2 Chainz

2 Chainz

2 Chainz is the stage name of Tauheed Epps, an American rapper from College Park, United States, born in 1976. He is also known by the earlier name Tity Boi. His music is associated with hip-hop, rap, trap, dirty south, southern rap, gangsta rap, hardcore hip hop and electronica, with future bass also listed among his genres.

Career

He first gains recognition as one half of the southern hip hop duo Playaz Circle, alongside Dolla Boy. The group comes together in the late 1990s and is linked to Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace label. Their debut single, Duffle Bag Boy, becomes the release most closely associated with them. Epps also studies and plays basketball at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama.

After Playaz Circle is introduced to Ludacris through mutual friend Lil' Fate, the group signs to Disturbing tha Peace. Epps is shot and Dolla Boy is incarcerated, and after these events Ludacris offers support and the label relationship develops further. Epps remains part of the Disturbing tha Peace circle and later works with T.R.U. and Playaz Circle membership is listed alongside Disturbing tha Peace.

Name change and labels

Epps performs for a period as Tity Boi before adopting the name 2 Chainz in early 2011, a change he views as more family friendly. His labels include 2 Chainz, 2Chainz PS, T.R.U., Ty Epps Music and 0207 Def Jam.