2 Chainz Dips At NY Set, "I Got Jim Jones To Shoot & Direct The Video"

Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz recently talked about his independent hustle and how much of an edge he has over his hip-hop competition.

Detailing his daily grind, Chainz revealed his close New York connections, including rap stars like Jadakiss and Jim Jones.

"Well, just like when I was playing ball, I used to play ball every day; now that I rap, I do this every day. This is my job. I'm always in the studio. If I can't get to the studio, then I'm doing interviews. Like, for instance, after some interviews last night, I did a photo shoot with Kay Slay for his magazine. Then I went back to my suite at the W to link with Jadakiss so we can shoot a video for "One Day At A Time." Not only did I invite him over, I got Jim Jones to shoot and direct the video. A lot of people don't know he directed a lot of Dip Set videos, so I just wanted to acknowledge him for that skill. Plus I just like to push the envelope. It's what I do. ... I'm completely independent. All the DVDs and videos you see me doing, the cups, the gifts... it's all funded by my left pocket. I pray a lot and I'm pretty sure my prayers will be answered, but I'm not stressing a deal. My phone rings every 30 minutes with some money at the other end. So, you know." (Village Voice)

In November, Grammy-winning rapper T.I. co-signed 2 Chainz's hustle.

"I like Big Sean, yeah," Tip told DJ Skee in an interview. "I think it's going to be interesting to see and hear what artists like 2 Chainz and Future [make musically] and what they do. It's going to be interesting to see what they do. I like, the records I've heard, I've liked. I liked them. So now I just gotta pay attention and see where they go from here. ... Watch the Throne. I love the Watch the Throne album." (Skee TV)

A month prior, producer Nitti Beatz crowned 2 Chainz SOHH Underrated.

"I think 2 Chainz is a very talented rapper ... he's somebody that's been in the game for a while and by him coming up in the Ludacris camp [Disturbing Tha Peace], he knows how the business is supposed to go. I think [musically] dude is very dangerous right now: Everybody wants that new thing, and to the public, he's got that new [flavor] because everyone knows him as being part of the group, Playaz Circle, but now he's 2 Chainz. I think he's very dangerous and he knows what he's doing. He's finally starting to get his recognition and he's a very smart guy. Very smart guy and passionate about his music. (SOHH Underrated)

Earlier this fall, Chainz explained his motivation to change his rap alias from "Tity Boi."

"No, see I never changed my name this is what happened," Chainz explained in an interview. "I did Supply and Demand, 12 Circle with DTP and Def Jam. I did a song called "Dear Mr. LA Reid" and someone else said Tity/2 Chainz and I had been saying it all the time but I guess the stars lined up and then definitely the way I said, the delivery, 2 Chainz made it lady and kid friendly. In my 8th grade yearbook picture I had on 2 chains. I had always been into like jewelry so 2 Chainz just stuck." (VIBE)