Rapper 2 Chainz was left feeling disheartened after his recent food drive in Atlanta, where he aimed to spread some holiday cheer by distributing turkeys to those in need. The event happened on November 26, 2024, outside of his restaurant and tapas bar Esco as a means to show thankfulness towards the community for Thanksgiving. But what was supposed to be a day of giving ended up being one of disappointment, as none of his friends showed up to support him.
In a candid video he shared on social media, 2 Chainz expressed frustration. “Y’all can’t even pop up to help me help other people,” he lamented, visibly hurt by the absence of his close circle.
He mentioned how a lot of the same people who didn’t show up often ask him for money and favors. “I’m out here grinding, giving my money to help you ’cause you can’t get your hustle together,” he added. His words strongly resonated with many in the audience who have also followed his journey from just a local artist to, now, a global icon.
The food drive was organized through his non-profit, the Tru Foundation, which he founded alongside his wife, Nakesha Ward-Epps in 2011. The duo had taken to social media to create awareness of this event, calling out to persons within the community to come forward and share some love and support this holiday season-but his friends showed up, disappointingly few.
From giving out backpacks to school kids, paying one year’s rent for single mothers and veterans, 2 Chainz has been committed to helping others. But on this occasion, he felt abandoned by those he had helped in the past.
Philanthropic works are well-known within the industry by this rapper. He has been using his platform to continuously uplift those around him and call out ills within the community. His wife had used social media to promote the event, calling for locals to join them in spreading love during the holiday season. However, as he stood there distributing food, he could not get over the feeling of betrayal from those he had previously helped.
This sparked an interest in topics about being loyal and having support with those who are classified as one’s friends, particularly around high-profile social settings that include the music industry. Fans went wild on social media: several people felt bad for 2 Chainz; others said perhaps his friends were doing charitable work elsewhere. Comments ran the gamut from the supportive message “THEY NEVER WAS YOU’RE PARTNA’S” to advice which told him to get rid of all those who failed to come along.
Though disappointed by his homies, 2 Chainz proved he has a penchant for giving back. The rapper continued to remind all how much community support is everything on events like these. “What else were you doing?” he asked rhetorically during an Instagram Live session, highlighting just how easy it would have been for them to lend a hand.
The event was about the larger context within which celebrity engagement in community service takes place. It was all about expectations from comrades and what that means in the context of friendship. When 2 Chainz fans were cheering him on for standing with community and bashing friends for failing to show up for support, it was clear this had nothing to do with the giving out of turkeys as such, but about building community, holding each other accountable.
