Single like the Drake-assisted “Big Amount” and the trap spiritual “Good Drank” saw Chainz gravitating to darker textures and a more fluid writing style, toning down his punchlines in favor of more complex, in-the-pocket flows. In a vastly shifting hip-hop landscape with a growing variety of styles, ColleGrove feels like a tour through 00s southern rap history from two rappers who’ve lived through it and found a comfortable place within.Ģ016 found 2 Chainz hitting a similar run to his 2011-2012 feature frenzy, pumping out guest appearances and mixtapes that established Chainz as one of the most reliable, prolific voices in Atlanta rap (which with Future, Migos, and Young Thug at their respective peaks, was no small feat).
Though both coming out of the generation that passed on pen and paper when mapping out their rhymes (Wayne being one of the figures who popularized the approach), the ColleGrove emcees are rappers who are clearly obsessed with the craft of writing. Their dynamic is no better illustrated than on “Bounce,” a driving record that puts them head-to-head in a clash of wit and energy. From there, he more than keeps up with one of rap’s all-time greats as he falls into a more centered position relative to Weezy, bringing an element of rap traditionalism to his punchline-driven raps to offset his collaborators wild-card flows. On opener “Dedication,” 2 Chainz shares some of his most potent storytelling as he describes his early interactions with Wayne and what they meant to him both as an artist and a person. Though 5 years his senior, Chainz is in many ways a student of Wayne’s, made possible by the fact that Weezy has been rapping professionally since age 15 while Chainz was more of a late bloomer. Originally framed as a co-headlining project from 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne, ColleGrove is actually more of an Only Built 4 Cuban Linx with Wayne in the Ghostface role.
Slip “I’m Different” into any DJ set or party playlist in 2017 and the reaction will speak for itself. Though the more introspective material on the album isn't quite as confident as that of his later work, the essence of Chainz’ appeal was never more purely laid out than on the thrilling highlights of BOATS. Those tracks, as well as album cuts like “I Luv Them Strippers” remain among the most beloved and representative examples of the 2 Chainz single formula - a common thread that can be found throughout his albums. Singles “No Lie,” “Birthday Song,” and “I’m Different” are ruled by outrageous punchlines shout-along jokes and brags that were so synonymous with Chainz that he was able to take them to the brink of absurdity (“ She got a big booty / so I call her Big Booty”). Story is an album-length summation of that portion of his career. Chainz was coming off a solid year of scene-stealing features, and in many ways, Based On A T.R.U.
That’s why it’s important that I have a studio everywhere I go, and that’s why I sound so refreshed all the time, I’m up on everything all the time.”Ģ Chainz’ debut solo album arrived with a considerable amount of hype. I can’t get better, doing something I don’t understand, it’s just not gonna make me better. I know if I stay in the studio, if I stay in the gym, if I stay anywhere, I’m going to get better at it.
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You have to be able to motherfucking know how to network, make relations, whatever it is, that’s what this rap, or hip-hop, whatever you want to call it, is about, and that’s what I understand. "This shit ain’t no clocking out, ain’t no clocking in, you’ve got to be ready to spend an extra day in the city if you have to, you have to be ready to live with some decisions you’ve made. “I understood a while back that, rap don’t have that little time-clock thing," he told HNHH in June. There's also a clear growth and increased comfort in Chainz' work throughout his discography something he has described as the result of practice and determination.
The Atlanta rapper was once known primarily for his quotable and energetic singles and features, but his full-length projects give us a better look at who he is as an artist. Some are stronger than others, but each of Chainz' studio albums gives us a piece of his identity whether it be the pun-loving joker, the southern rap traditionalist, the hooky hitmaker or the the trap music synthesist. With the release of Pretty Girls Like Trap Music this year, 2 Chainz made it clear that he deserves to be looked at as an album artist. The Atlanta rapper's catalog is due for reassessment.
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