The New General of the South
With over two dozen years in the game, nearly 200,000
sold in the first week, and more than two awards
received at BET’s 2012 Hip Hop Awards, it’s safe to say
that 2012 is definitely one of 2 Chainz’s best years ever.
His recent rise to stardom came as a shock to some
When he won the Rookie of the Year award from BET,
ears raised because, quite frankly, he’s considered
as much closer to being a veteran than a newcomer.
The College Park native began rapping in 1997 as
Atlanta began taking its place as a serious hip hop
contender. Atlanta’s Goodie Mobb, Outkast, SoSo Def,
and La Face Records were already establishing a strong
international brand with their eccentric sounds and
ground-breaking hits, which attracted artists from all
over and had all eyes on Atlanta.
Beneath the surface, the evolution of Tauheed Epps,
formerly known as Tityboi, was just getting started.
While in high school he formed the duo P.L.A.Y.A.Z. Circle
with his longtime friend Dolla Boy, which to this is day
is still intact despite 2Chainz’s personal success. The
group is characterized by their strong southern twang
and soulfully raw hip hop beats with plenty of bass and
witty delivery.. After the 1996 Olympics, Atlanta was
brimming with business opportunities so the group
decided to ride the wave giving their group name an
acronym meaning ‘Preparing Legal Assets from Years A
to Z’.
Playaz Circle’s progress was steady after the release of
their independent album United we Stand, United we Fall
in 2002 but after meeting with Ludacris, who at the time
was an accomplished DJ, they received a momentum
shift. Disturbing the Peace, a subsidiary of Def Jam
Recordings, took Playaz Circle under their wing and they
continued to grow, making strategic connections that
would soon land them in a number one spot. In 2007,
they released their debut album Supply & Demand and
watched as their single, ‘Duffle Bag Boy”, featuring Lil
Wayne climbed the urban hit singles chart to remain for
some time. Flash five years forward and today 2 Chainz
and Lil Wayne continue to create collaborative megahits such as ‘Yuck’ found on his latest release B.O.A.T.S.
Not only does the height difference set these two artists
apart, each has their own distinctly unique style; and
still they share a common respect and appreciation for
one another’s work. Lil Wayne demanded fans purchase 2
Chainz new release and slated the release of his mixtape
Dedication 4 to ensure all the attention was on his
longtime colleague.
Before Young Money reached billionaire status with such
artists as Drake and Nicki Minaj, back when Lil Wayne
was still considered a rookie, he and 2 Chainz were just
starting to make history. On MTV’s debut episode of
‘This is How I Made It’, 2 Chainz reminisces on their first
encounters and shares a little-known fact: “Me and Wayne
are like real peers. He liked my vibe from day one.”
After the young hot boy gave him a quick shout out in
‘Where You At’, it only seemed natural for 2 Chainz to
consider him for the collaboration. The success they
achieved from this single song lanced him in a different
direction and led to the most pivotal point in his career
thus far .
We’ve seen alter egos before in the rap game: T.I. vs. T.I.P.,
the Eminem, Marshall Mathers and Slim Shady trio, or Rick
Ross for example, but when the decision was made to
advance from Tityboi to 2 Chainz the transformation was
astronomical. When asked why he changed his name he
simply explained, “It was just me expressing myself as an
artist,” but on second thought, he admitted that it could
subliminally mean his second shot for the number one
spot.
His latest solo release, Based on a True Story (Def Jam),
was an enjoyable and candid expression of artistry. His
offbeat delivery and catchy phrases make hits like “I
Love Dem Strippers” irresistible, and while some believe
he brings a new flavor to a genre, others criticize him for
contributing to the monotonous content pervading the
industry. In the numbers game, however, 2 Chainz remains
steaming ahead at his own pace, selling out crowds on his
national tour as fans await his European tour launching in
London, November 2012.
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