NEW YORK (AP) — It’s no secret that rap celebrity 2 Chainz considers Lil Wayne an inspiration, and now that admiration for the “Tha Carter” sequence icon has translated into one other official joint album that he says will probably be out earlier than 2023 ends.
“We’ve got two movies shot, photoshoot shot, (the) album’s combined and getting mastered, so it’ll be coming prior to later, and I’m actually enthusiastic about it,” mentioned 2 Chainz, whereas selling the brand new season of Amazon Music Reside. “It’s rapping at a excessive stage — metal sharpens metal. And he’s one of many people who I take pleasure in working with essentially the most.”
The long-awaited album, expectedly titled “COLLEGROVE 2,” has been teased since 2020 because the sequel to their 2016 collaboration. 2 Chainz is credited as the principle artist on that challenge though Wayne appeared on eight of the 12 songs, as a result of Weezy’s contractual points on the time. Whereas a lot of the album is shrouded in secrecy, varied experiences say options will embody Benny the Butcher and Usher, who just lately popped up in social media movies with the pair in what appeared just like the filming of a music video.
2 Chainz, whose most up-to-date studio challenge was 2022’s “Dope Don’t Promote Itself,” mentioned Wayne left many of the course of their upcoming album to his management.
“We labored collectively on each track and we over-recorded. However he form of laid that accountability in my lap. He’s inventive. He’s developing with ideas and concepts. After which, I’m somebody that does the identical factor on the advertising and marketing aspect, placing collectively the precise set of songs that match the actual idea I’m making an attempt to convey,” mentioned the Grammy winner. “I believe we work effectively in that extent to the place he trusts my opinion and the way I’m dealing with every part. And he’s going to deliver the A-game to work day by day.”
Recognized for hits resembling “It’s a Vibe” feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz and Jhene Aiko, “No Lie” with Drake and “I’m Completely different,” mainstream rap followers had been first launched to Chainz, then going by Tity Boy, when he was within the group Playaz Circle with Dolla Boy. Lil Wayne was featured on their 2007 hit “Duffle Bag Boy,” which reached No. 15 on Billboard’s Sizzling 100.
Along with the mixtape, Chainz and Wayne have contributed to numerous songs on one another’s albums, in addition to Juicy J’s smash report “Bandz A Make Her Dance,” Likelihood the Rapper’s “No Downside” and a model of Younger Dolph’s “Preach.”
The Georgia native additionally mentioned he’s bringing his finest when internet hosting this new season of “Amazon Music Reside,” the live performance sequence livestreamed from Los Angeles by Amazon Music. The “Good Drank” rapper says the second season will function performances from Ed Sheeran, Latin celebrity Feid and rap heavyweight Lil Durk, with extra to be introduced later.
“We’re taking it up a notch with some extra thrilling acts from completely different genres,” mentioned Chainz, who additionally served because the inaugural host. “Connecting sports activities and music, fusing that collectively which we already know has a robust correlation, it simply feels good to be in the course of all this. To be the host…it comes form of pure to me.”
Premiering tonight after the New York Giants go to the San Francisco 49ers, Amazon Music Reside will observe Thursday Evening Soccer weekly on Prime Video and on the Amazon Music channel on the streaming platform Twitch. Final season’s visitors included Lil Child, Megan Thee Stallion, Kane Brown, Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, Anitta and 21 Savage.
Lately aiding DJ Khaled in opening up for Beyoncé’s Los Angeles tour cease earlier this month, 2 Chainz says though he considers himself to be a grasp performer, he’s at all times paying shut consideration to the artists who grace the Amazon Music Reside stage.
“Numerous preparation goes into it,” mentioned 2 Chainz of the performances. “Simply seeing how folks method this platform is at all times fascinating for me. I’m nonetheless a pupil.”
The “Birthday Tune” artist, who additionally hosts Vice TV’s “Most Expensivest” sequence which follows him as he checks out uber-priced objects, says his album with Wayne is “proper on time” because the music world has been celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop.
Nonetheless, with a lot of the fanfare going towards The Bronx, hip-hop’s birthplace, and New York Metropolis’s early rap years, some followers and artists assume Southern Rap hasn’t gotten it’s due, having been the style’s dominant geographical nucleus the final 20 years. However 2 Chainz says the affect and affect of the South within the general story can’t be denied.
“If we dive in a little bit deeper, we’ll notice that the South has had an actual maintain on it for the final 20 (years), with Houston acts, New Orleans acts, Florida acts, Georgia acts, the Carolinas—you identify it,” he mentioned. “Whoever telling the story goes to make the story sound helpful to (them).”
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Observe Related Press journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.