In a sit down with All The Smoke on Thursday (February 10) to talk about his new album Dope Don’t Sell Itself, 2 Chainz broached the topic of Verzuz battles and named three rappers he thinks could potentially go against JAY-Z in the ring.
“I think [Lil Wayne] has the stage presence and charisma I think he got the songs. I think Drake got the stage presence, charisma he got the songs. So you got a few people. I think Ye got the stage presence, charisma, the songs. So you know, you get to the nitty-gritty we got a few artists that we are alive to see right now.”
However, 2 Chainz never named himself, despite having an impressive amount of plaques and hit singles under his belt. He touched on these accomplishments elsewhere in the interview and said there was one song that really started it all.
“It’s ‘I’m Different,'” Chainz said without hesitation, noting the triple-platinum single off his 2012 album Based on a T.R.U. Story. “And the reason it’s ‘I’m Different’ is because when you do a song it has 100% publishing, or whatever you wanna say right? The producer gets 50% for making the beat…the other 50 is the artist or whoever is on the song. That was just me, there wasn’t nobody on the hook, ain’t nobody give me a line. Ain’t nobody say you oughta talk about being different.
I know where I was when it went platinum, I was in London and at this time I did “No Lie,” that was platinum. I did “Mercy,” that was platinum. It was like I couldn’t miss. But deep down in my soul when I looked in the mirror I said ‘boy, you ain’t did this by yourself.’ I wasn’t trying to act like my shit didn’t stink.”
Tity Boi was sitting down to discuss his latest album Dope Don’t Sell Itself, which dropped on February 4 and features appearances from Lil Baby, NBA YoungBoy, Lil Durk, Moneybagg Yo, Roddy Ricch, 42 Dugg and more. Meanwhile, production comes from the likes of Hit-Boy, Mannie Fresh and Buddah Bless.
Check out the full interview below.
This is one of the daft mumble rappers who have brought nothing to hip-hop. Jay-Z is one of the three epic rap geniuses where the only other two are Nas and Eminem. Of course, we still have living legends like Rakim, Andre3000, and LL Cool J but there is something special about the 3 guys who are still active. Mentioning Drake and etc on the same stage as Jay is criminal.
I don’t listen to Jay nor am I a huge Wayne fan however Wayne is a legit top tier lyricist with two decades worth of hits. Wayne came out at the same time as Jay Z. Wayne may actually be better than Jay Z.
This is the time when someone has to have an intervention with you and help you get off that pipe…stop it man…Wayne’s catalog cannot f$*k wit Jay…Don’t go there.
Gimme some of that you smoking. ??????
By the time Wayne came out in 99 as a solo artist, Jay had three albums out plus a soundtrack where he was on half the songs. Album two went platinum and album three went 5x. He had officially released music in 1995 and then his debut in 1996. Wayne was first on a group project in 1997 that didn’t go gold and solo in 1999. So no, Jay’s been around and been making a mark a bit longer. And let’s be honest, folks weren’t checking for Wayne outside New Orleans until Tha Carter in 2004. That’s not to say Wayne isn’t legit now, but if he went at anybody with just songs from 1997 to 2003, he’d get washed.
You must be white or date white womenZ
Lil Wayne to me is NO DOUBT! Jay Z is no comparison to EM Tho… Never will be!! ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ????????? Both “Legends” Agreed!!
Ugh.. 2 Chainz isn’t a mumble rapper.. he’s actually one of the best lyricists in mainstream Hip Hop right now.
Dude didn’t say Nas! SMH! His opinion, but I don’t get 2 Chainz music anyway!
It’s funny how ppl bring up Nas and Eminem and whoever else when this argument comes up. The keyword is Verzuz battle. Ppl who say Nas and Eminem and any other lyricists against Jay Z in a Verzuz battle either
a.) show us they’ve never seen a Verzuz battle and don’t know it’s about radio and show hits and not about who lyrically can the other or
b.) are the few people requesting Nas and Eminem at the club and getting ignored
Given the way Verzuz is set up, 2Chainz answer ain’t wrong with these picks. Argue with you Auntie.
No one cares about what you or 2 Chainz have stated… 2 Chainz, thinks it can be Lil Wayne and Drake but not mentioning Nas is Blasphemy!!!! I’ll put my hat in the ring for Nas. He is street dude with morals. If the verzuz in NY, over! Nas is NY!!! He play that record Shootouts, done deal! I am telling you. Jay Z has Public Announcement which is hard as F but Nas has those grimed records that can slap the hell out of that crowd.
Given the Verzuz format, I think Snoop would be a good opponent for Jay. Probably won’t happen because he already did the DMX one, though.
Not sure Wayne could go toe to toe with Jay. Jay has a wider appeal, although, Wayne fans are extremely vocal and will definitely be backing their guy.
Drake is probably a good match up, but it wouldn’t be too entertaining when Jay starts hitting his 90s/2k hits and Drake can only reply with stuff post 2010. Ideally it would be someone that could match up with Jay’s timeline.
All of this speculation is for naught though, we know Jay is too cool for school and will never take part in a Verzuz
Nas
Ye would smoke Jay in a Verzuz let’s be honest. And if Jay played any tracks Ye produced, it would just one up Ye again.
Lil Wayne is a MONSTER
Eminem is a MONSTER
Dr. Dre is a MONSTER
Each of them bring a nuke to the table. Fair game to Jay-Z
Wayne could work due to career lenght, only problem is his old school material aint up to par with Jayz earlier effort. I still think Nas is the only one vs Jay and Nas would win.
Drake isn’t a legend…
Drake is unquestionably a legend. Respectfully. No-one has had a run like him. since 2011 he has been top dog in the game. Whether or not you like his style, the ‘singing’ etc, you can’t deny he is one of the greats. jays was on top from 98-03 (and that can be debated bc technically em and 50 were bigger in some of those years) Kanye and Wayne were on top from like 07-11. but since Take Care, no-one has had a bigger year than drake if he drops. not to mention his consistency of releasing albums. you got to tip your hat to the man.
Drake is a joke. Just stop
Taylor swift is than a legend 2 she raps and sings just like drake, als sels more.
Wayne drake Kanye and jay must be the most gay rap group ever! Can’t wait to see drake sing all he’s rnb hits while jay fucking him in the ass and Kanye sucking he’s dick! For real yo!
Nas is the only one for me because of his street records…not the hits! Nas does not have the hits like Jay Z but dude has a very deep catalogue. They go so hard. Folks has to understand Nas is NY. Saying Drake is one of the artists kills me because he has more hits than anyone but real rap dudes that shit is not going to fly with Jay street records. Real rap fans will gravitate more to hits but Jay has those also… Lil Wayne, yeah that will be good one with Jay but comparing him to Nas, no sir!
I am going with Nas because of his deep catalogue old and new… Folks aways talking about hits but the crowd see differently. Ask Jadakiss!!!
I’ll say Nas! I don’t want to hear no Drake with that R&B vocals and singing watered down crap. Be real people.
Who cares what 2 Chainz? Dude not a rapper!
If 2 chainz isn`t a rapper. What is he?
A talker…
Shootouts by Nas please listen people…That is Real rap music not radio hits.
Speechless by Nas! That building will be tore down!!!!
I think KRIT says it best in Mt Olympus
“Rap battlin’ never got me out of no public housin’
You tellin’ me I can be King of Hip-Hop
And they wouldn’t give it to Andre 3000?
– please, this award ain’t got shit to do with us
God could physically come down and say “he the greatest
My favorite, y’all should listen, he have potential
To outlive the heatwave I’ma send through this motherfucker
And rebuild for a whole ‘nother other culture”
And that wouldn’t be enough
So fuck these haters and fuck these hoes
Damn right I still mean that”
Nas will slap them all.
2 of the Rap Legends already smoked Jay-Z! Nas & Eminem! Yet I always thought LL Cool J, KRS-1, Ice Cube, Too Short, Busta Rhymes were legends & better than Jay-Z!
Interesting Eminem wasn’t mentioned… Since he already upstaged Jay z up on his own album Blueprint
hhaah IT WAS AN EMINEM SONG to begin with smh dick riders
Jay has hits but not necessarily the stage presence. Busta would be a good opponent even though he would eventually wash Jay.
it’s really a generational argument at this point. if you’re over 40, the only person LIVING that you’re seriously pitting against Jay is Nas and you know that Jay’s biggest hits were commercially bigger than Nas’ biggest hits across wider audiences.
If you’re under, say 35 or 30? It’s Ye, Drake, Wayne… you might even throw Kendrick or Cole in the discussion because they’ve all been more relevant musically over the last 10 years than Jay has. Once you factor in fanbase and sales you can make a case for Migos, Nicki Minaj, Lil Yachty, or Uzi because they’ve been more commercially viable than Jay since 2012.
LOLLL that comment tells me your for sure a teenager still
According to Billboard, Eminem has certified career album sales of 154 Million albums worldwide plus 75 million singles sold worldwide. Billboard says Jay Z has career sales of 50 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide.
Em has almost DOUBLED Jay’s success with less output.
in a verzus, Em’s fans are an army. it’d be like going to war with Russia.
But who has “better music” or who is a “better artist”? Eh, it’s a generational question. And racial one. Em’s fanbase is literally 90% white and they’ll ride to hell and back for him no matter what he does.
Em is an unfair fight for any Black rapper. He’ll always get the edge from his fans.