2 Chainz

2 Chainz

Author: Alternative Press March 18, 2026 Duration: 49:33
On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by 2 Chainz. 2 Chainz first came up in the Atlanta hip-hop scene as part of Playaz Circle in the 2000s, though he landed a solo record deal on the strength of his T.R.U. REALigion mixtape in 2011 — as well as verses on Kanye West’s “Mercy” and Nicki Minaj’s “Beez in the Trap” the following year. From there, the rapper broadened his circle, appearing in the video for Fall Out Boy’s “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up),” guesting on the remix, and bringing the band out during his Coachella performance in 2013. Stopping by the Artist Friendly studio, 2 Chainz joins Madden for a thoughtful conversation about therapy, fatherhood, and writing his first book, The Voice in My Head Is God.  ------- Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠ ------- Follow Artist Friendly! IG: @artist.friendly TikTok: @artist.friendly YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly ------- Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman ------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a familiar rhythm to most conversations with musicians, but Artist Friendly with Joel Madden deliberately breaks that pattern. Hosted by the Good Charlotte frontman and founder, this podcast from Alternative Press operates from a place of shared understanding. Joel isn't just a host; he's been in the exact seats his guests occupy, navigating the complexities of life as an artist, performer, and entrepreneur. That unique perspective allows him to bypass the usual promotional chatter and get to the heart of what a creative life actually entails. Each episode feels like a candid backstage conversation, where today's most compelling breakthrough artists-from chart-topping names to those just on the cusp-feel comfortable revealing the real stories. They discuss the pivotal breaks that seemed to come from nowhere, the crushing failures that ultimately redirected their path, and the specific, often unglamorous, insider moves that truly made a difference in their careers. Listening, you gain an authentic masterclass in creative survival, straight from the people living it. This isn't about surface-level anecdotes; it's about the gritty, practical, and human experiences behind the music and art we love. For anyone curious about the reality of building a life in the arts, this podcast offers a rare and genuinely insightful window.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 183

Artist Friendly with Joel Madden
Podcast Episodes
DE'WAYNE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:09
Episode 1 is a raw and sincere conversation where Joel and De’Wayne unpeel layer after layer of each other’s lives, in the pursuit of learning how the artist, and human, was created — from the things that drive them crea…
Artist Friendly Official Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03
Discover the biggest moments from Artist Friendly with Joel Madden—the music and culture podcast where today’s most influential voices open up like never before. This trailer brings together highlights from unforgettable…