2 Chainz listening party is now open to the public
When tastemakers — and their recorder devices — packed out Tree Sound Studios for the Atlanta rapper’s listening event, he had to cut the music short for his sake
- Brandon English
- PEEK-A-BOO: 2 Chainz snaps back at his Tree Sounds Studios private listening party
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About halfway through the industry listening session for 2 Chainz’ highly anticipated Def Jam debut Based On a T.R.U. Story, it dawned on the Atlanta rapper that with all the bloggers aiming digital cameras and boom mics at him, his private listening party wouldn’t be private for long. So he did what any artist would who, after a year and a half of self-made mixtape buzz and star-turning cameos alongside the likes of Kanye West, Drake, and Nicki Minaj, finally hopes to capitalize come next Tuesday’s release date.
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He stopped the music.
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“I really like that song, too, but I don’t want it to be out before the album comes out,” he said from the sound stage inside a hot shoulder-to-shoulder crowd at Tree Sounds Studios. “I thought we were just going to chill. Y’all in here tryna make money.”
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It speaks to the stellar year the artist formerly known as Tity Boi has had that the studio located on Peachtree Industrial was packed with tastemakers, writers, photogs, DJs, collaborators, and well-wishers including B.o.B and Killer Mike. Atlanta was there to show love, but also to witness the culmination of what’s amounted to an inspiring reinvention on 2 Chainz’ part — one that’s earned him shout-outs from the likes of Forbes along the way.
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After a few formalities — including the presentation of his first gold plaque for “No Lie,” his current No. 1 hit with Drake — 2 Chainz got down to business. The first song he played from the album was “Yuck,” a track full of chonky beats, featuring Lil Wayne.
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“My daughter always says “Yuck, daddy,” 2 Chainz said, explaining the title. “Plus, it’s so nasty.”