NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� It鈥檚 no secret that rap superstar 2 Chainz considers Lil Wayne an inspiration, and now that admiration for the 鈥淭ha Carter鈥� series icon has translated into another official joint album that he says will be out before 2023 ends.
鈥淲e have two videos shot, photoshoot shot, (the) album鈥檚 mixed and getting mastered, so it鈥檒l be coming sooner than later, and I鈥檓 really excited about it,鈥� said 2 Chainz, while promoting the new season of Amazon Music Live. 鈥淚t鈥檚 rapping at a high level 鈥� steel sharpens steel. And he鈥檚 one of the people that I enjoy working with the most.鈥�
The long-awaited album, expectedly titled 鈥淐OLLEGROVE 2,鈥� has been teased since 2020 as the sequel to their 2016 collaboration. 2 Chainz is credited as the main artist on that project although Wayne appeared on eight of the 12 songs, due to Weezy's contractual issues at the time. While much of the album is shrouded in secrecy, various reports say features will include Benny the Butcher and Usher, who recently popped up in social media videos with the pair in what looked like the filming of a music video.
2 Chainz, whose most recent studio project was 2022鈥檚 鈥淒ope Don鈥檛 Sell Itself,鈥� said Wayne left most of the direction of their upcoming album to his leadership.
鈥淲e worked together on every song and we over-recorded. But he kind of laid that responsibility in my lap. He鈥檚 creative. He鈥檚 coming up with concepts and ideas. And then, I鈥檓 someone that does the same thing on the marketing side, putting together the right set of songs that fit the particular concept I鈥檓 trying to convey,鈥� said the Grammy winner. 鈥淚 think we work well in that extent to where he trusts my opinion and how I鈥檓 handling everything. And he's going to bring the A-game to work every day.鈥�
Known for hits such as 鈥淚t's a Vibe" feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz and Jhene Aiko, 鈥淣o Lie鈥� with Drake and 鈥淚'm Different,鈥� mainstream rap fans were first introduced to Chainz, then going by Tity Boy, when he was in the group Playaz Circle with Dolla Boy. Lil Wayne was featured on their 2007 hit 鈥淒uffle Bag Boy,鈥� which reached No. 15 on Billboard鈥檚 Hot 100.
In addition to the mixtape, Chainz and Wayne have contributed to a number of songs on each other鈥檚 albums, as well as Juicy J鈥檚 smash record 鈥淏andz A Make Her Dance,鈥� Chance the Rapper鈥檚 鈥淣o Problem鈥� and a version of Young Dolph's 鈥淧reach.鈥�
The Georgia native also said he鈥檚 bringing his best when hosting this new season of 鈥淎mazon Music Live,鈥� the concert series livestreamed from Los Angeles by Amazon Music. The 鈥淕ood Drank鈥� rapper says the second season will feature performances from Ed Sheeran, Latin superstar Feid and rap heavyweight Lil Durk, with more to be announced later.
鈥淲e鈥檙e taking it up a notch with some more exciting acts from different genres,鈥� said Chainz, who also served as the inaugural host. 鈥溊习拿帕喜士奔锹甲柿蟟ng sports and music, fusing that together which we already know has a strong correlation, it just feels good to be in the middle of all this. To be the host鈥t comes kind of natural to me.鈥�
Premiering tonight after the New York Giants visit the San Francisco 49ers, Amazon Music Live will follow Thursday Night Football weekly on . Last season鈥檚 guests included Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Kane Brown, Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, Anitta and 21 Savage.
Recently assisting DJ Khaled in opening up for Beyonc茅's Los Angeles tour stop earlier this month, 2 Chainz says although he considers himself to be a master performer, he鈥檚 always paying close attention to the artists who grace the Amazon Music Live stage.
鈥淎 lot of preparation goes into it,鈥� said 2 Chainz of the performances. 鈥淛ust seeing how people approach this platform is always interesting for me. I鈥檓 still a student.鈥�
The 鈥淏irthday Song鈥� artist, who also hosts Vice TV鈥檚 鈥淢ost Expensivest鈥� series which follows him as he checks out uber-priced items, says his album with Wayne is 鈥渞ight on time鈥� as the music world has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
However, with much of the fanfare going toward The Bronx, hip-hop鈥檚 birthplace, and New York City鈥檚 early rap years, some fans and artists think Southern Rap hasn鈥檛 gotten it鈥檚 due, having been the genre's dominant geographical nucleus the last two decades. But 2 Chainz says the impact and influence of the South in the overall story can鈥檛 be denied.
鈥淚f we dive in a little deeper, we鈥檒l realize that the South has had a real hold on it for the last 20 (years), with Houston acts, New Orleans acts, Florida acts, Georgia acts, the Carolinas鈥攜ou name it,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hoever telling the story is going to make the story sound beneficial to (them).鈥�
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Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
