In this classic throwback episode of Drink Champs, N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN sit down with legendary 2 Chainz! Diving deep into his journey from the early DTP days with Ludacris to becoming a self-made entrepreneur and cultural icon. 2 Chainz shares gems about building wealth beyond music, including how he turned Christmas sweaters into a multi-million dollar business and why staying tapped into youth culture keeps him ahead of the curve. The conversation hits personal notes as 2 Chainz opens up about losing his father during a career high and how that shaped his perspective. He drops wisdom on the importance of owning your brand, managing merch, and creating multiple income streams. From lean culture to loyalty in the industry, the episode blends humor, honesty, and real talk. Listeners also get a rare look at the mind behind the music, as 2 Chainz reflects on influences like Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne. This episode is raw, inspiring, and filled with classic Drink Champs energy, a must-watch for fans of the podcast, entrepreneurs, and anyone grinding for greatness. Make some noise for 2 Chainz!!! 💐💐💐🏆🏆🏆 - This episode was originally published on May 5th, 2016 *Listen and subscribe at https://www.drinkchamps.com Timecodes: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:45 - Early DTP days and Ludacris connection 00:06:30 - Evolution of 2 Chainz 00:10:15 - Business moves: From music to multi-million dollar merch 00:14:50 - The Christmas sweater hustle story 00:18:05 - Staying relevant with younger audiences 00:22:10 - 2 Chainz on losing his father and career impact 00:26:40 - Learning from Jay-Z and Lil Wayne 00:35:00 - Loyalty and longevity in the rap game 00:38:50 - Diversifying income streams: real estate, merch, and more 00:43:30 - Importance of brand ownership and independence 00:47:15 - Reflections on the lean culture era 01:00:20 - 2 Chainz talks about parenting and family life 01:03:45 - Atlanta's influence on the culture 01:07:30 - The role of authenticity in staying successful 01:10:55 - Reflections on Verzuz and competition in hip hop 01:15:15 - Recording process: studio rituals and creative habits Follow Drink Champs: https://www.instagram.com/drinkchamps https://www.twitter.com/drinkchamps https://www.facebook.com/drinkchamps https://www.youtube.com/drinkchamps DJ EFN https://www.crazyhood.com https://www.instagram.com/whoscrazy https://www.twitter.com/djefn https://www.facebook.com/crazyhoodproductions N.O.R.E. https://www.instagram.com/therealnoreaga https://www.twitter.com/noreaga