Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz has been on the scene for over a decade and has managed to gain quite a name for himself over the years. Around the early 2010s, the rapper (real name Taucheed Epps) was one of the hottest new rappers out of the south and gained a lot of followers through his various features.
2 Chainz began his career as part of the Atlanta hip hop duo Playaz Circle. As part of the duo alongside Earl “Dolla Boy” Conyers, he acquired moderate success, with the team even signing to Ludacris’ Disturbing Tha Peace label. However, although the rapper became slightly known in the south, he did not achieve mainstream success as part of the duo.
As the duo’s traction rapidly declined by the mid-2000’s Epps began working on his debut project, and in 2011, he finally released his debut mixtape T.R.U. REALigion. Following this, Epps was signed to Def Jam and began featuring on various high-charting tracks, such as Kanye West’s ‘Mercy’ and Nicki Minaj’s ‘Beez In The Trap’.
Like many rappers, Epps has had his fair share of run-ins with the law, and (shortly after his signing) in 2013, Epps was arrested at Los Angeles’ LAX airport after his bag tested positive for traces of Marijuana and Promethazine. Epps has had several other law-related scandals surrounding the possession of narcotics and is very much one of the rappers considered part of the ‘drug-rap’ culture along with Future and others.
Irrespective of whether or not he is considered a legend, there is no doubt he is definitely a known and respected name when it comes to southern rappers so it is, of course, of interest to many who Epps himself idolises and respects.
In a 2012 interview with Nessa Diab on WILD 94.9, 2 Chainz was asked by Diab who his favourite rappers were, to this question, he responded, “Scarface would be on there, André 3000, probably Nas, Biggie and Pac…but Hov, I gotta say Jay too!” You can see a snippet of the interview in the video below.
2 Chainz favourite rappers:
- Scarface
- Andre 3000
- Nas
- Biggie Smalls
- Tupac Shakur
