2 Chainz turns 47 today, and this Virgo remains a focal point of club culture worldwide.
Born Tauheed Epps on September 12th, 1977, the College Park, Georgia star has amassed a fanbase thanks to his witty lyrics and distinctive voice, allowing him to float over any beat. He rose to fame in the early 2010s, but his musical journey began much earlier. Chainz initially performed under the moniker Tity Boi as one-half of the Southern hip-hop duo Playaz Circle, who was signed to Ludacris’ Disturbing tha Peace imprint. Their platinum-selling hit, “Duffle Bag Boy,” featuring Lil Wayne, put them on the map in 2007, peaking at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
He eventually ventured out on his own, which catapulted him to stardom. This adored rapper rebranded, changing his stage name to 2 Chainz before kicking off his solo run with the 2011 mixtape “T.R.U. REALigion.” The lead single, “Riot,” was a hit, and fans seemed to take a liking to his new name and sound. Chainz released his debut studio album, “Based on a T.R.U. Story,” the following year, which included smash hits such as “No Lie” with Drake, “Birthday Song” featuring Kanye West, and “I’m Different.” This list of tracks solidified his position in the rap game. The project went platinum and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.
Since then, 2 Chainz has released a series of successful albums and collaborated with top artists like Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams, and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few. Songs like “Mercy,” “Feds Watching,” and “It’s a Vibe” have further cemented his reputation as a Southern rapper who can effortlessly adapt. His collaboration, “No Problem,” with Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne earned him a Grammy. Beyond music, 2 Chainz has ventured into television, landing a recurring role on Starz’s season three of “BMF” as the character Stacks.
As we celebrate another year with 2Chainz, let’s press play on a few of his best birthday tracks.
“Birthday Song”
“No Lie”
“I Luv Dem Strippers”
“Crack”
“Spend It”
“I’m Different”
