2 Chainz Talks Weed, Intuition, and Becoming Himself

Summary

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The Adam Friedland Show

Episode Title: 2 Chainz Talks Weed, Intuition, and Becoming Himself
Release Date: March 25, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Friedland interviews Grammy-winning rapper and newly minted author 2 Chainz. The conversation spans 2 Chainz’s career, his new book The Voice in My Head is God, growing up in College Park, navigating the music industry, business reinvention, intuition, and (repeatedly) smoking weed together. The tone is playful, at times chaotic, with Adam alternately starstruck and lost as he tries to meet 2 Chainz on his level—often through humor and sharing vices.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weed Rituals and Interview Dynamic

• The episode starts and frequently circles back to both Adam and 2 Chainz smoking weed together, making it an ongoing motif and icebreaker, but also showing Adam's discomfort and self-doubt.
  • "[About weed] I smoke just. I smoke casually throughout the day. Now you." - 2 Chainz [29:35]

2. 2 Chainz’s Upbringing and Atlanta’s Influence

• 2 Chainz credits College Park with instilling resilience, independence, and social skills:
  • "College park molded me in many ways. It taught me resilience. It taught me some independence... I got a lot of my social bandwidth from College park." - 2 Chainz [08:43]
• Discussion of Atlanta's musical ascent and handing off the "torch" from Outkast, Goody Mob, to later artists:
  • "Atlanta has always been, like, a city for, like, growth and creativity musically." - 2 Chainz [10:28]
• Reminiscence about being known locally, not just for music but for being present in the community—with style and cars even as a college student:
  • "I was known in Atlanta because... I played basketball, I hustled. I'm from the street, so I would be outside... presenting myself in a nice way." - 2 Chainz [11:09]

3. Ownership, Hometown Ties, and the Skyhawks

• 2 Chainz reveals pride about being a minority owner of the College Park Skyhawks, near his high school:
  • "It feels wonderful, man. Being, I don't know, five miles from my high school... So, yeah, just, you know, it feels like I was at the right place at the right time." - 2 Chainz [07:49]

4. The New Book – The Voice in My Head is God

• 2 Chainz’s literary debut is described as a deeply personal work about intuition, not strictly religious:
  • "It's about intuition...me using intuition as a sixth sense...the voice in this title speaks to my conscience, my intuition…and then when I say God, it's me giving credit to someone much higher than myself." - 2 Chainz [14:01]
  • "Hopefully it helps someone...make decisions based on their own divine guidance." - 2 Chainz [14:54]
• Adam summarizes: “Trust your gut.” [15:07]
• 2 Chainz elaborates that intuition matured with age and life experience:
  • "It took life experiences...for me to come to a conclusion that this voice in my head has helped me navigate through some of the toughest times and turmoil." - 2 Chainz [56:49]

5. Basketball Roots and Mentors

• 2 Chainz played ball growing up, likening his game to a playmaking guard, humble-bragging about his skills.
• Adam and 2 Chainz reminisce about top five NBA players, shared favorites, and interactions with legends like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
  • On Kobe: "His whole…aura was just, like, on the court, off the court…someone that automatically just demanded that attention, man." [06:22]
  • LeBron’s involvement as an executive producer on an album and his unique support for artists discussed [05:01].

6. Business, Branding, and Reinvention

• 2 Chainz talks about the necessity of rebranding as an artist, inspired by business mentorship:
  • "Me having mentors in the business space…noticing how big businesses rebrand every three to five years. So I treat the 2 Chainz brand as a business." [28:03]
• The name change from Titty Boy to 2 Chainz for mass/media acceptability and branding strategy [28:33].

7. Music Industry Stories and Hustle

• Early days: Gaining national attention through mixtapes and touring before official record deals.
  • "Before I even got my record deal, they knew the words, they knew the vehicles...real fan stuff." [26:11]
• Stories about selling weed to Cash Money, meeting Lil Wayne, and chasing down payments—legendary anecdotes on hustling and crossing paths with major artists [25:01].
• Role of mentorship and learning from producers/artists like Kanye West:
  • "He has a very high level of everything, from architect to engineering. Not just music..." [42:27]
  • Kanye encouraged him to up his feature price to match demand [43:49].

8. Collaboration, Competition, and Features

• Adam presses 2 Chainz about "bodying" features on songs with big-name rappers:
  • "No, I know. I'm. I'm fine. I'm like that." [41:13]
  • On “Mercy”: "Of course I had the best." [41:26]
• Balancing giving away great verses and the urge to hold some back for his own work [47:47].

9. Intuition, Faith, and Navigating Life

• 2 Chainz returns to the theme of following one’s intuition, describing how it applies to everything from big business to personal heartbreak.
  • "This book about positive vibes, man. Uplifting." [58:50]
  • "It's hard to put a glass ceiling on passion." [55:58]
  • Adam summarizes: "...to learn how to, like, accept your intuition and accept that...life is kind of lucky at certain points. And so you have to, like, trust your gut," [55:12]

10. Parenthood, Wealth, and Values

• On raising rich children: "I teach my kids to really be rich from the inside out. So they got a good foundation inside." [50:39]
• On not wanting his kids to have the same hardships, yet giving them space to grow on their own: "[They'll] have a higher level and more experiences than you...as they get older, we'll take our hands off...let them learn on their own as well." [50:54]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Atlanta’s influence:

  • “Atlanta has always been...a city for, like, growth and creativity musically.” – 2 Chainz [10:28]

• On intuition and the new book:

  • “The voice in my head...I assume that it's God because they say God is inside of you...This is just my presentation to the world.” – 2 Chainz [14:01]
  • “Hopefully it helps someone...make decisions based on their own divine guidance.” – 2 Chainz [14:54]

• On collaboration & killing features:

  • "No, I know. I'm. I'm fine. I'm like that." – 2 Chainz [41:13]
  • "Of course I had the best." [about his “Mercy” verse] – 2 Chainz [41:26]

• On rebranding and business:

  • “I treat the 2 Chainz brand as a business. So every two to three years, if it's not logo, it's something I'm doing to adjust the marketing.” – 2 Chainz [28:03]

• On raising his kids:

  • “I teach my kids to really be rich from the inside out. So they got a good foundation inside.” – 2 Chainz [50:39]

• Adam, hilariously overwhelmed and self-aware:

  • “I tried so hard at being a stoner... I became like a 14 year old again.” – Adam Friedland [23:05]
  • “Honestly, bro, that is going to cut together. So fun.” – Adam Friedland [61:04]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:01–01:15 | Opening banter: Lighting up, weed jokes, interview dynamic
• 08:43–10:28 | College Park’s impact, Atlanta’s music legacy
• 14:01–14:54 | The thesis and message of The Voice in My Head is God
• 25:01–25:41 | Selling weed to Cash Money, Lil Wayne story
• 28:03–28:33 | Brand reinvention and “Titty Boy” to “2 Chainz”
• 41:13–41:26 | Adam grills 2 Chainz on “bodying” features (“Mercy”)
• 42:27 | Kanye’s mentorship and impact
• 50:39–50:54 | Parenting, generational wealth, instilling values
• 56:49–57:13 | Intuition strengthening with maturity
• 58:50–59:58 | Book’s message: positivity, resilience, life turning points

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Episode Tone & Flow

• The conversation is loose, funny, sometimes awkward but revealing, fueled by both mutual admiration and weed. Adam alternates between fanboy, comedian, and interviewer—sometimes losing his verbal footing, often self-deprecating and meta-commentating on the interaction itself. 2 Chainz responds with cool-headed, big-brother wisdom, occasionally ribbing Adam about his nerves and awkwardness, but often returning to deeper insights on faith, luck, intuition, business, and personal growth.
• Quick-witted and irreverent, but laced with genuine respect, the episode captures the duality of 2 Chainz’s persona: playful and wise, street-savvy and introspective.

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Final Thoughts

2 Chainz’s The Voice in My Head is God emerges as both the anchor and launching point for a conversation about self-trust, resilience, and creative evolution. Adam’s earnest, if haphazard, attempts to connect add humor and vulnerability, ultimately framing a portrait of 2 Chainz as someone who’s grown out of local legend status into national success through equal parts hustle, insight, and humility.

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For listeners:
Expect laughs, winding stories, and unexpected wisdom—plus several lessons in trusting your gut, staying grounded, and never underestimating the power of a good rebrand (or a well-timed feature verse).

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Transcript

[2 Chainz]

You started stepping back when I lit this weed up. It bothers you? I didn't know. I'll pimp with you, dude. I don't think you need it.

[Adam Friedland]

Come on, bro.

[2 Chainz]

Dude, it's not lit. You gotta lit it. Light it.

[Narrator]

I know, I understand.

[Adam Friedland]

I've smoked weed before.

[2 Chainz]

This ain't from New York, baby. And those guys on the other side selling some. There you go. That's it. I just went on that punch. Yeah, one more, man. One more Piff.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm good, I'm good.

[2 Chainz]

One more Piff, bro. You gotta do at least three, bro. 10. 9.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh my word.

[2 Chainz]

8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. His glass is fogging up. 2. 1. Yes, sir. Wowed around and found out, huh?

[Narrator]

Hello and welcome to a very special episode of the Adam Friedland Show. I'm Adam Friedland.

[Adam Friedland]

My guest this week is Grammy Award

[Narrator]

winning rapper and newly minted author, 2 Chainz. I won't lie to you, audience. This was one of my most challenging conversations of my entire life. Mr. Chains was immune to my charms as an interviewer. He deftly dodged each query as I scrambled on my back heel to find a way in. I sucked. I sucked up. I copycatted. I even tried to ingratiate myself to him via shared use of psychedelic drugs. This interview changed me. And I'm sure you, you'll see that. And maybe not for the better. I don't know. I'm still figuring that out. So please enjoy my conversation with 2 Chainz.

[Adam Friedland]

Ladies and gentlemen, his new book, the Voice in My Head is God. Everyone please welcome two Chains. I can't believe it. I cannot believe it. Sir.

[2 Chainz]

What's up? What's up? What's up? What's up?

[Adam Friedland]

How you doing?

[2 Chainz]

Nice to meet you. How you doing?

[Adam Friedland]

I am a big fan. I really appreciate it. Not to complain or take it, I complain a lot. But like you're six, five already and

[2 Chainz]

then you have these big furry Balenciaga boots.

[Adam Friedland]

I know, but it's giving you maybe like 6, 7, 6, 8 right now.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, I'm 6, 5. And then with these shoes on, I might be about 6, 7, 6.

[Adam Friedland]

I think it's a little egotistical, perhaps.

[2 Chainz]

No, I mean, I love myself. What can I say?

[Adam Friedland]

You grew up playing ball. That's right.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, I did a little balling. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

What was your like, game?

[2 Chainz]

You were at guard? I think I was a great passer, a great playmaker. I have a really, really beautiful looking jump shot. It's pretty.

[Adam Friedland]

What's your NBA comp?

[2 Chainz]

Oh, a Comp for me, probably would be currently. Currently in the league right now. Let me just think. Who was in the All Star Game for me?

[Narrator]

Steph.

[2 Chainz]

Not Steph. Steph. He has the range. I'm more of a playmaker. Who are who, who are who? Think Halo. This all stopped. Ant man.

[Adam Friedland]

Jalen or Antman. Ant is something, you know, who's got, like.

[2 Chainz]

Ant is nasty, you know.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, he's the. And he's also, like, happens to be the most. The funniest guy. Like, he has that Chuck thing where he's like. He could. He's funnier than any comedian.

[2 Chainz]

Well, Ant is, you know, from Atlanta. We just have great personalities.

[Adam Friedland]

Did you see that clip of him meeting Obama? Ant was like, I will cook you. Like, he didn't care that it was the president. He's like, any place, anytime.

[2 Chainz]

Competitive. Competitive nature, man.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, I actually. I watched a clip of you saying you're. You're. Not that this is pertinent at all to the interview, but saying you're top five. And we have an identical top five in NBA. Really? For the NBA? Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

What is it?

[Adam Friedland]

Because I put Shaq and Steph in the top five.

[2 Chainz]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Bean Braun, mj, Shaq.

[2 Chainz]

And we got the same.

[Adam Friedland]

We have the same. Same kind of guy. LeBron produced an album for you.

[2 Chainz]

Not produce. Produce with me. He would have actually made the track.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, I know.

[2 Chainz]

He was an executive producer.

[Adam Friedland]

Executive produce. He was like the Suge Knight of your. No, no. Well, he's not. I'm not saying he dangled anyone from. By their angle. Anyway. I'll stop talking. No, I gotta stop.

[2 Chainz]

Brian is a great friend of mine. Great friend of the family and friend

[Adam Friedland]

of mine as well. UTA, Clutch Sports Family, my agency.

[2 Chainz]

Okay. Shout out LeBron, he came to the crib in LA, and he is a huge. Like, we always see him on Instagram, like, playing artist music, right? Like supporting artists. And we haven't seen any other basketball player to his greatness, do that. Not Jordan. Rest in peace, Bean. None of those people. So him being the biggest basketball player in the world, sitting in the back of the Maybach supporting different artists music. It was something that I took to. I had him come over. I played about, I don't know, over 20, 30 songs, and then him and I kind of narrowed down the album, and that's how he was a part of my album.

[Adam Friedland]

Now there's a famous clip of that of LeBron inventing the deluxe album. You've seen the clip.

[2 Chainz]

I mean, you know what? During that time, people really Weren't doing it. I mean, Deluxe had started, and they fade just like anything. They fade away, come back and all of that. So at that time, I don't think he thought he invented it. I just thought he was coming up with a good idea at that particular point in time.

[Adam Friedland]

I would say he invented it. And he also dominated in the dead ball era, the three three ball era, and invented the Deluxe album. Let's give it up for LeBron James. No, but I. I grew up a big Kobe fan. I'm a Laker fan, so. And I know that. I know that. Were you guys the same class, like, in high school? Like, we. No, no.

[2 Chainz]

But I just. Just like with anything else, his Mamba mentality, that whole. His whole. His aura was just, like, on the court, off the court. You know, I saw him off the court a few times. He just was someone that automatically just demanded that attention, man. Very detailed. Yeah. From me being around him, just even talking basketball with him out, I remember having a full conversation about hooping with him, like, after a game. So rest in peace. To the goat.

[Adam Friedland]

I saw that you. Maybe this isn't true, but that you did AAU growing up. And did you play against Sharif Abdul Rahim?

[2 Chainz]

I don't know Sharif.

[Adam Friedland]

That was. Because that's a. Streets we'll never forget. Like, guy who I think is overlooked a lot in terms of just like an absolute killer.

[2 Chainz]

Sharif is. He's definitely a killer. Sharif is, you know, with the G League. He's involved with the G League. He almost runs the G League. I'm not sure what his. I don't want to get his title confused or messed up, but I literally just ran into him. I was walking out the restroom. He's walking in at one of the College Park Skyhawks game in Atlanta, like, I don't know, not even a month ago.

[Adam Friedland]

You're an Odor, right?

[2 Chainz]

I'm a minority owner of the Skyhawks in Atlanta. Yes.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. And that's your. That's your neighborhood that you grew up in?

[2 Chainz]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. How's that feel?

[2 Chainz]

It feels wonderful, man. Being, I don't know, five miles from my high school, not even, I don't know, maybe five, six miles from my high school. Me being from the area, the owners of the Hawks, you know, noticing that, realizing that involved me into something new and refreshing for the city. So, yeah, just, you know, it feels like I was at the right place at the right time.

[Adam Friedland]

There's no reason to have a lot of money unless you have your own squad. That's my. That's my, like, take in life if I ever.

[2 Chainz]

That's what most billionaires. That's how they think if I ever have enough money.

[Adam Friedland]

Like, if you're just a billionaire and you don't have your own team, you're just.

[Narrator]

I don't know what.

[Adam Friedland]

Trying to.

[2 Chainz]

I didn't look at it like that, but I'm sure as a billionaire, it's something that you have to do, like, a subtle flex to let them know, like, I'm a. I'm a billionaire. Billionaire.

[Adam Friedland]

I really. I want to get into your book. Tell me about, like, what growing up in College park taught you. And, like, you know, how, like, what it. How it molded you.

[2 Chainz]

I guess College park molded me in many ways. It taught me resilience. It taught me some independence. I did most of my adolescence growing up in College Park. I got there, you know, early ninth grade, built a lot of relationships. You know, I got a lot of my social bandwidth from College park, so it just means a lot.

[Adam Friedland]

What was it like seeing Atlanta become Atlanta in terms of, like, national profile when it came to music? Because, like, for a while, like, when I was younger, it was pretty coastal. Then I remember, like, there was Outkast and Goody Mop. But, like, prior to the, like, beyond that, like, Atlanta kind of, there was no concept. I think maybe Lil Jon or something, or, like. No, we had Crunk and, like, brought, like. And Ludacris, maybe.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. Ludacris is after Outcast and Goody Mob.

[Adam Friedland]

No, that's what I'm saying. Like, the only concept anyone had beyond Outkast and Goody Mob. They didn't really have a concept of music from Atlanta until you saw, like, Def Jam South.

[2 Chainz]

I would say you had two ti, you had Jeezy. Even before Organized Noise, you had Kilo. We were listening to Kilo getting ready WAP today. Gucci. Yeah. So you just. You know, Atlanta has went through different periods and different eras, but for the most part, it's been sustainable. And it's like we keep passing the torch to the next, and that gives us, like, a lifeline, too. But, I mean, outkast is when I think they won an award and Andre said about the south has something to say. Yeah. And then it started being more intentional as far as what we were doing. But Atlanta has always been, like, a city for, like, growth and creativity musically.

[Adam Friedland]

Have you seen music become less regional? Like, for instance, like, Too Short, like, went platinum, and I think he sold, like, like, 500 records on the East Coast.

[2 Chainz]

Music could be on the West Coast.

[Adam Friedland]

On the East Coast, I think on the west coast, he went platinum, but, like, so. It was, like, so regional that, you know, like, in the Bay, he was like, were you famous? And, like, a known quantity in Atlanta for a while before you became nationally famous?

[2 Chainz]

I think I. Excuse me. I was known in Atlanta, and not necessarily for my music, though. I was known in Atlanta because I'm like. I played basketball, I hustled. I'm from the street, so I would be outside. I had a. I've had nice cars my whole. Since I've been driving, you know what I'm saying? I've been presenting myself in a nice, you know, way far as attire and all that. So a lot of people already assumed that I was doing something, going to do something, or going to be something early on. You can kind of see my trajectory coming up.

[Adam Friedland]

You had three cars in college.

[2 Chainz]

I did.

[Adam Friedland]

How did you, like, get them? They're.

[2 Chainz]

I drove one. Boom. It was in Alabama. So I would ride home with somebody else because Alabama's two hours from Atlanta, and people would literally go almost dazing. You know what I'm saying? It was two hours, and it was an hour behind. So you would lose an hour.

[Adam Friedland]

That's not bad.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. You know, you'll leave and.

[Adam Friedland]

This is a question I had when I was reading the book. I was like, how the hell did he get the three cars up down to Alabama?

[2 Chainz]

You thought I took a tow truck, but I didn't. It's literally like, people. He's like, how did he do this? Another rap guy lying. No, I had a Cadillac.

[Adam Friedland]

I had a chance.

[2 Chainz]

I just want to let you know, I've really been having it.

[Adam Friedland]

Like, you're a division one athlete. You weren't a rapper.

[2 Chainz]

And I was division one in the streets, too.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

So I pulled up Expedition with the TV in it with the beat. Wham.

[Adam Friedland]

Eddie Bauer.

[2 Chainz]

I pull up with the. Not the Eddie Bauer, just a regular black Expedition. I'm not gonna lie. I didn't have Eddie Bauer. You know what I'm saying? Mine had the. Eddie Bauer had the leather. Mine didn't have leather on the inside, but once again, I'm in college.

[Adam Friedland]

You had the xlt.

[2 Chainz]

I had the xlt. Come on, man. Come on.

[Adam Friedland]

You know my family.

[2 Chainz]

I had the xlt. Yeah. I had that. And I. Wham, wham, wham. Watching.

[Adam Friedland]

You had the fire tires. Do you remember that? The Explorer had those tires that kept exploding.

[2 Chainz]

No, no, no, no. Mine never exploded.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[2 Chainz]

And then I had a. I had a. I want to say, like a 93 Cadillac sedan to be. It was. It was blue. Navy blue. Black in there with the rims, with the gray leather. And then I had a. I say maroon. Some people say burgundy, but I had a maroon box. Chevy on rims. And on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I swapped cars. And then between Tuesdays and Thursdays, because I was staying off campus, I might. But, yeah. Yeah, that was me.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Volvo.

[2 Chainz]

Volvo. Yeah, yeah, yeah. My cousin had a ball. No, he had a Saab.

[Adam Friedland]

He had a sob. Those are nice cars.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, they discontinued the Volvo, and the side were, like, Swedish. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

But they sold Volvo to the Chinese. Now everything is really. Yeah, but I won't get too political with you, right? Let's. Let's focus on the book for a second. What is the thesis you want to get across? Like. Like, what do you want people like, to take away from this book?

[2 Chainz]

This is my first piece of literature that I'm putting out for the world to see and to consume. It's called the Voice in My Head is God. The book is not so much a religious book. It's about intuition. It's about me using intuition as a sixth sense. It. The voice in this title speaks to my conscience, my intuition, and then when I say God, it's me giving credit to someone much higher than myself. Me giving credit to something higher than my ego. In this book, I talk about how the voice in my head, which is, I assume, is intuition, I assume that it's God because they say God is inside of you and, you know, blessings come from within. So this is just my presentation to the world. And hopefully it helps someone make decisions, helps them make decisions based on their own divine guidance. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Trust your gut.

[2 Chainz]

Bam. You get it?

[Adam Friedland]

I mean, that's like becoming a man. Basically, you have, like, one too many relationships with a girl who's like, I cheated on every boyfriend I ever had. You're like, this time is different.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, yeah, you're right. Right, right, bro, you. You. You get it. Damn, this.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm different.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's exactly. That's exactly what this is.

[Adam Friedland]

When bigger rappers would come through Atlanta, like, you would serve. Like, is that what you were doing prior to rapping?

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Actually, can I. Can I show you something? I have this weed dealer who wants to.

[2 Chainz]

Is that what his ashtray here? What is ashray here?

[Adam Friedland]

The ashtray is kind of a classy, kind of like 1960s kind of vibe. I mean, you could. You could do weed if you want.

[2 Chainz]

Okay, I can you. I mean, if you want it okay, cool.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay, I'll piff with you. Dude, I'm not really. Honestly, I don't smoke weed. I just feel bad for this guy. So I still buy weed from him.

[2 Chainz]

And then what would.

[Adam Friedland]

Cuz he's had a tough time. What, What I give it to. I give it to the homeless.

[2 Chainz]

That's a good idea. So I've done that before too. I've. I've. They said they want something and. Yeah, yeah, they don't grab that. They didn't grab my joint and went on about the business, so I've done that before.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, you smoke like doinks and then you like, you like. I saw your ashtray. I saw your ashtray where it's. It's very wasteful unless you give it to the hobos. Your roaches are like this long.

[2 Chainz]

I think I should start doing that, though.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, I mean, it's just like. I mean, you're a wealthy gentleman. I'm not gonna. If you. If you're. Put a towel under the door. Jonah, put a towel.

[2 Chainz]

Yo, can I. You don't own this building. You like, you can own this building. Your parents own this building, right? No, my.

[Adam Friedland]

My parents.

[2 Chainz]

I want to be sarcastic. Like, let's look at something your parents own, right? Your parents own something like this. Tell me, come on, what it is.

[Adam Friedland]

I have literally, like. I literally got no benefits from Jewish.

[2 Chainz]

No, I'm not going to.

[Adam Friedland]

It's like, it's a waste of Jewish.

[2 Chainz]

I would never.

[Adam Friedland]

I swear to God. The only person that's ever helped me out was an anti Semite named Nick Mullen.

[2 Chainz]

What?

[Adam Friedland]

Anyway, so my weed dealer, his name's Ari Stern. He.

[2 Chainz]

Well, this just. Well, I guess is.

[Adam Friedland]

He wants to be a musician too. And I. I want to. If I could play it for you. Can you tell me like, whether or not I should keep encouraging him?

[2 Chainz]

I don't want to hear that shit.

[Adam Friedland]

No, I think you do want to hear this shit.

[2 Chainz]

I don't want to hear that.

[Adam Friedland]

I think you might want to hear this shit. It's very. It's very.

[2 Chainz]

That wouldn't. Hey, let me tell you that what people need to hear, it's a song people not. Not ready for, that some people need to hear.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm just saying.

[2 Chainz]

Let me tell you this.

[Adam Friedland]

He asked me if I could play Two Chains, his song about losing his son in custody.

[2 Chainz]

What the. So funny. Well, maybe.

[Adam Friedland]

Should I tell him to keep going for it?

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, sounds like you got.

[Adam Friedland]

My. I'm sorry.

[2 Chainz]

You know why I think it can work? Because somebody can relate to it.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah, because you like. Because a lot of people get divorced.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, well, no, it's. People get their child. You don't have to be divorced for your. You don't have to be married to have kids. Yeah, some people just lose.

[Adam Friedland]

You know any guys that are, like, really too upset at, like, about. At family court?

[2 Chainz]

No. I don't know.

[Adam Friedland]

Gilbert Arenas, he used to tweet all this or Instagram all the time about, I'm the king of this family court. He used to talk.

[2 Chainz]

I like. I like.

[Adam Friedland]

But now his kids go in league.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, I like watching. Yep. Yeah, well, he has a couple kids that's like that. Yeah. So I like. I like watching him talk about basketball.

[Adam Friedland]

Is.

[2 Chainz]

Is.

[Adam Friedland]

We got to get. Are you. Are you doing Project Kobe? Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

Halo will be going to the league, too. He's 10 years old. He'll be gone.

[Adam Friedland]

Is he tall like his father?

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, I think he's tall.

[Adam Friedland]

You're going to the league, young man.

[2 Chainz]

Say it so he can hear you.

[Adam Friedland]

Say, I'm going. Yeah, okay. What's your game? What's your. Like? You're a pastor. Oh, he's humble. He's humble like his father.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, yeah, right. He's not humble. He humble, but he popping, too.

[Adam Friedland]

Are you good at 2k? Of course I fry. I'll fry you. I'll fry you immediately. Wait, so I also.

[2 Chainz]

He got his game up here in the room. He ain't just, like, talking like. He take his game everywhere.

[Adam Friedland]

You're gonna say no to this?

[2 Chainz]

Where's my lighter, Cuz you get. Get him a lighter and put it on my nerves.

[Adam Friedland]

Get him a lighter.

[2 Chainz]

You got me listening, doing A and R, and we supposed to be talking about.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm saying this guy lost his kids.

[2 Chainz]

If he wants to make him, man, I don't care. I got mine.

[Adam Friedland]

Here's a song. So

[2 Chainz]

somebody just. This should just drop it out. All right, all right, all right, all right, all right. Go ahead. All right. I'm sorry you lost your kids. I'm sorry.

[Adam Friedland]

It's not me. It's the weed dealer. Lost his kid making songs about it, and I don't know if I should tell him to stop.

[2 Chainz]

Nah, tell me.

[Adam Friedland]

Keep going, because here's the thing. In white. In the white.

[2 Chainz]

I saw weed and I talked about

[Adam Friedland]

in the white community, if your drug dealer wants to become a rapper. That sounds like the worst thing ever. It sounds like he's the worst.

[2 Chainz]

Like, oh, so I didn't look, you

[Adam Friedland]

gotta hang out with him, and then he wants to play you his music. And it's just a punisher.

[2 Chainz]

It looked like you started stepping back when I lit this weed up. It bothers you. I'll piff with you, dude. No, no, don't worry about it.

[Adam Friedland]

I'll piff. I piffed on Saturday night. I'm getting back into.

[2 Chainz]

Is that what the. That's what the Jewish brothers say? No, no.

[Adam Friedland]

New York, New York, bro. It's a dead ass New York style

[2 Chainz]

of St. Peter dead ass.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah, it's dead ass New York dead ass. What did you say? I don't want you to have no part of this. Okay?

[2 Chainz]

So they got.

[Adam Friedland]

We want you in the NBA.

[2 Chainz]

That'll you say they got that.

[Adam Friedland]

I don't want you. I don't want you. Going down this path your father and I are on.

[2 Chainz]

Don't want it all. He don't want at all.

[Adam Friedland]

For me for, like, one of the most, like, incredible moments that I ever witnessed was that, like, generational run that, like, Wayne was on, like, 2005 to 2008, right? Like, dedication, drowning everything going up to the corner. Right? And the first time I heard you was when he did the hook on duffel bag.

[2 Chainz]

Right?

[Adam Friedland]

And

[2 Chainz]

can I get a. You want to hit it? You want to piff it?

[Adam Friedland]

I'll piff.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. I don't think you need it. Come on, bro. Dude, it's not lit. You got lit light.

[Narrator]

I know. I understand.

[Adam Friedland]

I've smoked weed before.

[2 Chainz]

This ain't from New York.

[Adam Friedland]

So, like, you tell a story about, like, when you first met him, right? Was it that you sold baby to zips and what happened after that?

[2 Chainz]

No. So, yeah, I was in the studio recording and Cash money, baby. And those guys on the other side.

[Adam Friedland]

Don't look.

[2 Chainz]

Oh, no. You hitting that motherfucker. I see. Go ahead. That's right. You know what you're doing. All right. So anyway, I was selling some. There you go. That's it. I just went on that punch. Good old punch, you guys.

[Adam Friedland]

I mean, king of the jungle.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. One more, man. One more piff.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm good.

[2 Chainz]

I'm good. One more piff, bro. You gotta do at least three, bro. You can't just do it like two, two. Two is two chains. You gotta do three for Adam. You gotta do three for Titty boy.

[Adam Friedland]

Dude.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. Come on. Hit a real one, man. Hold it, hold it, hold it for me. Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it. 10, 9.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, my word.

[2 Chainz]

8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. His glasses fogging up. 2, 1. Yes, sir.

[Adam Friedland]

Wow.

[2 Chainz]

Fucked around. And found out, huh?

[Narrator]

I used to.

[Adam Friedland]

I tried so hard at being a stoner, and I took like a month off and I realized. And I tried to blaze again, and I realized I. I was like, I'm tripping on weed. Like, all my. All my tolerance had gone away, and I was like. I became like a 14 year old again.

[2 Chainz]

What about now? How old do you feel like you are?

[Adam Friedland]

I'm back to 14, dude.

[2 Chainz]

It looks like it, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

You know, the J Boys, we loved Piff.

[2 Chainz]

The J Boys. Jewish. That's cool. That's cool to say the J Boys.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, you can say it. I'll give you the pass.

[2 Chainz]

I'll never say it. I'll give you the pass. Nah, I ain't going for that.

[Adam Friedland]

You can say the J Boys.

[Narrator]

It's cool.

[Adam Friedland]

No, we used to love to Piff and then listen to rap. We put on Mitchell and Ness. We burnt. We put one of the.

[2 Chainz]

Put on Mitchell and Ness. Yeah. It's insane.

[Adam Friedland]

No, let's go back to it, though. Like.

[2 Chainz]

Like this. Mitchell. And this. When y' all put on these jerseys, like one of y' all dad be owning the team or something like that.

[Adam Friedland]

No, I got no benefits of Jay.

[2 Chainz]

I'm telling you, I'm not going for that.

[Adam Friedland]

What do you think I am, the Rothschilds? No, no, no, I.

[2 Chainz]

Why don't you hold.

[Adam Friedland]

Why do you think I'm doing this?

[2 Chainz]

You see the lighter, bro?

[Adam Friedland]

You got it.

[2 Chainz]

So, you know, you. All right, all right, all right. Go ahead.

[Adam Friedland]

So wait, let's. Let's go back to the story. Let's go back to the story about. Wait, what happened? Oh, the bathroom. Yeah, it's around the corner. So wait, so. So cash money comes to Atlanta.

[2 Chainz]

You remember? I thought you forgot because I thought you. I thought you forgot yesterday. I was gonna let the story go

[Adam Friedland]

by, but it's a very funny story. Yeah, but it's like a kind of an anecdote. We clip. We'll say, like, true. Like, two chains. True story. We put like a. Like, lo fi.

[2 Chainz]

I don't want to tell it then.

[Adam Friedland]

Come on, dude.

[2 Chainz]

We'll find some.

[Adam Friedland]

Can I tell the story for you? So he's. So he sells 2 ounces of marijuana. Young man. I don't stick to nevermind. Okay. And then a baby doesn't pay you for it. And then they're like, we're going to Atlanta or New Orleans. Fuck, I am high. Okay, we're going to New Orleans. And you're like, fine, I'll ride with you. And then you first met Wayne there in a indoor swimming pool. You piffed. And then at a certain point, you were like, I really do need that $900. And then he paid you.

[2 Chainz]

That's a great story. Thanks, bro. That's great.

[Adam Friedland]

Let me tell you another story. No, when it, like, I guess, like, what was the first moment you knew that you were a known entity, like, outside of your home city? And, like, how did it dawn on you?

[2 Chainz]

Oh, man, I'm so high.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm interested.

[2 Chainz]

Nah, nah, nah. When I knew I was, you know, I think it was when I started to. It was before. It was probably before I got my record deal, honestly, because I was so hot in the streets doing, like, mixtapes and just touring the chitlin market. I would go to different cities, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and I mean, people would just fan out, man. You know, people. Before I even got my record deal, they knew the words, they knew the vehicles. They would try to follow the vehicles on side of, like, real fan stuff. So I was having fan experiences prior to getting my record deal, and I started realizing that this was something that was going to be a little bit larger than I expected.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Was that Dante or were you ready?

[2 Chainz]

I prayed for it, so I believed it could happen.

[Adam Friedland]

You believed? Yeah. You retired your mom's.

[2 Chainz]

Oh, yeah. My mom hadn't worked in I don't know how many years. My mom hadn't worked in a long time.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah. You're close with your mother?

[2 Chainz]

Yes, I am.

[Adam Friedland]

Thus the first name before two Chain Titty Boy. Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

From the family. You know, nothing derogatory towards women. Got it from.

[Adam Friedland]

No, it's sweet.

[2 Chainz]

Like being a spoiled brat titty baby. Like being a. It's about breastfeeding from your mom? Yeah. And in this case, just being up under her so much, like not giving her a minute to do really anything. And that was kind of what I was known for early on.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, me too. I was a mom of this boy.

[2 Chainz]

Really?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. I was breastfed until like, 18, 19 years old.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. You look like you got any siblings, though. For real?

[Narrator]

I do.

[Adam Friedland]

I have a younger sister.

[2 Chainz]

I'm the oldest.

[Adam Friedland]

We have the same birthday. Four years apart.

[2 Chainz]

Swear?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah. What prompted you to, like, rebrand, reinvent yourself?

[2 Chainz]

Me looking at business and me having mentors in the business space and noticing how big businesses rebrand every three to five years. So I treat the 2 Chainz brand as a business. So every two to three years, if it's not logo, it's something I'm doing to adjust the marketing. It's something I'm doing to just bring new light to me. And what I have going on. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Was also like titty boy. Like, you couldn't say it on, like, the news or something? No, at the time. Now you can.

[2 Chainz]

No. Yeah, at that time, you couldn't. But I would go to the radio and. Because when I got my record deal, I just was like, ah, I guess I'm titty tit. Whatever. You know, people would. You gotta think. A lot of people automatically go into situations, thinking negative, and you have to make them.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, I just thought it was. Either you were fat growing up, I thought it was like a fat kid with. With titties. And then I was like. It was about like that. You're close with your brother.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. Not Landon.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. No, I wasn't saying it as a bit. I literally thought that because we had friends. I had friends like that growing up.

[2 Chainz]

I've been slender. I've been slender a long time. It just was the point. I was an only child. See, that's why I asked you, did you have siblings? Because I. That's why I was the only child. So.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. No, I mean, for sure. Like, when I found out you were a Division 1 athlete, I assumed you weren't titty boy. Or perhaps that's how you stopped being titty boy, by getting incredible at basketball.

[2 Chainz]

Well, No, I get it. We're high. Dude, you're high.

[Adam Friedland]

No, you're fucking. You're off your rucker right now.

[2 Chainz]

I know, man. I do this for. I literally, you know, I smoke just. I smoke casually throughout the day. Now you.

[Narrator]

I'll smoke.

[Adam Friedland]

You leaning back.

[2 Chainz]

You bouncing in a chair. You got one leg.

[Adam Friedland]

I can't. I'm not comfortable being like this on a camera. Camera right now. And I'm getting a little soft.

[2 Chainz]

Legs crossed. You tweaking, you scratching. I'm not tweaking.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, I'm fine.

[2 Chainz]

God damn. Took something else.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm fine.

[2 Chainz]

You know, this done amplified.

[Adam Friedland]

So when you got straight A's in

[2 Chainz]

high school, did you.

[Adam Friedland]

You did.

[2 Chainz]

Did you, though?

[Adam Friedland]

No.

[2 Chainz]

Really?

[Adam Friedland]

No.

[2 Chainz]

I assumed that Jewish people just had good grades in school.

[Adam Friedland]

You. You're putting your foot in it right now accidentally.

[2 Chainz]

No, I just. What? I assume. I assume that. That Jews. I just. I assume. No, my.

[Adam Friedland]

My. I guess we did.

[2 Chainz]

I assume. It's like. I'm assuming.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. There are a lot of harmful stereotypes like that, like getting great grades.

[2 Chainz]

You dropped out of school?

[Adam Friedland]

No, I went to college. But my whole thing was because my parents wanted A's. I would try to finesse it to, like, doing the least amount of work to get. I wasn't like, I didn't. I didn't think of school as like, you learn there. I was like, it's like a game.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

We used to do cheat. We used to cheat. We used to, like.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. Really?

[Adam Friedland]

Me and my friends would game the system. We were also smart. Yeah. We were just like, it's like a cost benefit analysis. We're like, we could. And we'd still do well on the exams at the end of the year, but like, it was like out of. It was like trying to beat the system a little bit. That's how Jews. It's called white collar crime. It's like, that was my first experience. Yeah. At the end of the year, you do it. It's not important. Why are we talking about at the end of the year, you do a test called the advanced page places.

[2 Chainz]

We're talking about the system, brother, and how people get around we talking about how people get around the system, brother.

[Adam Friedland]

If you didn't tap me there, I would die.

[2 Chainz]

We're talking about the man and the system.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. No, exactly.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

No, it's like we were like. I mean, when Jews came to America, they were just criminals. They were just. Yeah, they would.

[2 Chainz]

Really?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, of course. Yeah. They were like doing petty crimes.

[2 Chainz]

Really?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. In the. Yeah. And organized crimes as well.

[2 Chainz]

Really?

[Narrator]

I don't want to talk about Jewish right, man. I want to talk to you about something that I wish I learned in school. When I hit 38, suddenly everything started to feel a little bit harder. Not just the gym, but like everything. Energy crashes at 2pm became my new normal. And that's not supposed to happen when you're 38. Naturally. I went down the Internet rabbit hole trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Started googling symptoms like a hypochondriac low T kept coming up. Doctors act like TRT is no big deal. Just weekly shots for the rest of your life. Cool. Three grand a year to shut down your body's natural production forever. That's terrifying. The fertility thing also really got me. What if I still want kids? And that's why I found Mars men. Mars men gives you the same benefits as an optimized testosterone, energy, strength, focus without shutting your body down. No synthetics, no needles, no dependency. It's like hitting the reset button on your hormone factory instead of shutting it down. Just like real natural ingredients like tongkat ali. Just real natural ingredients like tongkat Ali, shiljat, zinc, boron and more. That support healthy tea levels, stamina and recovery. Finally I found something that gives me the benefits without scary long term stuff. More consistent energy, stronger lifts, better focus. For me it's a steady drive all day. Now the quick spike you get from caffeine or injections made in the USA third party tested 90 day money back guarantee so there's no risk. Worst case, if you don't absolutely love it, you get your money back. But over 91% of users report higher energy levels. Thousands of guys are feeling incredible results. Just check out the reviews of on the website to see for yourself guys. So for a limited time our listeners get 50% off for life plus free shipping and three free gifts and men go to mars.com that's mengotomars.com and 50% off and three free gifts. When you check out after you purchase they will ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them that I sent you

[Adam Friedland]

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[Narrator]

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[Adam Friedland]

I used it to start a website

[Narrator]

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[Adam Friedland]

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[Narrator]

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[Adam Friedland]

I recently worked in quints into my wardrobe.

[Narrator]

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[Adam Friedland]

going back to you realizing you were well known, something about you that I think is so resilient and the reason I think you're, if you trust one man's opinion, is that, like, your skill and your presentation seems like both effortless and not lazy, you know? And that's it. Was that your style throughout or did you have to, like, find your style to begin with?

[2 Chainz]

I've always been like this.

[Adam Friedland]

So you knew your voice. Like, you're like. You've never, like, tried other, like, other styles, I suppose. I'm so blessed, dude. It's crazy. So embarrassing. But answer as if I'm.

[2 Chainz]

But you asked for it.

[Adam Friedland]

They're not listening, dude. They're not listening.

[2 Chainz]

But you asked for this stuff.

[Adam Friedland]

I know, because I thought it was

[2 Chainz]

this experience, you know? You a fan? You smoke with. You smoke with Tony.

[Adam Friedland]

I used to be great at smoking. Smoking weed, dude. When I saw There Will Be Blood, I too.

[2 Chainz]

What's your take on shrooms? You ever tried shrooms?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah, I have, certainly. Yeah. What you think if you do like an eighth of shrooms and do a proper, like, trip. I always, like, sometimes will feel like everyone in my life hates me and then when I leave a room, they all start making fun of me.

[2 Chainz]

That's how you think.

[Adam Friedland]

But if you do a little bit of shrooms, I found that it's kind of pleasant and nice and you're not. You're happy and you laugh a lot.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. 8th is crazy too, though.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. In college, we used to. I did shrooms in college and Mission Impossible, the scene where, like, he's like, on the wire and it was one of the most afraid I've ever been in my entire life.

[2 Chainz]

You were afraid?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. For Tom, for, For each. Yeah. I didn't want him to get in trouble. I wanted him to cheat. Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

Chris.

[Narrator]

Anyway.

[Adam Friedland]

But, like, going back to you, like. Like, are you. To what extent are you, like, aware of the concept that, like, you've been on songs with, like, the biggest rappers of your time and you've kind of killed a lot of the time. Killed it harder than them. Does that register? Or are you like, I'm just. I'm on the team.

[2 Chainz]

No, I know. I'm. I'm fine. I'm like that. You know, I get that.

[Adam Friedland]

You know, when you've bodied everyone, you won't say the songs though, right?

[2 Chainz]

No, it's just. That's how I'm coming.

[Adam Friedland]

Mercy.

[2 Chainz]

A little bit. Mercy.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. I had the best, you know. You did? Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

You'll say it.

[2 Chainz]

Wow.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Because that's like, a legendary.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, of course I had the best.

[Narrator]

What was it?

[Adam Friedland]

Yay. Was like, very good to you very early on. Is that correct? How did you guys be like? What was your.

[2 Chainz]

I was making noise in the streets, putting out mixtapes. And what year was it? Man, this is a good one. I would say maybe either 2010 or 2011.

[Adam Friedland]

So after graduation.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, before my first.

[Adam Friedland]

808, actually.

[2 Chainz]

808. This is before my first album.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay.

[2 Chainz]

So my first album came out in 2012. So we met way before. So probably 2011 or late 20 or something. To where we built the rapport. And it was through the music that I was putting out in the streets through my mixtapes. Started building a rapport, talking on the phone, bouncing creative ideas.

[Adam Friedland]

What did he teach you? He's a genius a lot, bro.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. I don't think you can just name something he taught you just by being around him. He has a very high level of everything, from architect to engineering. Not just music, you know what I mean? So it's just, like, also just as a producer. Yeah, all of that. So just I'm definitely. And then I'm someone that tries to learn something. Indifferent. When I'm around the Wayne era or whoever I'm around that has more knowledge in that particular department or more experience. I come with my eyes and my ears open.

[Adam Friedland]

That's what Kobe used to do, right? With, like, legends.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

That's what you. I think you should study him. I don't. I do less talking when I'm around certain individuals and more listening.

[Adam Friedland]

Kanye is, like, my favorite. I like. I think it's not said enough, but he could very well be the best producer, you know, ever. People, like, talk about him. His rap career is, like, so, like, massive. But like the beats that he's made just like throughout his career, like, I think the best.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, I think he's really dope at curating.

[Adam Friedland]

He convinced you to up your fee for feature?

[2 Chainz]

For my feature?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, man.

[2 Chainz]

Maybe he did.

[Adam Friedland]

What do you. What did he tell you to up it to?

[2 Chainz]

I don't know. I was. This was when I was doing a lot of features at the time. And I would come in studio sessions with him and then like, go to another room and I gotta knock out this feature. So it started being something that was not getting in my way, but it was something that I was doing. So common. And so I think his idea was just to put a high number on it. So it would just limit. Because at that time.

[Adam Friedland]

What's the best features you've done in a week?

[2 Chainz]

In a week?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. In your life?

[2 Chainz]

I don't know, man. I can. Oh, I don't know, probably 10 or 12 or something.

[Adam Friedland]

Times that by a hundred thousand. 10 or 12?

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. I mean, yeah.

[Narrator]

$1.2 million.

[2 Chainz]

Oh, yeah. He wanted me to judge her. Yeah. But yeah, the char. Well, I was charging him, but that was when. Because what happens is you work with artists that you're one fans of and that you plan on working with. So sometimes when you do that, you just do swap outs. You'll just swap it out. You'll be like, you know, whenever you need me. But then it became a point where you just charge because you're not gonna swap. And even now I have, I don't know how many swaps. I don't know, maybe two years ago, I did like an update to see how many people actually owe me verses. And some of that stuff, some of the people on those list. I don't even want nothing. I don't even want a verse from him. So I should have charged Jason Dulo.

[Adam Friedland]

He owes you a verse.

[2 Chainz]

Did I charge? Did I charge?

[Adam Friedland]

I don't know if you charged it, but you were on that song.

[2 Chainz]

But you know what that song is? Almost Diamond. It'll Be My Soul. I have to figure out, like, that it worked.

[Adam Friedland]

Does it sound like Jewish to you? A little bit.

[2 Chainz]

Does what sound Jewish?

[Adam Friedland]

That song? It does, kind of. That was my reference point at least. I was like, what is this song?

[2 Chainz]

I don't know. I don't. I didn't, you know, musically what it. What is the Jewish background of music? Klezmer lesberg? Klezmer Klegsberg?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, kind of.

[2 Chainz]

One more time. Klezmer klezmer?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. You want to hear it? It sounds Like Jason Derulo. Talk dirty to me.

[2 Chainz]

Play it.

[Adam Friedland]

All right, I'll put it on. You want to hear this? But not my weed dealers. Reggae song about family.

[2 Chainz]

So what you about to play as a Jewish artist?

[Adam Friedland]

No, this is a style. It's like a. I don't know. I think it's kind of not bad. It's kind of like Radiohead a little bit. I can't believe I just said that. That's so embarrassing. Hunter, did you hear me say that? It's kind of like Radiohead. I'm so lit. Okay, I'll put, like. I guess.

[2 Chainz]

I don't know. That's the style of music. Yeah. That's what you and your boys was pipping to. No, no, no.

[Adam Friedland]

We were listening to Paul's Dropout Black album. Reasonable Doubt. Blueprint.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. Oh, y'. All. Y' all listen to our music?

[Adam Friedland]

Yes, of course. We're Jewish. Jewish boys. It's like this. Like Jason Derulo.

[2 Chainz]

No, that's not.

[Adam Friedland]

It does sound like that.

[2 Chainz]

What instrument is that?

[Adam Friedland]

I think clarinet. You know Woody Allen plays clarinet. Anyway, it's kind of fire, though. You could get the reference to the Jason Derulo track. You do get it, though, right?

[2 Chainz]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Am I bodying this, or am I bombing this right now? Wait, so I, like, what I would suppose is like. Do you ever, like, have a feeling if you crush it on, like, another person's track? Like, you're like. It's like I'm giving them, like, a great song.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, I have thought about that before. Like, I should say this verse. For me, this is a great song. I mean, this is a great verse or something like that. I have said some dope stuff on other people's song, but ultimately I think it's something else. Dope. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Or if you're, like, on a song, I imagine with, like, other killers, you just want to kill the hardest.

[2 Chainz]

Absolutely.

[Adam Friedland]

Right?

[2 Chainz]

It's like.

[Adam Friedland]

It's like Gary Glenn Ross, the. This movie where it's like, all the best actors. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I don't know why I said that. We should watch it together, though. I'm not watching the movie with you, Jack Lemmon.

[2 Chainz]

Good work, Adam. Keep up the good work.

[Adam Friedland]

Al Chino, Alec Baldwin.

[2 Chainz]

The movie sounds good, but, like, me and you watching the movie is crazy.

[Adam Friedland]

It's like Mercy. It's like you're on that track with the other best rapper.

[2 Chainz]

I understand everything you're saying. I think even listening to Mercy together for me and you is crazy. Like, we shouldn't be doing none of that. We shouldn't be watching a movie. We shouldn't be.

[Adam Friedland]

We'll see how you feel in 13 minutes.

[2 Chainz]

How do you feel?

[Adam Friedland]

I feel great, honestly. This is one of the funniest things ever.

[2 Chainz]

What would you do? I'm prepared.

[Adam Friedland]

Right now. I have to go back to work. I have to edit the Gavin Newsom episode.

[2 Chainz]

Oh, you had Gavin promoting his book. He came on here.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. You're the second book promoter.

[2 Chainz]

Did you. Yeah, I feel like.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

I feel like I don't know why

[Adam Friedland]

I'm in this position.

[2 Chainz]

Let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. Let me ask you this.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay. We're totally gonna watch a movie. I feel like it's turning.

[2 Chainz]

No, you crazy?

[Adam Friedland]

I think we are.

[2 Chainz]

You had Gavin Newsom on here, right?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

He's gonna be the president.

[Adam Friedland]

Maybe. Look at him. I mean.

[2 Chainz]

All right, so listen, you was acting like that when he was up here by his book.

[Adam Friedland]

I didn't piff. Dude, I was all right before the piff.

[2 Chainz]

You have to admit it. No, you was helping him. You gotta sell. Look, bro, use your network. That's why I'm on here. Use your network.

[Adam Friedland]

No, this is independently produced, kind of punk rock style place you're at right now. We're outside the system, kind of selling it out the trunk, if you will. I got him. I got him. Finally. Do you have any advice for me, young man?

[2 Chainz]

Get security.

[Adam Friedland]

Can you chill out?

[2 Chainz]

He needs a kid.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, my God. Having a kid told me to chill out from smoking weed.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, you don't need.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm not straight up.

[2 Chainz]

It's not for everybody.

[Adam Friedland]

I know, dude.

[2 Chainz]

See, that's. That's what I'm saying. It's not okay, Everybody. My kids probably need to see that because they know nightmare. I definitely ain't gonna mess with them like that, man. That's dark.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm doing this for him right now.

[2 Chainz]

No, you ain't doing nothing.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm doing it for the future.

[2 Chainz]

You ain't doing nothing.

[Adam Friedland]

He's the future of this country.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

He matters more than us.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

What was it like having your kids are, like, rich?

[2 Chainz]

My kids are rich.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah. Like by proxy of, like, you know,

[2 Chainz]

I teach my kids to really be rich from the inside out. So they got a good foundation inside. And they. Not really like. I mean, they're spoiled to them.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you worry about them being spoiled?

[2 Chainz]

You just be cutting people off.

[Adam Friedland]

No, I was gonna ask that. Do you worry about them being spoiled?

[2 Chainz]

I mean, yes and no. But at the same time, you don't want them to experience what you experience. So they gonna have a higher level and more experiences than you did coming up. So I think my wife and I did a good job of putting them in a certain light. Right. But, you know, as they get older, we'll take our hands off the steering wheel and kind of. Or take the training wheels off and let them learn on their own as well.

[Adam Friedland]

That's lovely. I can tell you.

[2 Chainz]

Talk about my book because I know I'm gonna look at the gaps Gabbin Newsom episode. I'm gonna see how you try to do me.

[Adam Friedland]

This is a completely different thing.

[2 Chainz]

Talk about my book.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm a fan of yours.

[2 Chainz]

Talk about book.

[Adam Friedland]

I got it.

[Narrator]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

So wait, you mentioned your grandmother, like, shot at the police, and then you never followed that up? Can you tell us more?

[2 Chainz]

Because I wasn't there, bro. I heard this story from, like.

[Adam Friedland]

Wait, so what's the story, though? I just wanted to know more.

[2 Chainz]

My grandmama sold bootleg liquor and. Wow. And this is before I guess you could get liquor. And I guess the police was coming to ask or something. From my assumption, she shot at them. Shot at them. Pulling up. So the voice. I'll do it. Sit back, bro. I have a book that's very important to me. It's very, very, very important to me. I'm the author of this book. It's called the Voice in My Head is God. It took me over two years to write this book. It's very introspective, and it's very detailed as far as my life experiences and my journey. It has the title God in it, but it's not necessarily, like, a religious book. I don't have, like, scriptures in it. I do have stories of the times that I either left a relationship, meaning business or whatever, or stayed in one too long. I just let people in on the way that I think, the way that I move. And I think that this piece of literature can help my community navigate through their daily experiences by listening to the divine guidance that they have inside of them. And they can help you from everything, through business decisions, heartbreak, what shoes you should wear, everything from top to bottom. So, yeah, that's how you do that, bro.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay.

[2 Chainz]

That's how you do that.

[Adam Friedland]

Since you're editing, can we be like, so tell me about the book.

[2 Chainz]

That's Cap. No, just.

[Adam Friedland]

Just. Let's get it clean. So tell me about the book. Oh, wait, were there stories that didn't relate or that didn't make the book? Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

Of course. Yes. I think I have a lot of stories that just didn't make the book. Ultimately, the book. Ultimately, the book is me telling stories through the lens of this voice in my head and how. Something told me. If you've ever said something told me to do something, to say something. Something told you to something what? Told you did what told you to do this.

[Adam Friedland]

I thought it'd be cool.

[2 Chainz]

I thought you.

[Adam Friedland]

I thought it was slam dunk.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. So something told you to do that. All right. So sometimes the voice. Sometimes. Sometimes. Sometimes you. And sometimes the voice could clearly be off, depending on who you are. So you have to, like, you know.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. When I blaze, I think about everything I say throughout the day, and I'm like, you suck. Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

I go through my entire day.

[2 Chainz]

But I think you say stuff and you don't fear the consequences. Because I'm delusional.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. Because, you know, your family got money, right?

[Adam Friedland]

No, they really don't have money. I bought my dad's house. Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

So the Jewish kids can't, like, support their parents?

[Adam Friedland]

No, it's. Well, yeah, no, it's.

[2 Chainz]

I'm just. I'm learning they're not plugged.

[Adam Friedland]

They're not plugged. Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

Why not? But don't you, like, have, like, friends of the family that, like, help?

[Adam Friedland]

No, no, no. Because we're not from America. Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

We're not, like, connected. Yeah. Yeah. But now that I have agents and obviously they're Jewish. Yeah. Or managers.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. But I've, like, earned it through whatever this is. Through being great at asking a question.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, you absolutely.

[Adam Friedland]

Wait, wait. Can I ask a good question, then?

[2 Chainz]

Let's try that. Let's try a good one. Let's see if you got it, bro. Let's see what you got.

[Adam Friedland]

What is this? This is one of those shows, dude, this is like getting along. Best friends that watch a movie afterwards show.

[2 Chainz]

He just laughing at this.

[Adam Friedland]

Thank you. Your wife is. She's.

[2 Chainz]

That's how we watch comedy. We laugh at two different things.

[Adam Friedland]

What's your favorite comedy? That's not my question.

[2 Chainz]

I don't know, man.

[Adam Friedland]

How do you mark, like, evolving and growing as an artist? Like, you obviously want to top yourself each time, right? So, like, what are your markers of, like, progression? Like, is there a moment where you're satisfied or is there a moment where it's like, I'll never be satisfied?

[2 Chainz]

Yeah. I think it's hard to put a glass ceiling on passion. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[2 Chainz]

I think when you just love something, it's hard to really. You Know, find that end all, you know, for me at least, you know. Yeah. So you always, you know, you wake up every day thinking, you know, you could take it up a notch. You can go up a level. You're delusional. When you're a creator, you just, you know, you wake up and then you hope that that day brings you an idea that, you know that you can reap the benefits off of. So. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

When did you consider you fully, like, accepted, Tapped in that God was.

[2 Chainz]

I feel like I've been tapped in for, you know, it's not been a very long time, but I can. I think it took life experiences and the outcome for me to come to a conclusion that this voice in my head has helped me navigate through some of the toughest times and turmoil in my life.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. And it got stronger.

[2 Chainz]

Absolutely right.

[Adam Friedland]

You learned how clear.

[2 Chainz]

It got clearer.

[Adam Friedland]

Clearer, yeah. You think that's what, like, maturing, like, that's the point of it?

[2 Chainz]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, I think so too.

[2 Chainz]

I couldn't wrote a book like that at 20 some years old, go through some stuff.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. You seem remarkably, like, grounded for like someone as famous as yourself.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Like, is this the method and means of you maintaining, like a level and even keep.

[2 Chainz]

I think it could have some secret sauce in that book. I think it could. I think I could be. And who knows, you know, this is my opinion, this is my personal belief. So I think what works for people is whatever they believe in. This is what I truly believe in. This is how I truly be operating. So ultimately, you know, it changes the way one person navigates throughout their day and they pay more attention to that. Something told me, boys.

[Adam Friedland]

Have you said it to any, like, any people? You know, like, I think you might have you sent it to any baby bruhs, maybe tell them to keep their heads straight.

[2 Chainz]

Oh, man. I think I've definitely sent out some advanced copies. I've also had this conversation with people before writing the book.

[Adam Friedland]

So that's what gave you the idea?

[2 Chainz]

Well, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. All right, last question. Is there a sneak diss, perhaps?

[2 Chainz]

A sneak diss?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. In that book?

[2 Chainz]

No.

[Adam Friedland]

There's one line where the, the one guy on earth reads it and he knows, he's like, oh, no, you're rent free.

[2 Chainz]

This book, this book about positive eyes, man. Uplifting.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, I, I think it's. It genuinely is a great thing you've shared with people and I think it's like, I know you're saying it's just your opinion, but I think it's pretty universal to learn how to, like, accept your. Your intuition and accept that you're like, life is kind of lucky at certain points. And so you have to, like, trust your gut, trust.

[2 Chainz]

You get.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. What is the biggest inflection point like that in your entire life where you. It could have gone one of two directions dramatically different.

[2 Chainz]

I've had a couple of those cross roads, bro. I've had a couple of them that, you know, at that particular time, it probably led me somewhere that I felt was dark, ultimately leading me to the light. And then I've made decisions based off

[Adam Friedland]

just

[2 Chainz]

good night's rest, and this is what I'm going to do. So I've had a few pivots throughout my life that have came, you know, through that process.

[Adam Friedland]

I got it together.

[2 Chainz]

You're not together, but it's okay.

[Adam Friedland]

I got it together at the end there. You gotta give. You gotta give me prop.

[2 Chainz]

Okay, cool.

[Adam Friedland]

Am I saying no? No. You gotta cosine. You have to tell the people that you're like, I'm impressed by the. By the tenacity and the.

[2 Chainz]

All right, how many hands I got?

[Adam Friedland]

You have two hands.

[2 Chainz]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

You don't have visuals from weed. I'm just trying to make sure it is exotic. I will attest to that.

[2 Chainz]

It's exotic. Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

But you look like a man.

[2 Chainz]

When I leave, you gonna be punching. You gonna be punching yourself, man. You gonna be like, damn, I got high as hell in there. I'm already knowing how you finna beat me personally. Who's that? Hunter. Let me tell you how you and Hunter back there. Me and Hunter.

[Adam Friedland]

Let me tell you how like, like, delusional I am. I'm not even going to do that. I'm be like, that was awesome.

[2 Chainz]

Yeah, you're delusional. Seriously, you're delusional. I know.

[Adam Friedland]

Out of my mind.

[2 Chainz]

All right, my guy.

[Adam Friedland]

I honestly, bro, that.

[2 Chainz]

Clap for him, man.

[Adam Friedland]

Honestly, bro, that is. That is going to cut together. So fun.

[Narrator]

What an unmitigated disaster. One of my personal heroes, two chains, hated my guts. And to make matters worse, I was high on illegal marijuana. I had to get out of there. I ducked out of the studio. My head was full of dangerous, negative self talk. Horrible, unspeakable things that I was telling myself, like, you stink. Things like that.

[Adam Friedland]

Then it all went black.

[Narrator]

Where was I?

[Adam Friedland]

What.

[Narrator]

What had happened? You know, before technology like the cell phone or the mailman were invented, carrier pigeons used to be used by humanity to communicate for thousands of years. These pigeons don't know that they're carrying a correspondence for a general or a star crossed lover. All they know is that they need to go home. They're unaware of the magnets in their heads guiding their path or the sun serving like a compass. The pigeons only know one thing. No matter how far they started, they could always find their way home. I'm Adam Friedland, and I'll be back next week.

[Adam Friedland]

I promise.

[Narrator]

Stronger than ever.

[2 Chainz]

Don't change, Don't change. Don't change. Don't change. Don't change. Don't change, don't change, Don't change, don't change.