2 Chainz discusses Ludacris and DTP Records

2 Chainz Opens Up About DTP, Ludacris, and His Solo Path

Atlanta’s 2 Chainz is having a busy week. Today, he appears in a new interview with XXLMag.com discussing his decade-long relationship with Disturbing Tha Peace, his recent rebranding from Tity Boi, and his role as an A&R for Ludacris’s upcoming album LudaVersal. The conversation arrives as 2 Chainz and Ludacris tape a cypher together for the BET Hip-Hop Awards, which shoots tonight in Atlanta. The public appearance together signals that despite 2 Chainz’s push for independence, the relationship remains strong.

Born Tauheed Epps in College Park, Georgia, 2 Chainz first entered the industry in the late 1990s as one half of Playaz Circle alongside Dolla Boy. The duo signed to DTP approximately a decade ago and released two albums through the label and Def Jam: Supply and Demand (2007), featuring the hit single “Duffle Bag Boy” with Lil Wayne, and Flight 360: The Takeoff (2009). Now, after rebranding earlier this year, 2 Chainz is stepping out on his own while keeping ties to his mentors.

A Decade With DTP and the Decision to Go Solo

2 Chainz has been signed to Disturbing Tha Peace for ten years, a fact that many casual fans may not realize. In the XXL interview, he shouts out label owners Chaka Zulu, Jeff Dixon, and Ludacris (Chris Bridges) while expressing gratitude for the opportunities they provided. “I put out two major albums with them [as part of] Playaz Circle,” he says. “The first one was Supply and Demand, it had the major hit ‘Duffle Bag Boy’ with [Lil Wayne]. That was ’07. We came with Flight 360: The Takeoff in ’09.”

But the second album’s reception left him wanting more control. “That had features on there from Raekwon to Cee-Lo Green,” he explains. “I felt that not necessarily DTP or Def Jam, it was another project that someone just threw out. As an individual who puts time and effort into it, I just couldn’t be apart of something that just gets thrown out for whatever reasons.” That experience pushed him toward independence.

He now aims to launch his own imprint and operate as his own boss. However, DTP retains first dibs on his projects. “We have to work it out where everybody is happy,” he says. “We trying to figure it all out.” Negotiations remain ongoing, but the tone of the interview suggests no animosity—just a clear-eyed assessment of his career direction.

A&R Work for Ludacris’s LudaVersal

Even as 2 Chainz pursues solo projects, he remains deeply involved with DTP’s flagship artist. Ludacris asked him to contribute as an A&R for his forthcoming album LudaVersal. “I’m actually doing some A&R for Luda’s new album, LudaVersal,” he tells XXL. “I’m not giving [Luda] too many ideas, but I have a lot of producers that fuck with me that ’Cris may not even be knowing.”

2 Chainz emphasizes his connection to rising beatmakers. “I like fucking with that type; that young and hungry and probably nobody knows,” he says. He points to M-16, who produced “Duffle Bag Boy” before anyone knew his name, as an example. “A name doesn’t drive me. It used to be you open up the cover and see names like Timbaland. It’s not like that no more.”

He cites Lex Luger and Sonny Digital as producers who “came and kick the door down” recently. “I’m part of that new wave, that new wave of music,” he explains. “I understand the new wave and new sound. For an artist like ’Cris who might not be out as much because he has a liquor to promote, or a movie or headphones, I’m still out here. That’s why I think he hired me.”

The Rebranding From Tity Boi to 2 Chainz

Earlier this year, 2 Chainz made a significant change to his public identity. After years of performing under the name Tity Boi, he adopted the more family-friendly moniker 2 Chainz. The rebranding has coincided with a surge in solo activity, including a series of mixtapes that have built momentum for his upcoming projects.

His mixtape titles follow a pattern of homage to Tupac Shakur’s catalog. He has released Me Against the World, a double-disc project titled All Ice On Me (alluding to All Eyez on Me), and the Trap-A-Velli series. These releases position him as an independent operator while he remains formally affiliated with DTP. The strategy allows him to maintain visibility and test material without the pressure of major-label release schedules.

The name change has also opened doors for guest appearances and heightened his profile within Atlanta’s hip-hop community. As 2 Chainz, he presents a more polished, accessible version of the artist who spent a decade grinding in the background. The rebranding appears to be paying off as he prepares for his next major release.

T.R.U. REALigion Drops November 1

2 Chainz’s next project, the mixtape T.R.U. REALigion, arrives on November 1. The title continues his pattern of thematic, self-referential naming and builds directly on the mixtape strategy that has defined his output since the rebranding. While he has not revealed a full tracklist, the project represents the next major milestone in his transition toward solo stardom.

The mixtape follows the Trap-A-Velli series and other recent releases that have kept his name in rotation. Unlike his Playaz Circle albums, which received what he describes as uneven promotional support, T.R.U. REALigion operates under his own direction. He retains creative control while still navigating his contractual relationship with DTP.

As of today, no official singles from the mixtape have been announced. But with the November 1 date now public, fans can expect promotional activity to ramp up in the coming weeks. The BET Hip-Hop Awards cypher appearance with Ludacris and others will likely generate additional visibility for 2 Chainz heading into the mixtape’s release.

BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher and Public Perception

Tonight’s BET Hip-Hop Awards taping in Atlanta includes a cypher featuring 2 Chainz alongside Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, and Reek da Villain. The appearance serves as a public demonstration that despite his push for independence, no bad blood exists between him and DTP. The cypher format, which has become an awards show staple, showcases lyrical ability over spectacle, making it a natural fit for 2 Chainz’s skill set.

The timing of the cypher aligns with the XXL interview published today. Together, they present a unified message: 2 Chainz respects his past, values his relationships with Ludacris and the DTP team, but is ready to chart his own course. The interview and the cypher both reinforce that he remains part of the DTP family even as he expands his solo footprint.

For fans who have followed him since the Playaz Circle days, the transition is clear. 2 Chainz has moved from background artist to frontman, from Tity Boi to a name that now appears on marquees. The November 1 mixtape will be his next test. If the momentum holds, he may not be “up next” for much longer.

Conclusion

2 Chainz stands at a pivotal moment in his career. After a decade with DTP, two albums as part of Playaz Circle, and a recent rebranding, he is stepping out on his own while keeping his mentors close. His XXL interview today clarifies that he has no issues with Ludacris, Chaka Zulu, or Def Jam—he simply wants full control over his projects. His A&R role on LudaVersal keeps him connected to the label, and his upcoming mixtape T.R.U. REALigion on November 1 represents the next chapter.

Tonight’s BET Hip-Hop Awards cypher with Ludacris will remind viewers that the relationship remains strong. For 2 Chainz, the goal is clear: build his own imprint, work with hungry young producers, and prove that a name doesn’t make the artist—the artist makes the name.