debuting at number three on the US ''Billboard'' 200, and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated ...
chart, selling 63,000 copies in its first week.
On October 23, 2013, Epps revealed that he had begun working on his third studio album immediately following the release of ''B.O.A.T.S. II''. He also stated he had the first single from his third album ready for release and that he still wanted to get Jay-Z featured on the album. In November 2015, 2 Chainz revealed that he was releasing a joint album with Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
, titled '' ColleGrove.'' On May 5, 2014, Epps released a brand new EP titled ''FreeBase'' for free digital download. It included seven songs and included features from Lil Boosie
Torence Ivy Hatch (born November 14, 1982), better known by his stage name Boosie BadAzz or simply Boosie (formerly Lil Boosie), is an American rapper. Hatch began rapping in the 1990s as a member of the hip hop collective Concentration Camp, ev ...
, A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, and more. The EP earned over 200,000 downloads. In January 2014 Epps released a promotional single titled "I'm a Dog."
2016–2019: ''Pretty Girls Like Trap Music'' and ''Rap or Go to the League''
On January 27, 2016, Epps released an EP titled ''Felt Like Cappin''. It was released via online streaming sites and iTunes. The EP was promoted by the single "Back On That Bullshit" featuring Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
.
Epps began 2016 with the March release of a 12-record collaborative album with rapper Lil Wayne titled '' ColleGrove'', which was intended to be the debut album between 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne. However, Wayne's ongoing lawsuit with Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is an American record label founded in 1991 by brothers Ronald "Slim" Williams and Bryan "Birdman" Williams. Distributed by Republic, formerly known as Universal Republic, the label has been home to a roster of mostly hip ...
prevented Wayne from being a primary artist on the album. Epps appears as the primary artist on the album with eight tracks featuring Lil Wayne. The album features prominent producers such as Honorable C.N.O.T.E.
Carlton Davis Mays, Jr. (born April 8, 1981), professionally known as Honorable C.N.O.T.E., is an American hip hop record producer and songwriter.
Mays started producing at the age of 15 in the Benton Harbor Area of Michigan, before moving to At ...
, Mike Will Made It, Zaytoven
Xavier Lamar Dotson (born January 12, 1980), professionally known as Zaytoven, is an American trap music record producer, disc jockey, and keyboardist from Atlanta, Georgia. He has released collaborative projects with artists including Gucci Ma ...
, TM88
Bryan Lamar Simmons (born April 4, 1987), professionally known as TM88 (also known as TrackMan 88), is an American record producer and DJ from Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of the Atlanta-based record production and songwriting team 808 Mafi ...
, Metro Boomin
Leland Tyler Wayne (born September 16, 1993), professionally known as Metro Boomin, is an American record producer, record executive, beatmaker, and DJ. He is known for his dark production style and its influence on modern hip hop and trap.
...
, London on da Track
London Tyler Holmes (born March 27, 1991), known professionally as London on da Track, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He is a frequent collaborator of fellow Atlanta rapper Young Thug and has also worked with Kodak Black, ...
, and more. ''ColleGrove'' received decent reviews from critics and fans.
Epps continued his work in 2016 with the August 5 release of mixtape ''Daniel Son: Necklace Don'', a 9-track mixtape that Epps released independently. The mixtape originally featured Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
and YFN Lucci
Rayshawn Lamar Bennett (born February 16, 1991), known professionally as YFN Lucci, is an American rapper and singer from Atlanta, Georgia. In 2014, he signed a record deal with Think It's A Game Entertainment and released his debut mixtape, ''Wi ...
on it, but Epps chose to move the song "Big Amount ft. Drake" to the 2017 studio album '' Pretty Girls Like Trap Music'' because of its mass appeal on the mixtape and star power performance. ''Daniel Son: Necklace Don'' received a 3-out-of-5-star review from ''XXL'' magazine.
2016 was wrapped up by Epps's third mixtape, titled ''Hibachi for Lunch
''Hibachi for Lunch'' is the third extended play (EP) by American rapper 2 Chainz. It was self-released on October 28, 2016. The project consists of seven tracks, with guest appearances from Quavo, Ty Dolla Sign, Gucci Mane and Future, with produc ...
'', which was released October 28. The 7-track mixtape originally featured Quavo
Quavious Keyate Marshall (born April 2, 1991), known professionally as Quavo (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is best known as the co-founder and former frontman of hip hop group Migos. Quavo is the uncle of late fellow Migos m ...
, Gucci Mane
Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy, ...
, Ty Dolla Sign
Tyrone William Griffin Jr. (born April 13, 1982), known professionally as Ty Dolla Sign (stylized as Ty Dolla $ign or Ty$), is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He first gained major recognition in 2010 for his feature on Ameri ...
, and Future. However, the song "Good Drank ft. Quavo
Quavious Keyate Marshall (born April 2, 1991), known professionally as Quavo (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is best known as the co-founder and former frontman of hip hop group Migos. Quavo is the uncle of late fellow Migos m ...
and Gucci Mane
Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy, ...
" was moved to '' Pretty Girls Like Trap Music''. Notable production was done by Mike Will Made It, K Swisha, and Buddah Bless.
In 2017, Epps released his fourth studio album titled '' Pretty Girls Like Trap Music'' on June 16 on Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The l ...
. The album featured Travis Scott, Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated Flow (rapping), flow in her rapping, alter e ...
, Swae Lee, Migos, Jhene Aiko, Pharrell Williams, and more. Album production was done by Mike Will Made It, Buddah Bless, Mike Dean, Murda Beatz
Shane Lee Lindstrom (born February 11, 1994), known professionally as Murda Beatz, is a Canadian record producer. He has produced hit singles like " Butterfly Effect" by Travis Scott, "Back on Road" by Gucci Mane, "Nice for What" by Drake, "Moto ...
, and more. The album was supported by three official singles: " Good Drank", " It's a Vibe," and " 4 AM". The album was also supported by a nationwide concert tour, as well as several pop-up shops in the US. "> ">/sup> 2 Chainz alluded to the album showing "growth and maturation." He stated the content would maintain its edginess while also elevating trap music
Trap is a subgenre of hip hop music that originated in the Southern United States during the 1990s. The genre gets its name from the Atlanta slang word "trap", a house used exclusively to sell drugs. Trap music uses synthesized drums and is ch ...
to a point where everyone could appreciate it. ''Pretty Girls Like Trap Music'' received widespread critical acclaim, with most critics citing the album as his best album yet.
On November 15, 2017, the first episode of ''Most Expensivest
''Most Expensivest'' is an American reality television series hosted by 2 Chainz. It premiered on Vice TV
Vice (formerly known as Viceland and also known as Vice TV) is an American basic cable television channel that launched on December 2, ...
'' aired on the TV network Viceland
Viceland (stylized in all caps), and Vice TV in the United States, are brands used for television channels owned and programmed by Vice Media. Viceland launched on February 29, 2016, with two branded cable channels; the American version (rebra ...
. The show focused on 2 Chainz visiting different locations offering the "most expensivest" goods and services. Each show covers a particular theme, with shows ranging from personal health to extravagant indulgences. The show offered a unique insight into products and services that have been created with the explicit intent on being exclusive and expensive. 2 Chainz offered a unique and often humorous insight into the products, especially the ones that he personally found to be either amazing or ridiculous. The show was renewed for a 20-episode third season, which aired in early 2019.
''The Play Don't Care Who Makes'' was the fourth EP released by Epps on February 8, 2018, by Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The l ...
. The EP was composed of four songs, one of which featured appearances from YG and Offset on the song "PROUD". Production was done by Minus, June James, Nonstop, Streetrunner, and more.
On February 19, 2018, Epps announced his new album '' Rap or Go to the League'', which was set to be released during 2018. However, the album was released on March 1, 2019. On March 26, 2020, 2 Chainz confirmed that ''ColleGrove 2'', a sequel of 2016's '' ColleGrove'', would be released later in 2020.
2020–present: ''So Help Me God'' and ''Dope Don't Sell Itself''
In August 2020, following his ''Verzuz
''Verzuz'' is an American webcast series created by record producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, that airs on Verzuz TV.
Verzuz was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic as a virtual DJ battle, with Timbaland and Swizz Beatz facing off in ...
'' battle with Rick Ross, 2 Chainz announced that his upcoming sixth album would be titled '' So Help Me God!'' The album was initially scheduled for release on September 25, 2020. However, in the week of its planned release, it was delayed because of sample clearances. 2 Chainz said, "It should be another couple weeks". It was then announced for release on November 13, 2020, and was preceded by the release of the single "Quarantine Thick", which featured Mulatto.
On September 24, 2020, 2 Chainz played against Big Boi
Antwan André Patton (born February 1, 1975), better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actor. He is best known for being a member of the southern hip hop duo Outkast alongside André 300 ...
and his family on the season premiere of the reality game show '' Celebrity Family Feud''.
On August 3, 2021, 2 Chainz announced that his seventh album would be his last trap album, titled ''Dope Don't Sell Itself
''Dope Don't Sell Itself'' is the seventh studio album by American rapper 2 Chainz. It was released through Def Jam Recordings on February 4, 2022. The album features guest appearances from Moneybagg Yo, BeatKing, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, 42 Dugg, Y ...
''.
Personal life
Epps has two daughters, Heaven, born on July 26, 2008; and Harmony, born on October 20, 2012. On October 14, 2015, 2 Chainz welcomed his third child, a baby boy named Halo. On August 18, 2018, Epps married his longtime girlfriend and mother of his three children: Kesha Ward.
Legal issues
At the age of 15, Epps was convicted of felony
A felony is traditionally considered a crime of high seriousness, whereas a misdemeanor is regarded as less serious. The term "felony" originated from English common law (from the French medieval word "félonie") to describe an offense that resu ...
cocaine
Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used recreationally for its euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from the leaves of two Coca species native to South Ameri ...
possession. On February 14, 2013, he was arrested in Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
en route to a concert at UMES for Cannabis (drug), marijuana possession. He was then cited and released.
On June 11, 2013, Epps was arrested while on board a departing flight at LAX airport for possession of a controlled substance after TSA agents found that his checked bag contained marijuana and promethazine. He was booked and charged with felony
A felony is traditionally considered a crime of high seriousness, whereas a misdemeanor is regarded as less serious. The term "felony" originated from English common law (from the French medieval word "félonie") to describe an offense that resu ...
narcotics possession. Later that day he posted $10,000 bond and was released. He was due back in court on June 21, 2013.
Two days previous, he was reportedly robbed at gunpoint outside a medical marijuana dispensary in San Francisco.
Just before midnight on August 21, 2013, Epps' tour bus was pulled over in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, because the passenger side taillights were out. The arresting officer reported that he smelled Cannabis (drug), marijuana and saw smoke through the open door of the bus after he had stopped and pulled over the bus. The driver of the bus shut the door and told officers he was not authorized to allow them on the bus. The officer said the marijuana smell gave him probable cause to search, but the driver refused to open the door. After many attempts to enter, the bus was towed with the men still aboard to the police training center in Oklahoma City. Officers obtained a search warrant and the 10 men, including Epps, got off the bus. Police discovered two semi-automatic pistols and a 12-gauge pump shotgun, along with some prescription painkillers and marijuana residue, on the tour bus according to papers filed at Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Oklahoma County district Court.
Business ventures
In October 2016, Epps opened a line of hoodies called CEO Millionaires or Create Every Opportunity Millionaires. He also has his own line of sweaters called "Dabbing Sweaters."
On May 10, 2019, the Atlanta Hawks announced that 2 Chainz had acquired a minority ownership stake in the team's NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.
Discography
* ''Based on a T.R.U. Story
''Based on a T.R.U. Story'' is the debut studio album by American rapper 2 Chainz. It was released on August 14, 2012, by Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from fellow rappers Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Drake, Nicki Minaj and P ...
'' (2012)
* '' B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time'' (2013)
* '' ColleGrove'' (2016)
* '' Pretty Girls Like Trap Music'' (2017)
* '' Rap or Go to the League '' (2019)
* '' So Help Me God!'' (2020)
* ''Dope Don't Sell Itself
''Dope Don't Sell Itself'' is the seventh studio album by American rapper 2 Chainz. It was released through Def Jam Recordings on February 4, 2022. The album features guest appearances from Moneybagg Yo, BeatKing, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, 42 Dugg, Y ...
'' (2022)
The Real University
On January 6, 2015, 2 Chainz announced that he was starting his own independent record label "The Real University" (also known as "T.R.U."; or "The Real U"). The announcement also revealed that frequent collaborators Cap.1 & Skooly were signed. Additionally, they signed former Young Money artist Short Dawg, who is now known as Fresh. They also revealed they would be releasing their debut mixtape ''TRU Jack City'' on January 27, 2015. On October 4, 2019, 2 Chainz announced that T.R.U. had signed a partnership deal with Atlantic Records.
Artists
* 2 Chainz
* Cap.1
* Skooly
* Fresh (formerly known as Short Dawg)
* C White
Discography
Awards and nominations
BET Awards
, -
, style="text-align:center;" rowspan="8", BET Awards 2013, 2013
, 2 Chainz
, Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
,
, -
, rowspan="2", "Mercy
Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French ''merci'', from Medieval Latin ''merced-'', ''merces'', from Latin, "price paid, wages", from ''merc-'', ''merxi'' "merchandise") is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, relig ...
" (with Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
, Big Sean and Pusha T
Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 201 ...
)
, Video of the Year
,
, -
, rowspan="2", Best Collaboration
,
, -
, rowspan="2", " No Lie" (with Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
)
,
, -
, rowspan="2", Video of the Year
,
, -
, rowspan="3", "Fuckin' Problems" (with ASAP Rocky, A$AP Rocky, Drake and Kendrick Lamar)
,
, -
, Best Collaboration
,
, -
, Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice
,
, -
, style="text-align:center;" , BET Awards 2016, 2016
, rowspan="2", 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
, rowspan="2", BET Award for Best Group, Best Duo/Group
,
, -
, style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2", BET Awards 2017, 2017
,
, -
, "No Problem (Chance the Rapper song), No Problem" (with Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
)
, BET Award for Best Collaboration, Best Collaboration
,
, -
BET Hip Hop Awards
, -
, rowspan="10", 2012
, rowspan="4", "Mercy" (with Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
, Big Sean and Pusha T
Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 201 ...
)
, Reese's Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo, Duo or Group)
,
, -
, Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
,
, -
, Best Club Banger
,
, -
, rowspan="2", Best Hip Hop Video
,
, -
, rowspan="2", "No Lie" (featuring Drake (rapper), Drake)
,
, -
, People's Champ Award
,
, -
, rowspan="7", Himself
, Rookie of the Year
,
, -
, Made You Look Award
,
, -
, Hustler of the Year
,
, -
, rowspan="2", MVP of the Year
,
, -
, rowspan="7", 2013 Bet Hip Hop Awards, 2013
,
, -
, Best Live Performer
,
, -
, Made You Look Award
,
, -
, rowspan="4", "Fuckin' Problems"
(with ASAP Rocky, A$AP Rocky, Drake and Kendrick Lamar)
, Best Hip Hop Video
,
, -
, Reese's Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo, Duo or Group)
,
, -
, Best Club Banger
,
, -
, People's Champ Award
,
, -
, rowspan="2", 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards, 2016
, "Watch Out (2 Chainz song), Watch Out"
, Best Hip Hop Video
,
, -
, "No Problem (Chance the Rapper song), No Problem"
, Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
,
, -
Grammy Awards
, -
, style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3", 55th Annual Grammy Awards, 2013
, ''Based on a T.R.U. Story
''Based on a T.R.U. Story'' is the debut studio album by American rapper 2 Chainz. It was released on August 14, 2012, by Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from fellow rappers Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Drake, Nicki Minaj and P ...
''
, Best Rap Album
,
, -
, rowspan="2", "Mercy
Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French ''merci'', from Medieval Latin ''merced-'', ''merces'', from Latin, "price paid, wages", from ''merc-'', ''merxi'' "merchandise") is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, relig ...
" (with Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
, Big Sean and Pusha T
Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 201 ...
)
, Best Rap Performance
,
, -
, rowspan="3", Best Rap Song
,
, -
, style="text-align:center;", 56th Annual Grammy Awards, 2014
, "Fuckin' Problems" (with ASAP Rocky, Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
and Kendrick Lamar)
,
, -
, style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2", 59th Annual Grammy Awards, 2017
, rowspan="2", "No Problem (Chance the Rapper song), No Problem" (with Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. His career began in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining ...
)
,
, -
, Best Rap Performance
,
, -
Soul Train Awards
* 2012: Best Hip Hop Song of the Year: "Mercy" (with Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
, Big Sean, and Pusha T
Terrence LeVarr Thornton (born May 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper, songwriter and record executive. He rose to prominence as one-half of the hip hop duo Clipse, which was mainly active from 1994 to 201 ...
) (Won)
* 2012: Best Hip Hop Song of the Year: "No Lie" (with Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
) (Nominated)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:2 Chainz
2 Chainz,
1977 births
Living people
20th-century American rappers
21st-century American rappers
Activists from Georgia (U.S. state)
African-American male rappers
African-American male songwriters
Alabama State Hornets basketball players
American businesspeople convicted of crimes
American cannabis activists
American chief executives in the media industry
American men's basketball players
American music industry executives
American people convicted of drug offenses
Basketball players from Georgia (U.S. state)
Businesspeople from Atlanta
Def Jam Recordings artists
Gangsta rappers
Hardcore hip hop artists
People from College Park, Georgia
Rappers from Atlanta
Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)
Southern hip hop musicians
Trap musicians