2 Chainz
Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977),[4][5] known professionally as 2 Chainz (formerly Tity Boi), is an American rapper. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip-hop duo Playaz Circle, alongside hometown rapper Earl "Dolla Boy" Conyers. The duo signed with fellow Georgia-based rapper Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace label and became best known for their 2007 debut single "Duffle Bag Boy" (featuring Lil Wayne).
2 Chainz
In February 2012, Epps signed a solo recording contract with Def Jam Recordings, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. In April of that year, his guest performance on Kanye West's single, "Mercy" marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo act, peaking at number 13. In the following months, his singles "No Lie" (featuring Drake) and "Birthday Song" (featuring Kanye West) were released to continued success, both of which received double platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and preceded the release of his debut studio album, Based on a T.R.U. Story, in August of that year. Despite mixed critical reception, it peaked atop the Billboard 200 and spawned the top 40 single "I'm Different".[6] His second album, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time (2013), was led by the single "Feds Watching" (featuring Pharrell Williams) and saw improved critical reception despite a slight commercial decline. Epps has since released the albums ColleGrove (2016), Pretty Girls Like Trap Music (2017), Rap or Go to the League (2019), So Help Me God! (2020), and Dope Don't Sell Itself (2022).[7]
Epps has won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for his guest appearance on Chance the Rapper's single "No Problem"—from six nominations. His other accolades include three BET Awards from 11 nominations and five BET Hip Hop Awards from 19 nominations. He has also hosted Vice TV's 2017 reality series Most Expensivest, in which he reviews luxury consumer goods; it aired for four seasons.
Early life
2 Chainz was born Tauheed Epps in College Park, Georgia.[8] He attended North Clayton High School, where he played basketball and graduated second in his class.[9] While in high school, he dealt marijuana and was arrested for felony cocaine possession when he was 15 years old.[9]
Personal information
Musical career
1997–2010: Playaz Circle and Disturbing tha Peace
Epps formed the hip hop duo Playaz Circle (the word "Playaz" having been made into a backronym for "Preparing Legal Assets for Years from A to Z")[14] in College Park, Georgia, in 1997, with his high school friend Earl Conyers (known as Dolla Boy), while Epps adopted "Tity Boi" as his moniker.[15] Following the release of an independent album titled United We Stand, United We Fall (2002),[14] the duo was introduced to fellow Atlanta rapper Ludacris when he moved into their College Park apartment complex while he was acting as a DJ.[15] After taking interest in Playaz Circle, Ludacris began to record several songs with the group, playing some of them on his radio station.[14]
Ludacris soon became one of the highest-selling rappers in the Southern United States.[15] After hearing of their situation, Ludacris requested from Epps that the duo join his newly formed record label, Disturbing Tha Peace, a subsidiary of Def Jam Recordings. Epps agreed to sign, although Conyers did not officially join the label until his mother regained her health a year after the initial signing.[15]
The duo's release their debut album, Supply & Demand, on October 30, 2007. Their lead single and debut track, "Duffle Bag Boy", became urban hit. Featuring Lil Wayne, they performed the song at the BET Hip Hop Awards. The duo released their 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 Lil Wayne and Birdman, at Studio Space Atlanta. Shortly afterwards, Epps left Disturbing tha Peace to advance his career. Although Ludacris was initially reluctant, feeling Epps could still be financially successful, he eventually accepted the decision.[16]
2011–2012: Name change and Based on a T.R.U. Story
Epps faced allegations of sexism for his original pseudonym, "Tity Boi", although he has repeatedly denied such accusations.[17] In early 2011, he decided to change his stage name to "2 Chainz," as he perceived it to be more "family–friendly." Regarding the name change, he further explained to Vibe magazine: "The name Tity Boi actually came from my big mama, from me being spoiled and an only child—breastfed. My mama called me Tity Boi, my dad called me Tity Man, my hood called me Tit so when we was trying to rap I had been going by Tit my whole life, Tit, Tity, Tity Man —it's just like a country nickname —term for being an only child."[18][19] 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 chart.[20] After the success of the mixtape, Epps made numerous guest appearances on tracks by prominent artists such as[17] Kanye West ("Mercy") and Nicki Minaj ("Beez in the Trap").
On March 24, 2012, Epps announced that his debut studio album, originally titled T.R.U. to My REALigion,[21] would be renamed Based on a T.R.U. Story and released on August 14, 2012.[22] The album's lead single, "No Lie," featured Canadian rapper Drake, was released on May 8, 2012.[23] On May 11, rumors spread that Epps had signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music label after West tweeted, "2 Chainz is charging 100k for a verse now cause he's G.O.O.D!!!!!"[24] 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."[25] On May 30, 2012, 2 Chainz was featured on Ciara's promotional single "Sweat," the intended lead single from her fifth studio album, One Woman Army.[26]
Based on a T.R.U. Story debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 147,000 copies in its first week.[27] The album received mixed reviews, earning a score of 55 on metacritic.[28] By September 23, 2012, it had sold 288,000 copies in the United States.[29] That September, Epps performed at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards alongside his longtime friend Lil Wayne. After releasing his debut album, Based on a T.R.U. Story, Epps made significant strides. He organized his first solo worldwide tour, selling out most of its dates. He was nominated for over 13 BET Hip Hop Awards,[30] and he won four;[31] he earned The Source Magazine's "Man of the Year" award,[32] released collaborative endeavors with ADIDAS[33] and later Beats By Dre;[34] and received nominations for three Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album.[35]
Personal life
Epps has two daughters, Heaven, born on July 26, 2008, and Harmony, born on October 20, 2012.[58][59] On October 14, 2015, Epps welcomed his third child, a baby boy named Halo.[60] On August 18, 2018, Epps married his longtime girlfriend and mother of his three children, Kesha Ward.[61]
Legal issues
At the age of 15, Epps received a conviction for felony cocaine possession.[62] On February 14, 2013, authorities arrested him in Maryland for marijuana possession while he was en route to a concert at UMES. He was then cited and released.[63]
On June 11, 2013, authorities arrested Epps while he was on board a departing flight at LAX airport for possession of a controlled substance. TSA agents discovered marijuana and promethazine in his checked bag. Authorities booked him and charged him with felony narcotics possession. Later that day, he posted a $10,000 bond and was released. He was due back in court on June 21, 2013.[64]Two days prior, reports indicated that he was reportedly robbed at gunpoint outside a medical marijuana dispensary in San Francisco.[65]
Just before midnight on August 21, 2013, Epps' tour bus was pulled over in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, because the passenger side taillights were out. The arresting officer reported that he smelled 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. The 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 District Court.[66]
Business ventures
In October 2016, Epps opened a line of hoodies called CEO Millionaires, or Create Every Opportunity Millionaires.[67] He also has his own line of sweaters called "Dabbing Sweaters."[68]
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.[69]
Studio albums
Collaborative albums