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Knock, knock, who’s there? It’s 2 Chainz and he ain’t alone. Having paired with Travis Scott, Quavo and many more on his much acclaimed Pretty Girls Like Trap Music album, the hooper turned artist still knows game and is on it, inking a deal with Champs Sports and dropping a song with Cam Newton for his new Under Armour C1N. Making money and making moves, this is more than just cutting another check as The Drenched One and The Dabber date back to way before either of their recent wins.
Currently in a wheelchair but far from sidelined, we caught up with Titty Boi to hear how he relates to Cam, what motivates him personally and of course what he’s rocking.
Nice Kicks: The last time we talked at Agenda Vegas you spoke about rocking all black designers from head to toe sans a Gucci headband. Style wise what labels are you rocking the most these days?
2 Chainz: I do a little bit of everything, I’m very eclectic. I can do Goyard, Gucci, Polo, Louis, it just depends. I’m a very stylish cat, you dig what I’m saying? It just depends as what day it as to what I have on. It’s not just one way with me, I can switch it up. I can go Chanel or I can go Under Armour. However you wanna do it, I can really switch it up. For me it depends on the day of the week and which direction my artistic expression is going in terms of the outfit.
Nice Kicks: Curious, how did the Drench God nickname come about? Is that ATL slang or straight from the 2 Chainz vernacular?
2 Chainz: Man, it just came. It came from the skies, it came from the heavens. Everyone was having swag and sauce and I felt like I was the drenchy one. Anyone who knows me and knows my personality knows I like to bend words.
Nice Kicks: Speaking of another drenched ATL native, from swagger on field to gear off, how does Cam embody Atlanta?
2 Chainz: I think Cam is very charismatic and represents ATL very well. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, he’s very passionate, he’s a winner and he believes in himself a lot. Those are characteristics that I carry myself, too. He’s from the Southside of Atlanta so I support him in everything he does. I think the shoe’s comfortable and it’s a good look for Cam and the Southside. Me being a friend and a fan I like what he’s doing. I’ve followed him since high school.
Nice Kicks: A theme in this partnership is work ethic. It’s well documented what Cam does in the offseason, but what do you do between albums in regards to crafting your skill, prepping for tour and taking care of yourself?
2 Chainz: I go to the studio everyday. I think God gives everybody a certain gift, but I feel like it’s up to you as if you take it to the next level with work ethic. That’s where I come in at. I never said I was the best anything but I feel like I outwork everyone. I feel like hard work beats talent and that’s kind of the motto I stand behind. You might not see Cam on ESPN practice or me in the studio going through my delivery or thought patterns, but I’m doing it everyday. I think it’s very important to touch basis on whatever it is you’re trying to do career wise everyday.
Nice Kicks: From Cam’s days at Auburn to his rise in the NFL, he’s competed against and played with the best. Looking at your catalog, it’s no different. Whether on your come up or today, who are the artists that inspired your competitive fire most whether it be in the booth or seeing their grind?
2 Chainz: I try to be self motivated, I don’t try to look at other artists to be motivated. I have a family and they motivate me. If I don’t grind, they don’t eat. That’s my motivation. My fans, everybody from old school to new school that believe in me. I find motivation deep within self that I have people to take care of.
Nice Kicks: On the touring tip, you’ve been playing through injury by performing in a wheelchair. Alex George from The Chive was wondering if you’ve bulked up in the arms or shoulders since wheeling yourself around?
2 Chainz: [Laughs] Man it is but that’s not what I would like to do. I’d like to get my ass up and walk and go to the gym! I think my triceps might be swelling up a little bit, especially on my right side. I dislocated my elbow too when I broke my leg so I’m just rehabilitating at the same time. I have a physical therapist with me everyday, I’m very optimistic and I work hard so I think I’ll be back in a few weeks. [When it comes to hoops] I hurt my off arm but I’m kind of ambidextrous when it comes to playing ball, I can shoot with both hands.
Nice Kicks: On the subject of touring, what record’s been getting the best reaction on tour?
2 Chainz: The whole album is going off. I feel like eight or ten records off it are getting crazy response from the fan base.
Nice Kicks: Going back to the Champs campaign, the song is called “Let Me In.” Whether it be your days coming up in the basketball scene or time with Playaz Circle/DTP was there a time you felt like you weren’t being let in?
2 Chainz: “Let Me In” is just another motivational record. For Cam it might be 4th and inches, for me it’s just busting my way through the door to be in a position of greatness. That’s my motivation everyday, like I said I have people to take care of. I might knock a couple of times but I’m opening the door at the same time.
Nice Kicks: Back to sports, basketball was your game but did you keep up with football and other sports growing up?
2 Chainz: I like sports period. I watch ESPN everyday. I like basketball, football, baseball, I’ve been watching tennis today. I’m an athlete at heart. I had a lot of favorite athletes from Atlanta. We could talk about Jordan, Kobe, the newer guys like LeBron, Russell and James, but I’m really just a sports fan so to talk about anyone player is crazy ’cause I’ve got love for the old school and the new school.
Nice Kicks: Lastly, what can fans expect next from 2 Chainz and Champs?
2 Chainz: It’s family oriented and it’s very organic, so just keep your eyes open because you never know what could happen and where the next invasion could be.
The Under Armour C1N Trainer is available now at Champs Sports.
