2 Chainz Bio
Tauheed Epps, known professionally as 2 Chainz, is an American rapper, songwriter, and actor from College Park, Georgia. He first gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip-hop duo Playaz Circle before launching a successful solo career after changing his stage name to 2 Chainz. His major-label debut, Based on a T.R.U. Story (2012), produced hit singles and established him as a mainstream artist.
He has released several studio albums, won a Grammy for his guest appearance on Chance the Rapper’s “No Problem,” and hosted the Viceland series Most Expensivest. Epps attended Alabama State University and graduated from Virginia State University; he has three children and married Kesha Ward in 2018.
Early Life and Background
Tauheed Epps was born on September 12, 1977, in College Park, Georgia. He grew up in the same College Park neighborhood that would later shape his musical identity and longtime creative partnerships. As a young man, Epps was an only child who earned a childhood nickname from his family that he later carried into his early music career.
He attended North Clayton High School, where he played basketball and graduated second in his class. While in high school, he dealt marijuana and was arrested for felony cocaine possession at the age of 15, a setback that would influence his path forward.
After high school, Epps attended Alabama State University on a basketball scholarship and played on the school’s team from 1996 to 1997. He later transferred to Virginia State University, where he completed his Bachelor of Science degree and graduated.
Path to Rapper
Epps formed the hip-hop duo Playaz Circle in 1997 in College Park with his high school friend Earl Conyers, who performed as Dolla Boy. Adopting the moniker Tity Boi, Epps and Conyers released an independent album titled United We Stand, United We Fall in 2002. The pair were introduced to Atlanta rapper Ludacris after he moved into their apartment complex.
Ludacris took interest in the group and recorded several songs with them, eventually inviting them to join his newly formed Disturbing tha Peace label, a subsidiary of Def Jam Recordings. The duo released their debut album Supply & Demand on October 30, 2007, featuring their breakout single “Duffle Bag Boy” with Lil Wayne. They followed with Flight 360: The Takeoff in 2009 before Epps eventually departed Disturbing tha Peace to pursue a solo career.
2 Chainz Career
Early Career (1997–2010)
During his years with Playaz Circle, Epps honed his craft as a lyricist and performer alongside Dolla Boy. The duo’s 2007 debut single “Duffle Bag Boy” became an urban hit and earned them a performance slot at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Although the duo released a second studio album in 2009, Epps chose to leave the group and the Disturbing tha Peace imprint to advance his career as a solo artist.
Ludacris initially expressed reluctance but ultimately accepted Epps’s decision. In early 2011, Epps rebranded himself as 2 Chainz, a name he considered more family-friendly, and released the mixtape T.R.U. REALigion, which became his first mixtape to chart, peaking at number 58 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Breakthrough (2011–2015)
In April 2012, Epps delivered a guest performance on Kanye West’s “Mercy,” marking his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo act, peaking at number 13. He then signed a solo recording contract with Def Jam Recordings and released his debut studio album, Based on a T.R.U. Story, on August 14, 2012. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 147,000 copies in its first week, and was preceded by the singles “No Lie” featuring Drake and “Birthday Song” featuring Kanye West.
His second studio album, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time, arrived on September 10, 2013, led by the single “Feds Watching” featuring Pharrell Williams and earning generally positive reviews. In 2014, Epps released the FreeBase EP, which drew over 200,000 downloads. He continued making guest appearances on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CBS’s 2 Broke Girls, expanding his presence beyond music.
2016–2019: Pretty Girls Like Trap Music and Rap or Go to the League
In March 2016, Epps released the collaborative album ColleGrove with Lil Wayne, in which Epps assumed the lead billing. He then released his fourth studio album, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, on June 16, 2017, through Def Jam Recordings. The album featured Travis Scott, Nicki Minaj, Swae Lee, Migos, and Pharrell Williams, and was supported by the singles “Good Drank,” “It’s a Vibe,” and “4 AM.” Critics widely praised the record as his most mature work to date.
On November 15, 2017, the first episode of Most Expensivest aired on Viceland, running for four seasons. Epps released his fifth studio album, Rap or Go to the League, on March 1, 2019. The project marked another step in his evolution as a solo artist and toured in support of the release.
2020–2022: So Help Me God and Dope Don’t Sell Itself
Following his Verzuz battle with Rick Ross in August 2020, Epps announced his sixth studio album, So Help Me God!, which was released on November 13, 2020, preceded by the single “Quarantine Thick” featuring Latto. He then appeared on the season premiere of Celebrity Family Feud on September 24, 2020.
In August 2021, Epps announced that his seventh studio album would be his last trap album, titled Dope Don’t Sell Itself. He also began hosting the concert series Amazon Music Live, which premiered on October 27, 2022.
2023–Present: Welcome 2 Collegrove and Def Jam Departure
In November 2023, 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne released their first collaborative album together, Welcome 2 Collegrove, on November 17, debuting at number twenty on the Billboard 200. On October 14, 2024, after 22 years under Def Jam, Epps announced he had parted ways with the label, choosing not to re-sign and declaring himself a free agent. On February 7, 2025, he released the collaborative studio album Life Is Beautiful with Larry June and the Alchemist, marking his first major release since leaving Def Jam.
Notable Works and Milestones
2 Chainz’s signature studio album is Based on a T.R.U. Story, which topped the Billboard 200 and produced the double platinum-certified singles “No Lie” and “Birthday Song.” His 2017 album Pretty Girls Like Trap Music earned widespread critical acclaim, and Welcome 2 Collegrove marked a successful reunion with longtime collaborator Lil Wayne.
2 Chainz Award Nominations
2 Chainz has earned six Grammy Award nominations, 11 BET Awards nominations, and 19 BET Hip Hop Awards nominations across his career. His Grammy nominations include a nod for Best Rap Album in recognition of Based on a T.R.U. Story, alongside further nominations that reflect his consistent presence in hip-hop’s major award circuits.
2 Chainz Awards Won
2 Chainz has won one Grammy Award, three BET Awards, and five BET Hip Hop Awards. His Grammy win came in the Best Rap Performance category for his guest appearance on Chance the Rapper’s 2016 single “No Problem.” He also earned four BET Hip Hop Awards in connection with his debut album cycle and additional wins for his later work.
2 Chainz Family
Tauheed Epps married his longtime partner, Kesha Ward, on August 18, 2018. Ward is the mother of his three children. The couple raised their family while Epps continued his music and television career.
Personal Life
Epps has three children, including two daughters born on July 26, 2008 and October 20, 2012, and a son born on October 14, 2015. He and Kesha Ward wed in 2018 after years together. Beyond music, Epps has built a public profile through his Most Expensivest television series and through business ventures including a clothing line and a minority ownership stake in the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League.