Tauheed Epps, known professionally as 2 Chainz, was born on September 12, 1977, in College Park, Georgia. He attended North Clayton High School, where he was a talented basketball player and graduated second in his class. He later attended Alabama State University on a basketball scholarship before transferring to Virginia State University.
Music Career
1997–2010: Playaz Circle and Disturbing tha Peace
2 Chainz began his music career in 1997, co-founding the hip-hop duo Playaz Circle with his friend Earl "Dolla Boy" Conyers, under the moniker Tity Boi. The duo was later signed to fellow Atlanta rapper Ludacris's Disturbing tha Peace record label. They gained significant recognition with their 2007 debut single, "Duffle Bag Boy," featuring Lil Wayne, which became a hit. Playaz Circle released their debut album, "Supply & Demand," in 2007, followed by "Flight 360: The Takeoff" in 2009.
2011–present: Solo Career
In 2011, Epps adopted the more family-friendly stage name 2 Chainz and left Disturbing tha Peace to pursue a solo career. He signed a solo record deal with Def Jam Recordings in February 2012. His breakout year came in 2012 with his guest feature on Kanye West's "Mercy," which became his first Billboard Hot 100 entry as a solo artist. This was followed by his successful singles "No Lie" featuring Drake and "Birthday Song" featuring Kanye West.
His debut studio album, "Based on a T.R.U. Story," was released in August 2012 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album was certified platinum. He has since released several more successful albums, including "B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time" (2013), "ColleGrove" (a collaborative album with Lil Wayne, 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). In 2017, he won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for his feature on Chance the Rapper's song "No Problem."
Other Ventures
Beyond music, 2 Chainz has ventured into business and media. He has hosted the Viceland show "Most Expensivest," where he explores luxury goods and services. He also has his own clothing line and has opened restaurants.