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2 Chainz Explains Keeping Jay Z Off His Album

Kanye West's influence kills Hov collaboration.

Jay Z won't be on 2 Chainz' new album, and Kanye West is partially responsible. Like the title B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time suggests, the formerly minted Tity 2 Necklace would rather hold off on a collaboration and focus on himself.

"I went to the Justin [Timberlake] and Jay show in London, so I hollered at Jay," he told MTV News. "And when me and 'Ye talked I said, 'You think I should put Jay on this song? And he was like, 'Me Time. It's your time, maybe next time."

Following the orders of his G.O.O.D. Music boss, the idea was scrapped but not because there's any beef with Jay. "For people that I'm huge fans of like Jay Z and Andre 3000. I feel like [there are] certain times in my career to do these songs," he explained. "You don't want them to be too early you want them to be movies, you want them to be events. So for Me Time, I have a few features but I'm really showing my a-- on this."

Over the past two years the Atlanta native went from bubbling under on the mixtape scene to full-fledged rap stardom. 2012's Based on a T.R.U. Story debut topped Billboard, and earned a Grammy nod. For the second release, 2 Chainz wants to be in a "bubble" so as to not "subconsciously take anybody's flow" and basically move at his own pace. "When I became this popular I looked back on what I used to like so much about hip hop, and what I liked was features that you couldn't believe was really happening. Today a lot of the features are kind of cliché and everything is so microwavable. Everybody's gotta be so quick, so I try to cook mine long."

B.O.A.T. S II: Me Time drops September 10. 

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(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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