2 Chainz

Rapper 2 Chainz took a chance on going solo from his duo Playaz Circle and “rebranding” with a new name. That decision has paid off handsomely.

Within two years, his trajectory has skyrocketed, with his debut album Based On A T.R.U. Story up for a best rap album Grammy and his work on Kanye West’s single “Mercy” giving him two more. He’s in demand on the road, and now the Georgia native is taking on Hollywood.

Photo: LaVan Anderson for the 9:30 Club

Pollstar caught up with his agent, William Morris Endeavor’s Cindy Agi, the day after 2 Chainz shot a guest part for the second-year CBS comedy “2 Broke Girls.”

“It just shows he’s such a versatile guy,” Agi told Pollstar. “He’s changed his name, completely rebranded himself, and now he’s nominated for three Grammy Awards. He’s killing it right now.”

Based on a T.R.U. Story debuted at No. 1 on Nielsen SoundScan’s Top 200 album chart in August, and has certainly done much to raise his stock as a touring entity.

He’d been in front of thousands of fans already, as part of  Drake’s amphitheatre tour package just before the album was released, and 2 Chainz opened a few shows for Nicki Minaj. But his fall outing as a headliner saw him selling out 1,000- to 1,500-seat venues.

Photo: LaVan Anderson for the 9:30 Club

Currently touring in Europe, 2 Chainz will return to the States in April before heading to Europe again for the summer festival season and other international dates. He is already working on a follow-up to T.R.U. to be released in 2013, and plans to hit the road again in the U.S. in the fall.

Between now and then, his team is assessing a touring strategy that isn’t a matter of if, or when, but how.

“He had an extremely busy 2012 touring year. He toured separately with Drake and Nicki Minaj as well as a couple of headline tours. We are currently working on an even bigger 2013,” Agi said.