Duality is one of hip-hop’s most rewarding themes. It presents the artist as a flawed and complex human being, gray in a spectrum of black and white. It allows the same artist to lay out their values and darkest urges as equals, forcing themselves to analyze both with thorough care. For some, the right path can be difficult to discern. Temptations can prove devastating. DMX knows that better than most. Fans of his debut album It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot understand his struggle, his ability to stay fixated on the Lord’s light. Songs like “Damien,” itself a masterclass in horrific storytelling, brilliantly outline DMX’s duel with evil incarnate. Yet that story unfolds in a traditional sense, one man’s encounter with the devil’s physical form. On “Stop Being Greedy,” that same conflict occurs from within.

There are two parallel manifestations of conflict on “Stop Being Greedy.” One comes courtesy of Dame Grease and P Killer Tracks’ instrumental, which alternates between two segments. The first, slightly mysterious yet relatively benign; the second, a hellish descent reminiscent of The Exorcist’s “Tubular Bells.” DMX uses both backdrops to bring his proverbial “angel” and “devil” to life. Like in “Damien,” his voice plays a pivotal role in fleshing out both perspectives. The former is almost approachable in its delivery, higher-pitched and even slightly tentative — only prone to react when provoked. The latter is the epitome of savage, a violent growl liable to snap in a violent fashion. As both the instrumental and cadential elements combine, “Stop Being Greedy” becomes somewhat of an emotional roller coaster.

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“I don’t like drama, so I stay to myself, keep focus with this rap shit and pray for the wealth,” he raps, his light side shining through. “I want the money, just give me the honeys with big asses, the most expensive champagne you got in big glasses.” His ambitions are basic, simple, admirable if a little shallow. An introvert dedicated to pursuing a rap career. Yet dark X returns immediately thereafter; “with a vengeance” is an understatement. “I’m broke so I’ma bash his head wide open, beggin’ me to stop, but at least he died hopin’,” he snarls, providing one of the most brutal punchlines of his career. “Didn’t get his wish, and now he’s a dish for the pack / two glowin’ red eyes, everything else is black.” The two sides couldn’t be further from one another. Yet somehow, X sounds more comfortable embracing the violence; it’s the reason why those sections are the payoff, while the lighter sections are the set-up.

“Stop Being Greedy” also benefits from having a few notable interpretations. As established, it can be seen as two sides of a man’s desires. His desire to thrive and excel in his environment, earning rap game success and material dominance. One of his earliest lines is most telling: “But when it gets dark, it’s like a n***a’s having dreams.” The first segue into the “darker” version of himself, these moments can be understood as light X’s nightmares, his fears that his devilish impulses might sabotage everything he’s earned thus far. Another interpretation is one viewed through the lens of foreshadowing. After all, this is the same album in which “Damien” walks away victorious, having secured X’s soul for his collection. In that case, “light” X is point A and “dark” X point B. The journey is linear, and his inner demons ultimately seize control of his destiny. While examining It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot as a conceptual whole, this interpretation explains how songs like “X Is Coming” can coexist alongside “The Prayer.” The story is not being told chronologically.

Remaining one of DMX’s defining works to this day, “Stop Being Greedy” highlights many of his strongest artistic assets. His ability to establish and develop different aspects of his personality. His mastery over cadence, an underrated aspect of emceeing. A brutal pen game, one that respects the gravity of violence. And most importantly — a complex character, unafraid to present his flaws and succumb to them. There’s a reason he’s considered so widely regarded in the pantheon of hip-hop greats. Whether you’re rooting for X to defeat his demons and gravitate toward the light, or eagerly beckoning him to embrace Damien like an old friend, “Stop Being Greedy” presents both paths as equally ble options.

Roddy Ricch has cemented his position in the rap game, and we don’t expect he’ll be going anywhere any time soon. The young artist is not only talented, creating insanely catchy melodies out strange noises, he’s also got a good head on his shoulders– he’s mature for his young age, as he’s continuously proven both in his reflective lyrics and in interviews. Perhaps it’s the Nipsey Hussle influence, but perhaps it’s also just who Roddy is.

The artist was already bubbling when he delivered his Feed the Streets 2 mixtape in 2018, and by 2019, with the release of “Racks in the Middle,” his clout began to reach new heights. He capped off the year by delivering his debut album Please Excuse Me for Being Anti-Social, which shattered expectations, led by the phenomenal success of “The Box”– apparently, no one was expecting the lurching record to take off as it did, because the label hadn’t even shot a music video for the song at the time.

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Now that Roddy is a certified super-star-in-the-making, we’re taking a look at some of the best songs he’s released in his short career so far, while we anticipate new music from the rapper. If you’re new to Roddy Ricch’s catalogue, let this list be your guide for essential listening.

Let us know your favorite Roddy Ricch songs in the comments.

Fucc It Up

Roddy Ricch’s kicks off his debut mixtape, Feed The Streets, with the unrelenting “Fucc It Up” and he doesn’t slow down from there, setting the melodic, charismatic tone for the rest of the mixtape (not to mention his entire career). Despite the fact that Roddy Ricch may not sound like where he’s from– Compton– what he does sound like is himself. Since day one, Roddy Ricch has had a distinct sound and he hasn’t strayed from it, he’s remained true to himself.

A few electronic keys signal the start of “Fucc It Up,” before Roddy Ricch proceeds to go in, weaving his way through the keys while the boom of the bass contrasts the natural pitch of his vocals. Not only does the record set the tone for the project in terms of style and sound, it paints the scene– a man who is used to the streets but is acclimating to a life of luxury. 

LISTEN.

Position

It just so happens that the first three songs on Feed the Streets are back-to-back-to-back fire. We can assume this is by design, as it ensures you are immediately hooked. “Position” has one of the hooks that will be stuck in your head, with Roddy’s voice auto-tuned slightly to create an even more pitched up feeling, as the rapper elongates his words, creating melodies with each bar. In fact, each bar seems to try out a new type of flow, some more passionate than others, showing the breadth of Roddy’s abilities (yet, he’s explored even more since). Roddy has an uncanny ability to make his vocals feel intrinsically entangled with the beat. 

The record is another reminder of where Roddy came from and where he’s heading– frequent themes in his music, as a young artist who is still getting comfortable with his success. One thing is for sure though, he won’t be heading back to any type of broke boy circumstance. 

LISTEN.

Sak Passe

“Sak Passe” rounds out the trio of opening records found on Roddy Ricch’s very first mixtape, and insanely strong introduction to the rap game, Feed the Streets. Clearly, Roddy was hungry. Not just that, but he was hungry to share with his friends and family– one of the most prominent themes within Roddy’s music is taking care of his own and spreading the wealth. 

“Sake Passe,” produced by Joey Trife and CashMoneyAP, begins with classical-sounding piano keys before a burst of bass breaks through the beat, taking over and pushing the piano keys to the background. Roddy delivers one of his most heartfelt hooks on the record: “We fed the streets, I had to flood it,” he raps, his voice aching with melody. “I wanna fuck with my niggas / Then take my niggas to the top of the world,” he says later, making a promise he’s probably keeping as we speak.

LISTEN.

HoodRicch

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“HoodRicch” helped cap off the first Feed the Streets mixtape, as Roddy Ricch envisions what his life would look like after coming up out of the streets. “I came from the bottom lil nigga / All I ever dreamt about was being hood ricchhhhh,” he croons. The beat is cinematic, adding to the dream-like quality of the record. It also has a bit of a West Coast flare to it thanks to hints of a wobbly synths that bubble below the drums, which isn’t the norm for Roddy, who tends to lean more into Atlanta’s melodic trap style. Nonetheless it’s a stand-out from the rapper’s young career.

LISTEN.

Quality

A melodic howl signals the start of “Quality,” and are littered throughout the beat, showcasing Roddy’s penchant for unique, earworm-type ad-libs that become an integral part of the record– think “The Box.” A few piano keys then set the tone for the smooth record that finds Roddy name-dropping artists he’s looking to emulate, including Kanye West, Meek Mill, and DJ Drama. Of course, he would eventually connect with Meek Mill directly, leading to collaborations between the two on top of a relationship. As Roddy’s revealed in interviews since, he was in the process of working on Feed the Streets 2 at a studio in Atlanta when he first met Meek Mill.

LISTEN.

Blue Streak

Yep, this song is another one that finds Roddy crooning effortlessly over a piano-laden beat. Roddy definitely loves his piano as a musical backdrop, however it somehow doesn’t become repetitive because the style and type of keys is often changing. Here, it’s something a bit more mellow and minimal from producer Pinnacle, who even puts a pause on the drums from time to time, making Roddy’s lyrics and voice the main focus. 

LISTEN.

Boom Boom Room

“Boom Boom Room” became a low-key fan-favorite off Roddy Ricch’s debut album, Please Excuse Me for Being Anti-Social. He would go on to drop off a visual for the song, which begins eerily enough, with the rapper climbing out of a car post-accident. With a bleeding head and a limp, he follows a girl slyly inviting him into a backdoor alley with a glowing neon sign that reads: The Boom Boom Room. Inside, the dimly-lit club is shadowed in hues of red and blue, while glowing-eyed strippers and cash circulate the rooms. It’s strange, yet it works–  the dark, spooky vibe matches that of the song. “Boom Boom Room” is another example of Roddy’s vocal acrobatics, where he provides squeaking “ah ah” ad-libs that once again permeate the piano-driven beat, becoming a part of it, while constantly looping in your head. 

The Box

“The Box” is the record that propelled Roddy Ricch’s already-buzzing career into another stratosphere. It’s the song that helped his name break out beyond just hip-hop circles, and into the pop culture dialogue. It was also the immediate stand-out on Roddy’s debut album, for basically everyone– the first time you played Please Excuse Me for Being Anti-Social, chances are you fucked with “The Box” heavily. 

While the rapper found viral success with records like “Die Young” and “Every Season,” neither charted in the way that “The Box” did– it hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first song to do so, while also keeping the spot on lock for 11 straight weeks. Enough about the stats, though, it’s the song itself that’s a masterpiece, from 30 Roc’s production to Roddy’s lyrics. The inventive “eee errr” ad-lib was just the icing on the cake– although really, it’s hard to say if the song would have taken off without it– given how perfectly it meshes in the age of the short sound-bite (aka TikTok).

The record feels like a hit from the minute you press play and the cinematic sounds of an orchestra swells, giving the record an ominous, yet important feeling. That feeling proved correct, as the song has not only defined Roddy Ricch’s success but acts as a warning sign for the young artist’s endless creative energy and talent. 

LISTEN.

Nascar

“Nascar” is exactly how it sounds– it’s a fast-paced record, perfect for cruising. The production from Richie Souf and Southside, two ATL mainstays, is atmospheric and light, yet it’s all wrapped up in a sense of urgency. This is echoed by Roddy who raps passionately over the course of the three-minute record, reflecting on how his life has been zooming on by– and equally, how he himself is dashing past his fellow artists.

LISTEN.

Faces

“Faces” is the second track off Roddy’s second mixtape, Feed the Streets 2. His vocals feel particularly pitched up on the song, creating a cadence that’s a bit squeakier than usual, but proves a thrilling listen. Roddy feels like he’s full-out whining on the hook, as he admits how much his life has changed: “Nigga I can’t lie, shit changed / When I start countin’ the faces / Soon as I bust my face down / All these niggas wanna hate me now.” As much as Roddy can brag on a record, he tends to balance it out with a mature perspective–  “I just wanna make sure I got enough saved for the kids / I just wanna make sure my habits ain’t affectin’ the way I live I came up out the streets, nigga I can’t lie that’s how I live,” he ruminates. 

The Sonic-produced beat is another one that counts piano as part of its melodic nature, with skittering hi-hats and 808s rounding it out as a few of Roddy’s preferred sounds. 

LISTEN.

Down Below

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Roddy Ricch tends to have a mix of producers, some West Coast staples while others are ATLiens, thus helping curate his unique blend of trap. On “Down Below,” he has an OG behind the boards, Scott Storch, with co-production from Avedon. It’s a song that basks in its forlornness. Roddy uses this feeling of loneliness to help propel his lyrics, as he reflects on trials and tribulations of his past life. “’Member I was in the project walls, couldn’t even get a loan / Now these niggas got they hands out, if I ain’t give it, I’d be wrong / ‘Member I was in the county jail none of these bitches wasn’t pickin’ up the phone,” he raps over the simple twang of the beat.

“Down Below” acts as a reminder of where Roddy Ricch came from, or perhaps better put, it’s an ode to it– it’s as though he’s serenading his past life as he looks forward to what the future now holds, an entirely different way of life.

LISTEN.

Every Season

“Every Season” is one of Roddy Ricch’s biggest songs, at least, that was before “The Box” came along and claimed the top spot. Nonetheless, it was one of Roddy’s early viral successes, released as a single ahead of Feed the Streets 2. The production, helmed by Cassius Jay and Beezo, has the type of country-trap vibe that’s become popular this past year, while Roddy uses the instrumental to simply show off his flows. He packs quite a few different flows into this record, proving his versatility since the beat itself is rather repetitive– yet somehow, Roddy finds the pocket of the beat for every flow, making it seem all too easy. 

LISTEN.

Die Young

No Roddy Ricch best-of list would be complete without “Die Young.” The song was another in his early viral successes, and of course, production from London on da Track helped. The single dropped ahead of Feed the Streets 2, and alongside “Every Season,” it created anticipation for this up-and-coming rapper’s project to arrive. The song also came with a heavy concept, one that is easily relatable even if you’re not deep in the rap game– but the meaning behind the record became even more impactful and monumental when Roddy explained that he created the song the same day XXXTentacion died.

He told RapGenius, “The thing that inspired me making “Die Young” was that X had died that day. It was the night he passed away, I was just in the mood where, ya know, a lot of young people dying, legends, and I wanted to make something to Speaker Knockerz, Lil Snoop. It’s a lot of people that was great that died at a young age, so I wanted to make something in remembrance of them but at the same time just making people well aware of what’s been going on. I just felt some type of way about it. It wasn’t a lot of people in the studio that night either, it was just me and the gang. We was in there, just me in there going crazy.”

That spontaneous spark and heartfelt inspiration is what helped Roddy create a trap record that is for all intents and purposes– beautiful.

AI

In between dropping Feed the Streets in 2017, and Feed the Streets 2 in 2018, Roddy Ricch blessed his growing fanbase with a short little EP. The EP, titled B4 The Fame, is a collection of four songs, including one feature from West Coast rapper Skeme. It’s not necessarily his best work, but “AI” is worth inclusion here. It wouldn’t sound out of place on either FTS instalments, and it even looks to his future music with an early reference to the infamous “boom boom room” (!).

LISTEN.

Cream 

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“Cream” here stands for the old hip-hop adage, Cash Rules Everything Around Me. The song feels light and airy, but the subject matter is actually quite the opposite– the rapper admits to coping by way of codeine, as he laments on the hook, “I spent my whole life chasin’ the bag and runnin’ from coppers / And a nigga been drownin’ myself in these codeine problems.” Roddy Ricch doesn’t sugar coat things, he just tells it like is, which is part of his appeal– whether it’s an old vice or a new-found luxury. He stretches his voice to the whiniest corners possible as he confesses, “Cash rules everything around meeee.”

LISTEN.

Can’t Express

“Can’t Express” finds Roddy Ricch struggling– “I can’t express myself, don’t know how to start,” he begins the record, but before long, he’s weaving with the beat. Still, the song feels like a double-edged sword — he can’t express himself, so he turns to drugs dropping in one of many references to lean: “That’s why I’m double cupped up, I go to Mars.” 

LISTEN.

Project Dreams

“Project Dreams” was a pretty big look for the rapper at the time it dropped, one month after his Feed the Streets 2 mixtape. Thus the song helped the rapper capitalize off the success of FTS 2, and pushed him even further into the mainstream thanks to production from electronic producer Marshmello. Marshmallo manages to cook up a beat that’s perfect for Roddy’s slick flow, opting for something a bit more modern in it’s glitchy electronic noises, but still maintaining an easy rhythm. Roddy Ricch’s sing-song flow is in plain view, while he muses about his come-up. While the song hasn’t found a home on a formal album, it’s remained a fan-favorite.

LISTEN.

Baccseat

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“Baccseat” is found in the second half of Roddy’s debut album tracklist, making it an easy record to overlook. The low-key song features Ty Dolla $ign, and despite its placement, shouldn’t be missed. A few simple keys and guitar strings create the base of the production from Yung Lan, and while Ty contributes a “nice enough” verse, Roddy is the memorable part of the song– once again the song contains some ad-libs embedded into the beat, with a few wailing noises (that sound like ‘wa dee wa dee’, for lack of a better description), echoing behind Roddy’s verses.

LISTEN.

Big Stepper

“Big Stepper” has that country-trap twang with a guitar lick on repeat, while Roddy himself adopts a short yet inescapably melodic “mm-hmm” in his hook. The brevity of the line makes it all that more intriguing that he pulls it off as a lyric, one that will be stuck in your head the more you listen. “Big Stepper” is one of those slow-building records, where, the more you play it, the more replay value you find out of it. The two go up hand-in-hand. 

The song was released ahead of PEMFBA, with Roddy carrying it solo dolo, as he does much of the album– even when Roddy enlists a featured guest, it’s more complementary to his work than spotlight-stealing.

LISTEN.

Brand New

“Brand New” begins with a cinematic howling from Roddy and an elegant piano arrangement. It’s another piano-friendly record from Roddy, appearing on his Feed the Streets 2 mixtape. The howling becomes a frequent occurrence throughout the song, popping out every few seconds, while Roddy wails up and down about how his life is changing, as he navigates the aftereffects of attaining both fame and riches.

It’s a frequent topic for Roddy, the Compton native is trying to stay true to himself, but at the same time, it’s difficult not to change when your lifestyle is changing so drastically: “Gotta get this money, you can’t let it change you / But I can’t lie, all these hunnids got a nigga feelin’ brand new.” Roddy’s music is often littered with this type of observation of both himself and the world around him.

LISTEN.

Racks in the Middle

We had to include “Racks in the Middle” as a bonus cut. It’s technically a Nipsey Hussle song, with a feature from Roddy Ricch, however it’s become an important marker in both artists’ careers, especially because it was released right before Nipsey’s death. The song was a passing-of-the-torch moment, with a West Coast OG co-signing the youngest up and comer. 

There’s also a story behind the song, as Roddy has revealed that it was originally his song– but Nipsey heard it, and wanted it. “Nipsey just, he just hopped on all the verses. He took my shit off,” said Ricch. “The way he worked was like, he’s so particular. Everybody was so surprised how fast he did the video and how fast he did the turn-around of the verses because, like, even his verses, they take forever. That’s not even no shade. He was just a real perfectionist when it came to whatever he did.”

Hit-Boy cooked up the beat, Roddy Ricch was moved to hook duties, while Nipsey laid down reflective bars on both business and personal aspects of his life. The result was a 2020 Grammy award for Best Rap Performance, and equally, Nipsey’s first Grammy, received posthumously.

We’ve been curating our R&B-centric Spotify playlist, “R&B Season,” for a few months now, but if you haven’t checked it out, now is the time. This week featured a handful of great additions including songs from PARTYNEXTDOOR, SZA, Justin Timberlake, Jhene Aiko and more. 

“The Other Side” by SZA and Justin Timberlake is the first single for the animated film Trolls: World Tour. The addictive disco vibe is contagiously catchy. Both SZA and Timberlake blend together for the hook: “Back on your feet again, lift your head, hold it high/You wanna run it back, but you can’t turn the time.”

Jhene Aiko tapped Future and Miguel for his new single Happiness Over Everything (H.O.E.). Combing Aiko and Miguel’s heavenly voices on the same track is a guaranteed hit. “I hope she don’t think that I think that she some kinda hoe/I don’t care, that just lets me know that she knows what she wants, yeah,” the two sing on the hook. Future lends his voice for the second verse and some ad-libs throughout.

Check out the rest of “R&B Season” and more of our other playlists below.

Follow HNHH on Spotify.

Follow FIRE EMOJI on Spotify.

Follow R&B SEASON on Spotify.

Follow our freshly-updated Wake & Bake playlist here.

Follow our G.O.O.D. Music playlist (for a GOOD ASS FRIDAY) here. 

The tale of Tauheed Epps, famously known as 2 Chainz and formerly known as Tity Boi – is a rebranding success story rarely witnessed in any genre, let alone hip-hop. Originally signed to Ludacris’ Disturbing Tha Peace label as one half of the duo Playaz Circle, Epps’ career reached its high as Tity Boi in 2007 with the Lil Wayne-featuring hit single “Duffle Bag Boy.” Yet by 2011, Epps was no longer with Disturbing Tha Peace, and in an effort to appear more family friendly as hip-hop began to take over the pop charts, Tity Boi became 2 Chainz overnight.

By the release of Kanye West’s “Mercy” in April of 2012, 2 Chainz had become bigger than Playaz Circle/Tity Boi could have ever imagined. Since his arrival into the rap game, 2 Chainz has released 5 albums, 5 mixtapes, 4 EPs, 10 platinum singles, and countless guest features all solidifying his dominance within mainstream hip-hop. Below you can find what we believe to be the 25 Best 2 Chainz songs. Let us know how we did in the comments.

Disclaimer: This list comprises 2 Chainz’s solo discography and songs where he appears as the main act. As such, it does not include songs where he is a featured artist.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images 

25) “It’s a Vibe” feat. Ty Dolla Sign, Trey Songz & Jhene Aiko (2017)

Producer: Murda Beatz & G Koop
Album:Pretty Girls Like Trap Music        

The third single off Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, “It’s a Vibe,” features three of R&B’s biggest hitters in Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz, and Jhene Aiko. Ty Dolla Sign’s verse is incredibly basic, essentially just repeating, “It’s a vibe,” while Trey Songz goes for a similar, yet more graphic direction. Meanwhile, 2 Chainz brings some bars, rapping, “My ego is enormous like my crib in California; If you ain’t got no heart, man you gonna need a donor;” later adding, “Carbon copies get declined, I’m the pioneer, Beat that pussy up, I need riot gear.” Lastly, we hear from the oft-sultry, Jhene Aiko, who opts for a similar route to the one taken by Ty Dolla Sign. In the end, “It’s a Vibe” isn’t exactly 2 Chainz’s finest lyrical work, but rather… it’s a vibe. 

24) “I Feel Like” feat. Kevin Gates (2015)

Producer: Hitmaka & Arch The Boss
Album:Trapavelli Tre           

2 Chainz’s 2015 mixtape track, “I Feel Like” featuring Kevin Gates, finds the two southern rappers exactly where they should be: reflecting on the game at the top of their game. To go from the bottom to the top must be a unique experience to share with another artist, as Chainz and Gates relate with one another over the highs and lows of success. 2 Chainz raps, “I bought my momma a crib before I got my own place; Picked my pop us from prison and gave ‘em places to stay; See I am handpicked by God, I defied all the odds; I need a sign that say foreigns only in my garage.” “I Feel Like” stands as one of 2 Chainz’s strongest mixtape songs since becoming a mainstream name in hip-hop.

23) “Crack” (2012)

Producer: Southside
Album:Based on a T.R.U. Story

2 Chainz’s 2012 song “Crack” lays out its thesis statement from the jump – “Started from the trap, now I rap; No matter where I’m at, I got crack.” Produced by 808 Mafia co-founder, Southside, “Crack” sets a nice street rap tone to his debut album, before hitting listeners over the head with all the radio hits. Chainz and Southside have a great chemistry that has been surprisingly unutilized outside of “Crack” and the 2011 mixtape track, “Undastatement.” One can only hope the two hit the studio again in the near future. Meanwhile, the turntable scratches added by DJ Jaycee make for a nice touch throughout the drug talk banger, particularly the scratch outro.

 Taylor Hill/Getty Images

22)“Kilo” (2016)

Producer: DJ Spinz
Album:Daniel Son; Necklace Don           

2 Chainz’s 2016 mixtape track, “Kilo,” is about selling drugs – kind of. Compare the confident way with which he walks to the way a major drug dealer would if he were carrying a kilo of coke; Chainz glamorizes the illegal act on the song, rapping, “Got the trap house rockin’, you ain’t get that shit; I got me a half, that’s a split when I flip it; And whip it ‘til I get me 36s; I get it, I got it, I’m slangin’ narcotics.” Included on Chainz’s Daniel Son; Necklace Don mixtape, alongside other hits like “Big Amount” and “1 Yeezy Boot” – “Kilo” is a classic mixtape track that 2 Chainz would continue to deliver with ease.

21) “4AM” feat. Travis Scott (2017)

Producer: Murda Beatz & CuBeatz
Album:Pretty Girls Like Trap Music           

“4 AM, I’m just getting’ started; For my birthday I threw me a surprise party; Reminiscin’ ‘bout the trap, playin’ the first Carter; My life changed when I had my first daughter,” begins the 2 Chainz and Travis Scott collaboration, “4 AM.” Produced by Canadian hitmaker Murda Beatz and German twins, CuBeatz – like most Travis Scott features over the past few years, “4 AM” cruises ib the identity of him more so than the actual artist himself (“Okay, you popped up on me by surprise; You see I never took you for the poppin’ type, Straight up!; Damn, it’s 4AM so please believe the hype, It’s lit!”). While that’s not necessarily a negative, ultimately “4 AM” sounds much more like a Travis Scott song than a 2 Chainz record… straight up! Still, the infectious single helped propel Pretty Girls Like Trap Music into the spotlight, rounding the album out with a hypnotic, after-hours experience. 

20) “Threat 2 Society” (2019)

Producer: 9^th Wonder
Album:Rap Or Go To The League 

9^th Wonder really blessed 2 Chainz with a gem on “Threat 2 Society.” Flipping “So Good to Be Alive” by The Truthettes – the instrumental contrasts with Chainz’s hook as he boasts, “You know I’m a threat, I’m a threat, threat, threat,” while the sample proclaims “It’s so good just to be alive!” Throughout the verses, 2 Chainz reflects on seeing friends and family killed, basketball coaches who helped shape him, and his beautiful, growing family. The confidence of Chainz paired with the soulfulness of the beat makes for a great start to his fantastic new album, Rap Or Go To The League.

19) “Riverdale Rd” (2017)

Producer: Mike Dean & Mano
Album:Pretty Girls Like Trap Music 

With a beat fitting for the Geto Boys, appropriately produced by Mike Dean, “Riverdale Rd” follows 2 Chainz down the College Park street on which he was born and raised. Bragging about the elegance his recent life has afforded him (“My pocket pregnant, don’t want no abortion; My draws got them horses, my car got them horses”); Chainz looks back on where he came from, contrasting the differences in lifestyle (“Okay, from grams to Grammys; Okay, from fans to family; I went from trips we tryna plan; To cribs in South Miami”). In addition to Mike Dean, Kanye West’s former DJ Mano, also contributed to the beat, making “Riverdale Rd” an unofficial mini-G.O.O.D. Music reunion. Now where’s Cruel Winter?

18) “Proud” feat. YG & Offset (2018)

Producer: T-Minus & Vaiyeh
Album:The Play Don’t Care Who Makes It [EP] 

“Yeah, I’m just tryna make my momma proud; I ain’t tryna let my momma down,” goes the chorus to “Proud” – the perfect Mother’s Day anthem. 2 Chainz lays it all out, sharing that he “and momma used to trap out the same house; Used to eat and go to sleep on the same couch; Me and momma got busted at the same time; Went to court and told judge the damn same lies.” Then YG reassures his mother that “When I leave the house it’s for them dollars; You are the reason I bought that choppa; ‘Cause I know you wanna see me come home proper; Soon as I get right I said I gotcha then I gotcha.” Finally, Offset preaches some life lessons his mother’s taught him, such as, “Every n**** not cha partner, son, when you come up; All them bitches in your face, son, they are piranhas.” It’s kind of beautiful that when an LA street rapper got together in the studio with two Atlanta trap hitmakers, they decided to make a song for their moms.  

17) “NCAA” (2019)

Producer: Da Honorable C.N.O.T.E.
Album:Rap Or Go To The League 

One of the more pivotal and thematic tracks on Rap Or Go To The League, “NCAA” preaches the hypocrisy of the National Collegiate Athletic Association – a “non-profit” organization that blatantly profits off the labor of student-athletes. 2 Chainz draws from experience, as he was once a scholarship basketball player for Alabama State University in the mid-90s. The song’s chorus goes, “NCAA, yeah, we the young and dangerous, yeah; We be ballin’ hard, yeah, I just want some paper,” while the overall album serves the purpose of “celebrating black excellence and focusing on the power of education and entrepreneurship” while “challeng[ing] the notion that the only way out of the inner city is either to become a rapper or a ball player.”

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16) “MFN Right” (2016)

Producer: Mike Will Made-It & Zaytoven
Album:Felt Like Cappin / ColleGrove 

Originally featured on 2 Chainz’s 2016 EP Felt Like Cappin, “MFN Right” was so well received it was later added, along with a new Lil Wayne verse, to the ColleGrove tracklist. Throughout the song Chainz flexes about women, jewelry, and cars over a laidback, flute and piano-driven beat courtesy of two of Atlanta’s biggest producers, Mike Will Made-It and Zaytoven. A simple, yet undeniably successful formula. 

15) “Blue C-Note” feat. Lil Wayne (2016)

Producer: Mr. 2-17
Album:ColleGrove 

“Blue C-Notes, All of ‘em singin; Blue C-Notes, All of ‘em Franklins; Blue C-Notes, Spend without thinkin’,” goes the chorus on “Blue C-Note” – an ode to the new $100 bill over a funky bass and hi-hat driven beat. A common slang term along with “blue faces,” Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz devote this entire song off their 2016 collaborative album, ColleGrove, to the hundred-dollar bill. Because as everyone knows, “it’s all about the Benjamins.” 

14) “Money in the Way” (2019)

Producer: Buddah Bless and Jabz
Album: Rap Or Go To The League 

One of the catchiest songs 2 Chainz has released since his monster run in 2012 with “Mercy”, “No Lie”, “Birthday Song”, and “I’m Different” – “Money in the Way” flips a soulful The Three Degrees sample to instant swag success. Produced by Buddah Bless, who also produced 2 Chainz’s 2016 single, “Big Amount” – the track continues in the popular rap trope of “mo money, mo problems.” For 2 Chainz however, he articulates the struggle as “The money in the way, fuck what they got to say; I throw it up, it’s fallin’ down, it’s definitely in the way.” 

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13) “Used 2” (2013)

Producer:Mannie Fresh
Album:B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time 

2 Chainz pays respect to the original Cash Money era on “Used 2,” the second single off his sophomore album, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time. Produced by southern hip-hop legend and one half of the Big Tymers, Mannie Fresh – the collaboration takes it back to the sound of a bygone era. The song both samples and pays homage to the 1999 Juvenile, Lil Wayne, and Mannie Fresh classic, “Back That Azz Up.” In fact, outside of the blatant YouTube reference in the chorus, many music fans might have been convinced this song was released ten years earlier than it was. On “Used 2,” 2 Chainz, a native Georgian, pays the utmost respect to all that New Orleans has given the culture. 

12) “Big Amount” feat. Drake (2016)

Producer: Buddah Bless
Album:Daniel Son; Necklace Don / Pretty Girls Like Trap Music 

Buddah Bless’ second appearance on this list, “Big Amount” is a pan-flute beat that gives off a beach vibe ideal for 2 Chainz and Drake’s luxury rap verses. A rare Drake feature with no hook, “Big Amount” showcases Drizzy and Chainz going the classic route of one long verse apiece. The song originally appeared on 2 Chainz’s 2016 mixtape Daniel Son; Necklace Don, however, nine months later it was also included on Pretty Girls Like Trap Music. The song ultimately makes more sense as a mixtape track, but when Drake calls, you answer and put it on the album.

11) “2 Dollar Bill” feat. Lil Wayne & E-40 (2019)

Producer: DJ Mustard, Terrace Martin, and GYLTTRYP
Album:Rap Or Go To The League 

 The Rap Or Go To The League track takes the west-coast funk and jazz production styling of DJ Mustard and Terrace Martin, pairs it with the southern raps of 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne, and binds the two regional vibes with that of Bay Area legend, E-40. In the end, the three unite for a banger about how they’re as rare as a $2 bill. A concept that shouldn’t work the length of an entire song somehow does, by utilizing the right amount of silly (“I’m rare like Mr. Clean with hair”) and swag (“I chill where it’s hot, Brazil, backdrop, I’m real; Her ass not, I’m rare”). 

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10) “Feds Watching” feat. Pharrell (2013)

Producer: Pharrell Williams
Album:B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time 

One Grammy night in 2013, Pharrell and 2 Chainz linked up and recorded their song, “Feds Watching.” Now, simply receiving a beat from Pharrell is quite the victory in itself, but a beat and a feature makes for a guaranteed single. And that’s exactly what it became for 2 Chainz’s sophomore album, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time. The guitar and horn-based beat gives the song a tropical, summertime vibe perfect for Chainz and Williams’ memorable hook/mantra – “I’ma be fresh as hell if the Feds watching; Drop top, head bopping.”

9) “Forgiven” feat. Marsha Ambrosius (2019)

Producer: Dem Jointz
Album: Rap Or Go To The League 

2 Chainz’s most recent album, Rap Or Go To The League, opens with a high school basketball announcer introducing number 21, Tauheed Epps. 2 Chainz raps about how his dreams turned to nightmares when he was arrested on a first offense drug charge. He pleaded with the judge about being a high school basketball player and working toward a scholarship, but in the end, there would be no ACC or SEC for Epps. Instead, he wound up playing at Alabama State. But as the beautifully sung Marsha Ambrosius chorus goes, with a little help from a classic Jay-Z “Lucifer” sample – “Just let it all be forgiven (Lord forgive him).” Featuring turntable scratches courtesy of Statik Selektah, “Forgiven” starts 2 Chainz’s best album to date off with an elegant and appropriate tone. 

8) “Good Drank” feat. Gucci Mane & Quavo (2017)

Producer: Mike Dean
Album:Hibachi for Lunch / Pretty Girls Like Trap Music 

“Good Drank” featuring Gucci Mane and Quavo is one of 2 Chainz’s strongest collaborations in recent memory. Chainz and Gucci handle the bars (“Today I’m in the Maybach; And that car came with some drapes; You know I look like a safe, I put you back in your place; I look you right in your face, sing to your bitch like I’m Drake”), while Quavo takes on hook duty, and Mike Dean delivers a spacey, synth-trap beat. Originally released in 2016 on 2 Chainz’s Hibachi for Lunch EP, the song was later re-released as the first single off Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, where it eventually went platinum. The song closes with Chainz shouting out his collaborators, saying: “Ayy, Mike Dean. This shit hard as fuck, bruh. You a living legend. I appreciate that. Ayy, Guwop. I’m glad you home, cuz. Quavo, you already know man. You got next on these n*****, double salute man.”

7) “Watch Out” (2015)

Producer: FKi
Album:Trap-A-Velli Tre / ColleGrove 

“Watch Out” features the classic 2 Chainz staple of a simple piano beat with heavy trap drums and a comical first couplet: “Pulled up in a Phantom; Pull off with a dancer; Got a pocket full of money; Kinda hard to keep my pants up”. Following the breakout success of “I’m Different” and other DJ Mustard hits, it’s no surprise that producers likely began to flood the Hair Weave Killer with more piano-driven beats. However, FKi’s “Watch Out” didn’t simply rise to the top as a standout track off 2 Chainz’s mixtape Trap-A-Velli Tre, but also went platinum after being included on the Lil Wayne-assisted collaborative album, ColleGrove.

6) “Where U Been?” feat. Cap. 1 (2013)

Producer: Mike Will Made-It and Marz
Album: B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time 

Yet another batch of swag-brag raps, “Where U Been?” is arguably one of 2 Chainz’s most underrated songs. Now six years removed from its release, the track still bangs, thanks largely in part to Mike Will Made-It’s trap & rock production. While the song finds 2 Chainz once again boasting about making money. However, following the massive success of his debut album, Based on a T.R.U. Story, the lyrics this time around are all very much warranted. Appropriately capped off with a verse from 2 Chainz affiliate, Cap. 1, “Where U Been?” was released as a promotional single for his second album, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time, but tragically never got the acclaim seen by some of his bigger singles.

5) “No Lie feat. Drake” (2012)

Producer: Mike Will Made-It
Album:Based on a T.R.U. Story 

“Me and Chainz go way back, we don’t talk shit, we just state facts.” As the second Drake-featured song on this list, “No Lie” should come as no surprise considering it served as 2 Chainz’s lead single from his debut studio album. With a Drake feature and a Mike Will Made-It beat in tow – “No Lie” was too big to fail the mainstream rap industrial complex. Beginning with a memorably goofy line from 2 Chainz (“I am smokin’ on that gas, life should be on Cinemax, Movie, bought my boo bigger tits and a bigger ass”), the song at times feels more like a Drake song featuring the former Playaz Circle member. But in 2012, that was clearly a formula for success, as the song has since been certified 2x Platinum.

4) “Spend It” (2011)

Producer: Drumma Boy
Album:Codeine Cowboy 

As the first song many rap fans ever heard by the then-rebranded 2 Chainz, “Spend It” marked a pivotal transition and new beginning in the Georgia native’s career. You have to remember, early 2011 was nearly four years removed from the success of “Duffel Bag Boy” and still over a year before the release of “Mercy.” But “Spend It” truly signifies the hard work 2 Chainz has put in throughout his entire career. He could have easily hung it up, but instead he changed his name, went into mixtape mode, and started cranking out what would become known as the 2 Chainz model – a street rapper with a sense of humor, unafraid to mix some pop elements with his genuine brand of trap: a formula made for the charts in today’s music industry. Because whether it’s 1997, 2007, 2011, or 2019 – 2 Chainz will always be “ridin’ round and… gettin’ it.”

3) “Saturday Night” (2017)

Producer: Mike Will Made-It & Ducko McFli
Album:Pretty Girls Like Trap Music 

Of 2 Chainz’s five solo albums, “Saturday Night” is his strongest intro song to date. The wailing guitar beat begins Pretty Girls Like Trap Music with a southern, lyrical punch reminiscent of Lil Wayne’s “Tha Mobb” on Tha Carter II, Ludacris’ “Southern Fried Intro” on Chicken-n-Beer, or UGK’s “One Day” on Ridin’ Dirty. Mike Will Made-It and Ducko McFli pair up for a simple, but deeply emotional instrumental that 2 Chainz verbally tap dances over like the veteran emcee he’s developed into. The powerful opener preaches the mantra/mission statement for the Pretty Girls Like Trap Music album – “I hit the trap today, I’m gon’ hit the club tonight, yeah; Treat every night like it’s Saturday night.” 

2) “I’m Different” (2012)

Producer: DJ Mustard
Album:Based on a T.R.U. Story 

Produced by DJ Mustard in the throes of his radio single hot streak (“Rack City,” “R.I.P.” “Paranoid”) – “I’m Different” was released as the third single off Based on a T.R.U. Story, following the back-to-back successes of “No Lie” and “Birthday Song.” Based around a simple, yet addictive piano line, “I’m Different” serves as a classic swag & brag rap track. In the track, 2 Chainz shows off how different he is by explaining how he’ll arrive in a convertible wearing thousand dollar sneakers, and like that, he’ll take your girl. In a very self-aware bar, he states: “Hair long, money long; Me and broke n*****, we don’t get along.”

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1) “Birthday Song” feat. Kanye West (2012)

Producer: Sonny Digital, Kanye West, BWheezy, Anthony Kilhoffer, Lifted, and Mike Dean
Album:Based on a T.R.U. Story 

Released as the second single off 2 Chainz’s 2012 debut album, Based on a T.R.U. Story – “Birthday Song” went double platinum in four mere months and has held up so well, it’s nearly commandeered the unofficial title of best alternative birthday song from the Beatles’ “Birthday” and Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday.” So now, thanks to 2 Chainz – whenever you’re indignant to singing the nursery rhyme birthday song we’ve all been raised on, instead we can all erupt with a rousing chant of, “When I die, bury me inside that Gucci store; When I die, bury me inside that Louis store; All I want for my birthday is a big booty ho; All I want for my birthday is a big booty ho!”