2 Chainz sat down with Complex’s “Everyday Struggle” team on Thursday (6/8). Nedesska Alexis, Joe Budden, and DJ Akademiks welcomed the Atlanta rapper to the fourth seat to discuss his forthcoming album, the state of Atlanta hip-hop, business strategies and more on episode 136. While 2 Chainz’s new album Pretty Girls Like Trap Music preps for its release, the man behind the music tells “Everyday Struggle” about the importance of keeping a balance when it comes to money. 2 Chainz knows his fashion and entertainment choices can become costly. However, to balance it all out, the T.R.U. founder says spending thousands of dollars on giving back to his community only makes sense. “It’s that balance. When you come from…like here we have apartments, y’all have projects, it’s like you’re a close knit community. And, for the most part, you kinda look out for each other. If you need to borrow everything from sugar or electricity or cable, you look out for people. And so, even though I’m an only child and I have trust issues and I used to be stingy. And I had to learn how to give back and all that. You know, it was always this one hustler that bought all the meat for the cookout. It’s just this one hustler that made it easy for everybody, but you’re not even thinking. Now you can think “he’d probably spent a thousand” or whatever it was. So, now I feel like it’s me…” “So when it comes to like poor people that can’t come to Mr. Chow’s and sh*t for me, like I can’t save everybody, but I have to use my platform as a – somebody that claim they from the trap or ex-drug dealer, even though I have a college education – on what it’s like to run some money up. I do something at my high school, know what I mean. To run some money up and then come back and be accessible to where they can touch you and not be bigger than life. And, they can see you in person and still say “2 Chainz is that you?” It’s just like you can come to a neighborhood with a U-Haul full of furniture that don’t really… [you know what i mean]. Because I think “Man, I just spent 25 on a seat [at NBA Finals game].” I know I can…that’s my balance. I have to ground myself. I just fucked up 10K in Chanel. I got figure that out. So, if mom wants more money or whoever wants more money, I can’t rationalize it when I know what I’m doing for myself. Honestly, I can’t enjoy myself because I like to see other people happy, bruh.” On the flip side of being big on philanthropy, 2 Chainz shares how he’s been able to expand his music career into other areas and made millions. “I have a restaurant in Atlanta. I have 13 properties. I have a LA property with a studio. I have a Miami property with a studio.” In case you missed the interview, watch the full video above. Pretty Girls Like Trap Music drops June 16.
