2 Chainz had a fun nod to his NBA pal LeBron James when announcing his latest career move.
The Atlanta rap veteran dropped a bombshell on his Instagram on Monday (October 14), revealing that he will officially be leaving Def Jam and going on his own. 2 Chainz was photographed in Abu Dhabi while taking some photos on an NBA court where he’s already played a few preseason games, and he revealed that he’s ready to break into the music industry as a free agent.
“How about a trap check?” 2 Chainz said in part. “Check. One, two. Now up to you Mistress. As of last week, I am now an independent artist. That’s right. I will not be renewing my contract with Def Jam.”
2 Chainz then compared his status as an independent artist to high-stakes free agency deals in the NBA, comparing his situation to that of NBA superstars like James and Kevin Durant.
“So think of it like Durant or LeBron, the biggest free agents in the game,” he said.
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Big Tony seems eager to get the most lucrative offer, confidently teasing that he’s open to hearing from record labels who might be interested in signing him to what amounts to a “supermax” deal in the rap game.
“It’s better to talk to these people about the oil revenue here,” he said. “You’d better take your bag and go, Jack.”
In the grand scheme of things, this is a major development for 2 Chainz’s career, and considering his stellar track record to date, it’s certainly a moment for the industry. 2 Chainz has been signed to Def Jam for over a decade, launching his solo career with the label in 2012. ” begins and ends with “Dope Don” 2022 will not sell itself.
It makes sense 2 Chainz referenced the NBA world when announcing he was now an independent artist. First, he has maintained a close friendship with James over the years, even inviting the NBA legend to serve as executive producer on his 2019 album Rap or Go to the League. On top of that, Durant and James both signed lucrative supermax contracts when they last hit free agency, but the terms and financial impact of their deals differed due to timing and team strategy. .
LeBron’s most recent supermax contract was in 2018, when he signed a four-year deal worth $153.3 million with the Los Angeles Lakers. On the other hand, Kevin Durant’s most recent supermax signing occurred in 2019, when he joined the Brooklyn Nets on a four-year, $164.3 million deal as a first-round signing with the Golden State Warriors part of the exchange agreement.
