TORONTO -- Rapper 2 Chainz has been through a couple of names and incarnations over the past decade, and it's taken him until now to release his first album.
"Based on a T.R.U. Story," which dropped Tuesday, sees 2 Chainz (a.k.a. Tauheed Epps) collaborating with high-profile artists including Drake, The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Kanye West, whose label -- G.O.O.D. Music -- 2 Chainz just joined.
He calls Drake "a genius" and also has high praise for another Canadian superstar: Justin Bieber.
Chainz reportedly nicknamed the Stratford, Ont., heart-throb 'Lil' Swaggy' after collaborating on a "Boyfriend" re-mix.
He said Canada's youthful loverboy can do "anything he puts his mind to," including a future in the hip-hop world if he wants it.
"He'll be around for a long time," 2 Chainz said of Bieber. "I don't think he's fly-by-night. As he grows and matures, who knows what he'll pick up?"
While "Based on a T.R.U. Story" is 2 Chainz's first solo album, he has released seven mixtapes in the past few years and says his new record shows "a lot of growth and maturation" from those efforts.
As for his previous name changes (he was previously known as Tity Boi), 2 Chainz says he's come to rest in what he feels is a more permanent identity.
On the line from Baltimore, the Georgia native speaks effusively about a recent gig at Toronto's OVO Fest and says he hopes to return to Canada soon.
"I think Canadian people are beautiful. Everybody was just so receptive to 2 Chainz, man. I just can't wait to go back," he said.
"When they book me again, I'll be there nice and early, on an early flight."
