The title of Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz's fifth studio album, Rap or Go to the League, is a reference to the destructive belief that the only two routes out of a life of crime and poverty are to either become a famous rapper or athlete.
The title alone indicates a new level of consciousness and amplified maturity, at least moving well past the larger-than-life party monster persona that made some of his early songs multi-platinum hits.
While there are still moments of that strip-club bravado here, these 14 songs are more reflective and thoughtful than anything 2 Chainz has turned in before.
Beats built on wistful soul samples make up tracks like the Ariana Grande-assisted "Rule the World" or the autobiographical album opener, "Forgiven," creating a pervasive mood of introspection.
Rap or Go to the League moves between this emotional searching and bangers like "Momma I Hit a Lick" and bass-heavy flex-fests like "2 Dollar Bill." 2 Chainz calls out the big guns on these tracks, with verses from Lil Wayne, E-40, and Kendrick Lamar, and elsewhere on the album he trades rhymes with Travis Scott, Kodak Black, Chance the Rapper, Young Thug, and Ty Dolla $ign.
The strength of the album is its ability to explore more serious themes without losing the fun and swagger that the rapper made his name on.
Now in his early forties, it makes sense that 2 Chainz's art is developing beyond hedonistic abandon to touch on real-life concerns like family, society, and becoming an elder statesman of the rap game.
Without making any kind of heavy-handed declaration, Rap or Go to the League is a step forward in 2 Chainz's artistry, and reveals sides of his personality that were previously harder to see in the shadow of his enormous persona.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ForgivenDwayne Abernathy, Marsha Ambrosius, Shawn Carter, Tauheed Epps, Hugh Perry, Maxie Smith, Kanye West | 2 Chainz | Play | 05:23 | 12 MB | 32 MB |
| 2 | Threat 2 SocietyPatrick Douthit, Tauheed Epps, Douglas Williams, Leonard Williams, Melvin Williams | 2 Chainz | Play | 03:45 | 8 MB | 25 MB |
| 3 | Money in the WayTyron Douglas, Tauheed Epps, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson | 2 Chainz | Play | 02:41 | 6 MB | 17 MB |
| 4 | Statute of LimitationsPhalon Alexander, Tauheed Epps, Samuel Gloade, Sammie Norris, James Phillips, Todd Shaw, Jonathan H. Smith | 2 Chainz | Play | 02:29 | 5 MB | 15 MB |
| 5 | High Top VersaceJacob Canady, Tauheed Epps, Jeffery Williams | 2 Chainz | Play | 02:56 | 6 MB | 17 MB |
| 6 | WhipMike Dean, Tauheed Epps, Ebony Oshunrinde, Jacques Webster | 2 Chainz | Play | 03:46 | 8 MB | 22 MB |
| 7 | NCAATauheed Epps, Carlton Mays Jr. | 2 Chainz | Play | 04:08 | 9 MB | 27 MB |
| 8 | Momma I Hit a LickKendrick Duckworth, Tauheed Epps, Pharrell Williams | 2 Chainz | Play | 02:53 | 6 MB | 17 MB |
| 9 | Rule the WorldRacquelle Rahky Anteola, Lerron Carson, Tauheed Epps, Richard Harrison, Melvin Moore III, Carl McCormick, Christian Ward, Robert Watson | 2 Chainz | Play | 04:05 | 9 MB | 26 MB |
| 10 | Girl's Best FriendDylan Cleary-Krell, Tauheed Epps, Tyrone Griffin, Brock Korsan, Ronald LaTour | 2 Chainz | Play | 03:12 | 7 MB | 19 MB |
| 11 | 2 Dollar BillDwayne Carter, Tauheed Epps, Terrace Martin, Dijon McFarlane, Earl Stevens | 2 Chainz | Play | 04:00 | 9 MB | 25 MB |
| 12 | I Said MeTauheed Epps, Samuel Gloade, Oscar Hammerstein II, Adarius Moragne, Richard Rodgers, Lonnie Liston Smith | 2 Chainz | Play | 05:31 | 12 MB | 31 MB |
| 13 | I'm Not Crazy, Life IsChancelor Bennett, Mike Dean, Tauheed Epps, Bill K. Kapri, Trocon Roberts | 2 Chainz | Play | 05:30 | 12 MB | 31 MB |
| 14 | SamChad Butler, Tauheed Epps, Bernard Freeman, Joseph Johnson | 2 Chainz | Play | 04:11 | 9 MB | 27 MB |
| 54 mins | 126 MB | |||||
| 54 mins | 336 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Chainz | Primary Artist |
| 2 | Dwayne Abernathy | Composer |
| 3 | Phalon Alexander | Composer |
| 4 | Marsha Ambrosius | Composer, Featured Artist |
| 5 | Racquelle Rahky Anteola | Composer |
| 6 | Chancelor Bennett | Composer |
| 7 | Chad Butler | Composer |
| 8 | Jacob Canady | Composer |
| 9 | Lerron Carson | Composer |
| 10 | Dwayne Carter | Composer |
| 11 | Shawn Carter | Composer |
| 12 | Chance the Rapper | Featured Artist |
| 13 | Dylan Cleary-Krell | Composer |
| 14 | Mike Dean | Composer |
| 15 | Tyron Douglas | Composer |
| 16 | Patrick Douthit | Composer |
| 17 | Kendrick Duckworth | Composer |
| 18 | E-40 | Featured Artist |
| 19 | Tauheed Epps | Composer |
| 20 | Bernard Freeman | Composer |
| 21 | Samuel Gloade | Composer |
| 22 | Ariana Grande | Featured Artist |
| 23 | Tyrone Griffin | Composer |
| 24 | Oscar Hammerstein II | Composer |
| 25 | Richard Harrison | Composer |
| 26 | Bruce Hawes | Composer |
| 27 | Joseph B. Jefferson | Composer |
| 28 | Joseph Johnson | Composer |
| 29 | Bill K. Kapri | Composer |
| 30 | Kodak Black | Featured Artist |
| 31 | Brock Korsan | Composer |
| 32 | Kendrick Lamar | Featured Artist |
| 33 | Ronald LaTour | Composer |
| 34 | Lil Wayne | Featured Artist |
| 35 | Terrace Martin | Composer |
| 36 | Carlton Mays Jr. | Composer |
| 37 | Carl McCormick | Composer |
| 38 | Dijon McFarlane | Composer |
| 39 | Melvin Moore III | Composer |
| 40 | Adarius Moragne | Composer |
| 41 | Sammie Norris | Composer |
| 42 | Ebony Oshunrinde | Composer |
| 43 | Hugh Perry | Composer |
| 44 | James Phillips | Composer |
| 45 | Trocon Roberts | Composer |
| 46 | Richard Rodgers | Composer |
| 47 | Glenn Schick | Mastering |
| 48 | Travis Scott | Featured Artist |
| 49 | Todd Shaw | Composer |
| 50 | Jonathan H. Smith | Composer |
| 51 | Lonnie Liston Smith | Composer |
| 52 | Maxie Smith | Composer |
| 53 | Earl Stevens | Composer |
| 54 | Ty Dolla $ign | Featured Artist |
| 55 | Christian Ward | Composer |
| 56 | Robert Watson | Composer |
| 57 | Jacques Webster | Composer |
| 58 | Kanye West | Composer |
| 59 | Douglas Williams | Composer |
| 60 | Jeffery Williams | Composer |
| 61 | Leonard Williams | Composer |
| 62 | Melvin Williams | Composer |
| 63 | Pharrell Williams | Composer |
| 64 | Young Thug | Featured Artist |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |