Tauheed. Tity Boi. 2 Chainz. The evolution and progression of 2 Chainz has been one of the most perplexing and fascinating stories in hip-hop for the last few years. How exactly did the guy from the Playaz Circle albums become one of the most dominant and just plain fun rappers out there? It's a tough question, but the answer becomes clear when you look at the mixtapes he dropped in the period between 2007 and 2011. 2 Chainz wasn't handed his crown; he earned it through years of hard work.

Over the course of seven tapes—all leading up to the release of his major label debut Based On A T.R.U. Story—Chainz crafted a persona that was equal parts blustering absurdity and detached cool. Unlike many of his contemporaries, 2 Chainz actually makes rapping sound fun. The joy of his mixtapes is that you can hear him getting better with each one, finding new ways to craft lines and developing an ear for the type of luxurious beats that compliment his elastic flow. The artist you hear on 2007's Me Against The World is very different from the one you hear on 2011's far more polished and savvy T.R.U. REALigion.

With this week's release of B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time, XXL is looking back at 2 Chainz's rise to the top by selecting some of his best mixtape tracks. Get ready for some punchlines. - Written by Dan Jackson And Eric Diep

Previously: Top 20 Big Sean Mixtape Songs
Previously: 20 Essential French Montana Mixtape Songs

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"Got One"
Mixtape: T.R.U. REALigion (2011)
2 Chainz kicks off his mixtape with some heavy artillery. Producer Mike Will laces up some booming production for Chainz to rhyme about winning, snagging women and trapping from his cellphone. A-Town, you got one.

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"Understatement"
Mixtape: T.R.U. REALigion (2011)
Lex Luger brings a loud instrumental for Chainz to boast about his riches. A typical topic in hip-hop is taken to the next level of greatness thanks to Chainz’s enchanting flow.

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"Spend It" Featuring T.I.
Mixtape: T.R.U. REALigion (2011)
“Spend It” is Chainz breakthrough song that helped him gain prominence. Featuring a sinister hook (“I’m riding around and I’m getting it/It’s mine, I spend it”), Chainz and Tip go in with some infectious verses. It knocks hard.

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"Money Makin Mission"
Mixtape: T.R.U. REALigion (2011)
How else would you convince yourself to keep money on your mind? By chanting you are on a “money makin’ mission” over and over again. Once again, Chainz taps Lex Luger and the results are pretty potent.

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"K.O." Featuring Big Sean
Mixtape: T.R.U. REALigion (2011)
Slowing things down, Chainz and Big Sean serenade their ladies, telling them to go hard (“Smoke until you niggas can’t smoke no more/Blow until you bitches can’t blow no more”) or go home. Of course, they are smooth with it.


"Too Easy" Featuring Cap1
Mixtape: Codeine Cowboy (2011)
Chainz flaunts his style with longtime collaborator Cap 1. Back in the day, Chainz’s gift for boasting on a wax clearly stood out from his competition. And on “Too Easy,” the evidence is all there. Light work.


"Feeling You"
Mixtape: Codeine Cowboy (2011)
Tell ‘em! Chainz intricately breaks down how he can’t get a certain shorty out of his mind. From thinking about her fragrance in the A.M. to late night conversations, Chainz sets the mood here. Sit back and listen to what the Hair Weave Killa has to offer.


"Pimps" Featuring Bun B And Big K.R.I.T.
Mixtape: Codeine Cowboy (2011)
2 Chainz often sounds most at home when he's yelling over thundering, epic productions meant to rattle trunks and shake windows, but on "Pimps" he shows off his reflective side, sliding into this smoky, atmospheric beat that uses a smooth jazz sax solo, some light keys and a warm guitar to take you back to simpler times. It's the type of bluesy track Bun B and K.R.I.T. are accustomed to hopping on, but it's fun to hear Chainz take a shot at it too.


"Kitchen" Featuring Pusha T and Young Jeezy
Mixtape: Codeine Cowboy (2011)
Taking the hook of Waka Flocka Flame's undeniable tough-guy anthem "Hard In The Paint," Chainz talks about his prowess in the kitchen here—and he's not exactly referring to his cookbook. With Pusha T and Young Jeezy dropping verses as well, this is a propulsive and hard-hitting track, but Chainz still finds a way to pack little moments of levity in there. "Every time I leave the booth they put yellow tape up," he raps, and it's easy to picture.

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"Fuck The Roof"
Mixtape: Trap-A-Veli 2 (2010)
In which we learn 2 Chainz is not a fan of the roof, which makes sense given his height. Working with a typically pulverizing and hyperactive beat from then dominant producer Lex Luger, this track moves with all the subtly of one of the T. Rex's from Jurassic Park, lumbering and stomping along till its triumphant ending. There's a gleeful joy to the chorus of this track, which literally just finds Chainz shouting "Fuck the roof!" over and over.

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"Up In Smoke"
Mixtape: Trap-A-Veli 2 (2010)
As "Feds Watching" displays, there's an effortlessly cool nonchalance to many of the best 2 Chainz songs. He's often at his best when he's not too worked up. "Up In Smoke" is a mood piece and Chainz slides in perfectly, drawing out words like "Chevelle,""Corvette," and "alcohol" to absurd lengths, inserting syllables you didn't know were there as he entices you into his smoke-filled universe.

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"Issues" Featuring Young Buck
Mixtape: Trap-A-Veli 2 (2010)
If you're looking for trenchant social commentary on a 2 Chainz mixtape, you'll probably be disappointed. But there are still times when Tity Boi looks beyond the tinted frames of his party-filled lifestyle and takes in the bigger picture. This is one of those moments, a poignant and haunting track about the perils of living too fast.

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"Goin' Thru It"
Mixtape: Trap-A-Veli 2 (2010)
Along with Lex Luger and Drumma Boy, Mike Will is one of the major sonic architects of 2 Chainz's ascent to Southern rap dominance. This twitchy, laser-filled track shows off Will's ability to conjure a creepy but alluring ambiance without working too hard. Chainz provides some sing-song-ey, almost nursery-rhyme-like raps for the track.


"Streets Bought Me"
Mixtape: Me Against The World 2: Codeine Withdrawal (2010)
2 Chainz is a master of listing things and on this stand-out from his Me Against The World sequel he provides a detailed inventory of all the things the streets bought him. Turns out, the streets have bought 2 Chainz a lot, so you can see why he's so thankful.

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"Turnt Up Freestyle"
Mixtape: Me Against the World 2: Codeine Withdrawal (2010)
Sometimes you just wanna hear 2 Chainz go in and this is one those times. He sounds unhinged here, his elastic flow stretching and snapping throughout.

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"Im Raw"
Mixtape: Trap-A-Veli (2009)
The original Trap-A-Veli mixtape is a showcase for Chainz's fierce and committed delivery, and "Im Raw" is like a thesis statement. Despite the somewhat thin sound on the beat here, 2 Chainz comes in loud and clear.

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"Get It"
Mixtape: Trap-A-Veli (2009)
"I know you heard about me/I'm the tall one," raps Tity Boi towards the beginning of "Get It." Working with a horn-filled beat from super-producer Zayvoten, Boi sounds playful here, even trying out a little whisper-rap at one point, and letting the OutKast-like chorus carry the song.


"24/7"
Mixtape: All Ice On Me (2009)
Hard-work is an essential part of the 2 Chainz ethos. You don't rise to the top unless you're willing to put in the time, and this song is a celebration of that mindset.

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"U Feel Me" Featuring Gucci Mane
Mixtape: Me Against The World (2007)
The 2 Chainz we know today didn't emerge fully formed from the beginning. The Tity Boi you hear on Me Against The World isn't quite the punchline-packing warrior that would come to dominate star-filled tracks like "Mercy." That doesn't mean the tape doesn't have solid songs, like this fun Gucci Mane collaboration.

Rhymes And Ammo: What Would 2 Chainz Say?
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"Just Got A Check"
Mixtape: Me Against The World (2007)
"Versace belt on my waist/Holding three phones," raps Tity Boi here. Why all the phones? He just got a check and he wants everyone to know on this beast of a track.

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