The road to stardom was less than conventional for Tauheed Epps.
Like many people growing up in similar circumstances (single mother, father in and out of prison) in College Park, Georgia, he tried his hand at three professions: dope dealer, basketball player and rapper. He’s seen more than his fair share of disappointments and setbacks. But none of that stopped 2 Chainz from becoming the hottest rapper in the game.
His rise to the top of the rap game appears to be meteoric, but Chainz will be the first to tell you it has been a long time coming. Nobody likes paying dues, but he is redefining the meaning of the word perseverance.
Yesterday, 2 Chaniz’s Based on a T.R.U. Story album dropped on Def Jam Records. It marks the 35-year-old rapper’s first solo studio album. Hip-hop has always been a young man’s game; as the game is currently constructed, the only relevant 35-year-olds in the industry are established veterans that usually have supreme skill on the mic. This group includes: Eminem, Jay-Z, Nas, Kanye West, Rick Ross etc. Of that group, Ross was the oldest when he first hit the scene, releasing Port of Miami when he was 30.
As an adolescent, 2 Chainz (who turns 36 next month) caught a case for cocaine possession. He cites his environment for his mistakes, but he quickly moved on from his career as a dope dealer and took up basketball. At 6’5”, it seemed to be a natural transition and 2 Chainz actually went on to play basketball for Alabama State University. No seriously, 2 Chainz played Division 1 college ball (here’s a clip of Chainz ballin in high school)!
Sidebar: 2 Chainz is still an avid sports fan, as evidenced by his appearance on ESPN’s First Take in June.
Around that same time, he formed the group Playaz Circle with his childhood friend Earl “Dolla Boy” Conyers, and rapped under the name Tity Boi. The duo would eventually sign with Ludacris’ Disturbing the Peace label. Things were looking up when they recorded the hit Duffle Bag Boy with Lil Wayne for the album Supply & Demand in 2007, which reached #2 on the Billboard hottest rap song chart. However their popularity soon fizzled, as they were unable to produce a single that cracked the top 84 on the same chart for their 2nd album in 2009.
Starved for his own creative control, Tity Boi asked for his release from DTP. Ludacris initially resisted because he still saw potential in him. Eventually, Luda granted Tity Boi his wish, one that was necessary for his growth as an artist as he discusses in this interview with Fuse.
Even though he had his freedom, one issue still remained. Epps’ stage name “Tity Boi” was often misconstrued as being disrespectful to women, when in actually, it was a family name given to him as a child for being a mama’s boy of sorts. He decided to change his name, a bold move in the music industry, and while not entirely unprecedented in hip-hop (Common Sense, Biggie Smalls, Old Dirty Bastard, Puff Daddy etc.), officially changing one’s stage name mid-career is a decision that carries some uncertainty and trepidation. Some artists rename themselves and chalk it up to evolution; Tity Boi did it to broaden his appeal with the ladies and younger fans. He did this, yet he still stayed “T.R.U.” to himself and his “Being Real” campaign. He had already been referring to himself as 2 Chainz in his songs and, like his old moniker, it contained a piece of his own personal history (In an interview with Vibe, Epps said that he was literally rockin’ 2 chains in his eighth grade yearbook photo…I for one would love to see said photo).
The name change worked and after dropping his highly successful T.R.U. REALigion mixtape last fall, everybody in the rap game has been trying to get a 16 from him. He’s worked with everyone from Nicki Minaj to Jadakiss to Kanye West to Justin Bieber. It’s always fun when new voice takes over an entire summer: Jeezy did it in 2005, Drake did it in 2009, and while he’s not all that new, 2 Chainz has done it in 2012. Now, the table is set for his highly anticipated solo debut.
It’s safe to say 2 Chainz has been playing chess while most other rappers are left playing checkers. There is much more to him than a few colorful rhymes (Name a nigga that want some, I’ll out-rap his ass, out-trap his ass/put his ass in a plastic bag with his trashy ass) and a funny hat. His major influences include Scarface/Geto Boys, 8 Ball & MJG, Outkast, Goodie Mob and UGK from the south; and Mobb Deep and the Wu-Tang Clan from the east coast (all of which are certified MCs).
If you step back at this point, you’ll notice quite a story has taken shape that happens to be paved with valuable life lessons:
1) This man beat the odds, attended college and escaped the hood. Lesson: Never let your surroundings serve as an excuse for the shortcomings in your life.
2) He formed a group with a childhood friend, earned a record deal and remained loyal to his roots at all times. Lesson: Don’t let success change who you are or where you came from.
3) He recorded a hit record, and after seeing his popularity regress a bit, decided to make a change. Lesson: Anybody can fall down, it takes true courage to get back up and go back after it.
4) In an effort to gain more control over his life and career, he switched up his name, carved his own lane and through what he calls “griming”, aka grind & timing, reached new heights he never could have before. Lesson: Don’t be afraid to take risks, especially if you believe in yourself and your craft.
5) After 10 plus years in the game which included nine solo mixtapes, three Playaz Circle albums (one released independently) and multiple Playaz Circle/Duffle Bag Boy mixtapes, he has finally released his debut studio album on a major label at age 35. Lesson: Never give up on your dreams and don’t let silly things like age and prior setbacks stand in your way.
You might not ever hear 2 Chainz body a verse, but you simply cannot hate on his story, his hustle or his approach to the rap game. On his new album he says, “When they saw me they used to think of dope/but now when they see me they just think of hope.”
T.R.U. indeed, Mr. Epps.