2 Chainz, Plies, and Boosie Badazz

Born on 12 September 1977 in College Park, Georgia, Epps formed a hip-hop duo in high school with his friend Dolla Boy (Earl Conyers) named Playaz Circle. At the time, he adopted the moniker Tity Boi, and together they released an independent album entitled “United We Stand, United We Fall.” They were then introduced to rapper Ludacris (who was still just a DJ), who took an interest in the duo and recorded and played some of their output together.

It was through this connection that Epps was able to hit his big break. Ludacris had become one of the highest selling rappers, and had invited Epps and Conyers to sign to his label, Disturbing the Peace. The debut album “Supply and Demand” was released in 2007, followed by a second album in 2009 called “Flight 360: The Takeoff.”

After leaving Disturbing the Peace, Epps changed his moniker to 2 Chainz to not have to deal with the accusations of how derogatory Tity Boi was. He then releaed a mixtape called “T.R.U REALigion” which peaked at number 58 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. In 2012 he released his first studio album with Def Jam entitled “Based On A T.R.U Story” and sold over 100,000 copies in it’s first week. He also went on his first world headlining tour and was nominated for over 13 BET Hip Hop awards (four of which he won) and three Grammys.

In 2013, 2 Chainz ran into legal trouble, having a few run-ins with illegal drug possession. However, by September he released his second studio album, “B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time,” which featured guest appearances by a number of other artists such as Pharrell Williams, Drake, T-Pain and Lloyd.

Prior to becoming a rapper, Washington had a fair amount of success playing football at Miami University from 1995 to 1997. He played wide receiver for the team before transferring to the University of Central Florida, eventually dropping out to focus on his music.

Washington’s stepbrother Ronnell Lawrence Lavatte, also known as Big Gates, established the independent record label Big Gates Records at the tail end of the 1990s. Initially reluctant to rap, Washington lay down a verse on the track “Tell Dem Krackers Dat” and the two traveled to Miami to promote the single, which led to Plies signing with Slip-n-Slide Records in 2004.

In 2007 came the rapper’s debut album “The Real Testament” which was led by the debut single “Shawty” featuring T-Pain and peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album later spawned the Akon featured single “Hypnotized” and was certified Gold selling over 500,000 copies. Due to the album's success Washington secured guest slots on singles and albums by artists including DJ Khaled and Fat Joe.

A year later in 2008 Washington released his second offering “Definition of Real” led by the single “Bust It Baby Pt. 2” featuring Ne-Yo and “Please Excuse My Hands” featuring Jamie Foxx and The-Dream. The same year brought his third album “Da REAList” and guest spots on Ludacris’s single “Nasty Girl” and Khaled’s “Out Here Grindin’”.

Washington has subsequently release the albums “Goon Affiliated” in 2010 and “Purple Heart” in 2014, as well as the 2014 mixtape “Da Last Real Nigga Left”.