ColleGrove

ColleGrove was initially a duet album between Southern hip hop recording artists 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne, however, because of Wayne's label issues, which had prevented him from releasing collaborative efforts in the past, such as I Can't Feel My Face with Juelz Santana, Best of Young Worlds with Lloyd, He Rap, He Sing with T-Pain and more, this album does not credit Wayne as a primary artist.{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.3140/title.no-ceilings-5-lil-wayne-collaborative-albums-well-never-see|title=No Ceilings: 5 Lil Wayne Collaborative Albums We'll Never See|author=HipHopDX|date=9 December 2015|work=HipHopDX}} Although it could not be released in conjunction with their respective record labels, 2 Chainz took it upon himself to release the album as his latest solo project through Def Jam Recordings. Instead, Wayne appeared as a "featured artist", courtesy of Cash Money Records, which meant that the project would not count towards Wayne's contractual obligation with Cash Money Records.{{Cite web|url=http://ddotomen.com/2016/03/04/2-chainz-lil-wayne-collegrove-album-stream-download/|title=2 Chainz & Lil Wayne "Collegrove" Album Stream / Download|website=DDotOmen|access-date=2016-03-05}} 2 Chainz would later refer to this album in several interviews as a "tribute" to Lil Wayne.

The album's title is a portmanteau of 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne's respective hometowns. 2 Chainz is from College Park, Georgia, while Wayne hails from Hollygrove, a neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana.{{Cite web|url = http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.37463/title.2-chainz-lil-wayne-to-preview-collegrove-on-the-tonight-show-starring-jimmy-fallon|title = 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne To Preview "ColleGrove" On "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon"|date = 2016-02-16|access-date = 2016-02-23|website = HipHopDX|last = Hernandez|first = Victoria}} On December 28, 2015, in an interview with Forbes, 2 Chainz spoke on album, saying "As far as the ColleGrove project, I really feel like the music is tight and accessible. Wayne has always been one of my favorite rappers. We’re just doing some mixing and trying to grind up. Just know that ColleGrove is coming very soon, and it’s going to be filled with entertainment bars, great sounds, great vibes."{{Cite web|url = http://www.sohh.com/2-chainz-promises-lil-wayne-colligrove-albums-coming-very-soon/|title = 2 CHAINZ PROMISES LIL WAYNE "COLLIGROVE" ALBUM'l'S "COMING VERY SOON"|date = 2015-12-28|access-date = 2016-02-23|website = SOHH|last = Langhorne|first = Cyrus}}

In 2013, it was first rumored that both Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz released their single, titled "Twerk Season".{{Cite web|url = http://www.lilwaynehq.com/2015/11/2-chainz-says-he-got-the-double-cup-trend-from-lil-wayne-announces-colligrove-collaboration-project-with-wayne/|title = 2 Chainz Says He Got The "Double Cup" Trend From Lil Wayne, Announces "Collegrove" Joint Project With Wayne|date = 2015-11-12|access-date = 2016-02-23|website = LilWayneHQ.com|last = Mousdell|first = Daniel}} In November 2015, 2 Chainz revealed that he was working on a collaborative album with New Orleans-bred rapper Lil Wayne, on the Rap Radar podcast. "I've got ColleGrove, that I'm working on", he said at the time. "That's the me and Wayne project. That will be out, probably sooner than people think."{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/6875442/lil-wayne-2-chainz-collegrove-rolls-royce-weather-everyday-tonight-show|title=Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz Debut 'Collegrove' Cut 'Rolls Royce Weather Everyday' on Tonight Show|access-date=2016-02-21|date=2016-02-16|author=Platon, Adelle|website=Billboard.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/2-chainz-announces-next-solo-album-and-joint-project-with-lil-wayne-news.18632.html?image=1&gallery=0|title=2 Chainz Announces Next Solo Album & Joint Project With Lil Wayne|access-date=2016-02-22|date=2015-11-12|author=Goddard, Kevin|website=HotNewHipHop}} In December 2015, 2 Chainz and the Street Execs were hosting their sixth annual Street Execs Charity Concert, to give back to the community, where 2 Chainz previewed one of the songs from the album. On February 21, 2016, there was some indication about Mannie Fresh played a role for this album. On his Instagram account, he posted a mock cover and some pictures with himself and Lil Wayne over the few weeks preceding the album's release.{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mannie-fresh-has-been-dropping-hints-about-lil-wayne-and-2-chainz-collegrove-project-news.20279.html|title=Mannie Fresh Has Been Dropping Hints About Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz' "ColleGrove" Project|date=2016-02-21|access-date=2016-02-22|author=Smith, Trevor|website=HotNewHipHop}} On February 15, 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne performed the first song, "Rolls Royce Weather Everyday" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The preview for the music video, which was shot in Los Angeles, California, was released via YouTube.{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-wayne-and-2-chainz-to-perform-first-single-off-collegrove-next-week-on-jimmy-fallon-news.20131.html|title=Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz To Perform First Single Off "Collegrove" Next Week On Jimmy Fallon|access-date=2016-02-21|date=2016-02-11|author=Goddard, Kevin|website=HotNewHipHop}} On February 20, according to Complex, Mack Maine said that the CDQ version on the song was going to be released soon.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2016/02/lil-wayne-2-chainz-collegrove-artwork|title=Is This the Artwork to Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz' 'ColleGrove' Project?|date=2016-02-20|website=Complex.com|access-date=2016-02-20|author=Diep, Eric}}

On March 2, 2016, Kanye West revealed the album's artwork and the release date, via Twitter.{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-tweets-album-art-release-date-2chainz-lil-wayne-collegrove/?image=1&gallery=0|title=Kanye Tweets Album Art & Release Date For 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne's "ColleGrove"|date=2016-03-02|access-date=2016-03-02|website=HotNewHipHop|author=Low, Carver}} On March 3, the song, titled "Gotta Lotta" was premiered by Zane Lowe on Beats 1.{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-wayne-and-2-chainz-gotta-lotta-new-song.1968793.html|title=Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz - Gotta Lotta [New Song]|date=2016-03-03|access-date=2016-03-03|website=HotNewHipHop|author=Walker, Angus}} On the same day, 2 Chainz tweeted that the album would be released on midnight. Earlier that day, DJ Khaled played some snippets of one of the songs on the album on Snapchat, but only played Wayne's verse.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/03/lil-wayne-2-chainz-collegrove-snippets/|title=DJ Khaled Plays Snippets of Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz's 'ColleGrove'|date=2016-03-03|access-date=2016-03-03|website=XXL|author=Weinstein, Max}} Later that night, 2 Chainz streamed the album on "ColleGrove Radio" on Beats 1 with DJ Drama, DJ E-Sudd, DJ Self and Mannie Fresh.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/2-chainz-and-lil-waynes-collegrove-to-drop-at-midnight-news.20471.html|title=2 Chainz & Lil Wayne's "ColleGrove" To Drop At Midnight|last=Walker|first=Angus|date=2016-03-03|website=HotNewHipHop|access-date=2016-03-03}} He and Lil Wayne revealed a teaser for the music video of "Bounce" that same day{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-wayne-and-2-chainz-rap-battle-in-a-teaser-for-their-bounce-video-new-video.36945.html|title=Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz Rap Battle In A Teaser For Their "Bounce" Video|date=2016-03-04|access-date=2016-03-04|author=Smith, Trevor|website=HotNewHipHop}} and the official video was released the next day.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2016/03/04/video-2-chainz-lil-wayne-bounce/|title=Video: 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne – 'Bounce'|website=Rap-Up|access-date=2016-03-05}} Shooting for two songs, "Gotta Lotta" and "MFN Right" have been shot and produced by Street Execs' new production company #WeHardProductions.{{cite web |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/bts-photos-2-chainz-and-lil-waynes-video-shoots-for-gotta-lotta-and-mfn-right-news.21492.html?|title=Photos from Collegroove album|last=Walker |first=Angus|date=May 6, 2016 |website=Hotnewhiphop |access-date=May 6, 2016}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 66/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/collegrove/2-chainz|title=Reviews for Collegrove by 2 Chainz - Metacritic|work=Metacritic}}

| rev1 = Exclaim!

| rev1score = 6/10{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/2_chainz_and_lil_wayne-collegrove|title=2 Chainz & Lil Wayne Collegrove|website=exclaim.ca}}

| rev2 = HipHopDX

| rev2score = 3.8/5{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2651/title.2-chainz-lil-wayne-collegrove|title=2 Chainz & Lil Wayne - ColleGrove|work=HipHopDX}}

| rev3 = Pretty Much Amazing

| rev3score = C{{cite web|url=https://prettymuchamazing.com/reviews/2-chainz-lil-wayne-collegrove|title=Review: 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne's ColleGrove}}

| rev4 = Pitchfork

| rev4score = 6.8/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21706-collegrove/|title=Lil Wayne / 2 Chainz: Collegrove Album Review - Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com}}

| rev5 = Rolling Stone

| rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/2-chainz-lil-wayne-collegrove-20160304|title=2 Chainz & Lil Wayne 'Collegrove' Album Review|first=Christopher R.|last=Weingarten|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=4 March 2016}}

| rev6 = Spin

| rev6score = 7/10{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/03/review-2-chainz-lil-wayne-collegrove/|title=Review: 2 Chainz, 'ColleGrove'|date=11 March 2016}}

| rev7 = XXL

| rev7score = 3/5 (L){{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2016/03/2-chainz-lil-wayne-collegrove-album-review/|title=2 Chainz and Lil Wayne Both Dazzle and Disappoint on 'ColleGrove' - XXL|website=XXL Mag}}

}}

ColleGrove has received generally positive reviews from music critics. The New York Times spoke on Wayne's involvement on the project "His best verses here are his most spirited rapping in at least two years. Consider the context, though. "Collegrove" isn't even a full collaborative album, but a 2 Chainz album on which he plays sidekick. (There it is in the credits: "Lil Wayne appears courtesy of Cash Money Records Inc.") 2 Chainz is an ornery rapper, occasionally stumbling into vivid word clouds. Every time he heads in an unexpected direction here, Lil Wayne seems eager to step up to the challenge. Even his throwaway lines — "Asinine/ I get blow like dandelions" — have the eyebrow-arching zing of his prime. Maybe some time away from the spotlight has calmed him. Maybe the seeming détente in his relationship with Baby has freed him. Or maybe appearing on someone else's album, rather than his own, has allowed him to be loose once more."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/07/arts/music/kendrick-lamar-and-lil-wayne-each-sidestep-the-traditional-album-cycle.html|title=Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne Each Sidestep the Traditional Album Cycle|date=7 March 2016|work=The New York Times}}

Patrick Lyons of HotNewHipHop described it as 'A trap buddy comedy' and Trevor Smith said, "Throughout his many memorable features, 2 Chainz has generally been recruited as the wild card, but on "Collegrove," he's the straight man, keeping the project together with his reliable ear for beats and earworm-driven songwriting. Meanwhile, Wayne plays the Ghostface to Chainz' Raekwon, bringing an unpredictable and unmatched energy to each of his appearances, but with just enough restraint to keep him on the same page as his collaborator. Not every punch lands directly, but when the two rappers find the sweet spot of their compatibility (the punchline one-upmanship of "Bounce" or the perfect ad-lib dynamic of "Blue C-Note") it brings out the best of both artists. Both Wayne and Chainz have been known to giggle at their own wordplay, and anytime the pure unfiltered joy they find in rapping is audible on the album, everyone wins." awarding the album 79/100.

Stereogum awarded the album Album of the Week.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1864053/album-of-the-week-2-chainz-lil-wayne-collegrove/franchises/album-of-the-week/|title=Album Of The Week: 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne ColleGrove|work=Stereogum}}

ColleGrove debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200, earning 53,000 album-equivalent units (including 34,000 copies as pure album sales) in its first week.{{cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7256257/kendrick-lamar-untitled-album-no-1-billboard-200 | title=Kendrick Lamar's Surprise 'Untitled' Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart | work=Billboard | access-date=March 13, 2016 |date=March 13, 2016 |first1=Keith|last1=Caulfield}} This became 2 Chainz's third US top-ten debut.

{{track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Dedication

| writer1 = {{hlist|Tauheed Epps|Joshua Luellen|Michael Dean}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Southside|Dean{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length1 = 4:59

| title2 = Smell Like Money

| note2 = featuring Lil Wayne

| writer2 = {{hlist|Epps|Dwayne Carter, Jr.|Carlton Mays, Jr.}}

| extra2 = Honorable C.N.O.T.E.

| length2 = 4:50

| title3 = Bounce

| note3 = featuring Lil Wayne

| writer3 = {{hlist|Epps|Carter, Jr.|Marco Rodriguez-Diaz|Terry Bourgeois}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Infamous|T@}}

| length3 = 4:16

| title4 = Gotta Lotta

| writer4 = {{hlist|Epps|Carter, Jr.|Byron Thomas|John Larkin|Antonio Catania}}

| note4 = featuring Lil Wayne

| extra4 = Mannie Fresh

| length4 = 3:36

| title5 = MFN Right

| writer5 = {{hlist|Epps|Michael Williams|Xavier Dotson}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Mike Will Made It|Zaytoven}}

| length5 = 3:25

| title6 = Blue C-Note

| writer6 = {{hlist|Epps|Carter, Jr.|Nosakhere Andrews}}

| note6 = featuring Lil Wayne

| extra6 = Mr. 2-17

| length6 = 2:51

| title7 = Not Invited

| writer7 = {{hlist|Epps|Bryan Simmons|Richaud Daughtry|Robert Walker}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|TM88|Reignman Rich}}

| length7 = 3:17

| title8 = Bentley Truck

| note8 = featuring Lil Wayne

| writer8 = {{hlist|Epps|Carter, Jr.|Leland Wayne|Adam Feeney}}

| extra8 ={{hlist|Metro Boomin|Frank Dukes}}

| length8 = 4:39

| title9 = 100 Joints

| writer9 = {{hlist|Epps|Bobby Turner}}

| extra9 = Bobby Kritical

| length9 = 3:39

| title10 = Rolls Royce Weather Everyday

| note10 = featuring Lil Wayne

| writer10 = {{hlist|Epps|Carter, Jr.|Darwin Quinn|Ashanti Floyd|Earl Conyers|Gabriel Arillo}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Lil' C|The Mad Violinist{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length10 = 3:07

| title11 = What Happened

| note11 = featuring Lil Wayne

| writer11 = {{hlist|Epps|Carter, Jr.|Benjamin Diehl|Khaled Khaled|Angus McDonald}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Ben Billions}}

| length11 = 4:58

| title12 = Section

| note12 = featuring Lil Wayne

| writer12 = {{hlist|Epps|Carter, Jr.|London Holmes}}

| extra12 = London on da Track

| length12 = 3:55

| total_length = 47:32

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = iTunes deluxe edition bonus track

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title13 = Watch Out

| writer13 = {{hlist|Epps|Trocon Roberts}}

| extra13 = FKi

| length13 = 3:27

| total_length = 50:59

}}

Notes

• ^{{{note|a|[a]}}} signifies an additional producer
• "MFN Right" and "Not Invited" were initially included on 2 Chainz' mixtape Felt Like Cappin{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/albums/2-chainz/Felt-like-cappin|title=Felt Like Cappin by 2 Chainz|website=Genius|access-date=2016-03-06}}
• "Watch Out" was initially included on 2 Chainz' mixtape Trapavelli Tre{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/albums/2-chainz/Trapavelli-tre|title=Trapavelli Tre by 2 Chainz|website=Genius|access-date=2016-03-06}}

Sample credits{{cite web|url=http://www.2chainz.com/collegrove-credits/|title=Collegrove credits - 2 Chainz}}

• "Gotta Lotta" contains interpolations from "Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)", written by John Larkin and Antonio Catania.
• "Rolls Royce Weather Everyday" contains interpolations from the "Big Dawg", written by Earl Conyers, Tauheed Epps, Gabriel Arillo and Dwayne Carter, Jr.
• "What Happened" contains a sample of "I Love It (Acoustic Version)" performed by Sneaky Sound System.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{reflist}}

{{2 Chainz}}

{{Lil Wayne}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2016 albums

Category:2 Chainz albums

Category:Def Jam Recordings albums

Category:Albums produced by Bobby Kritical

Category:Albums produced by FKi (production team)

Category:Albums produced by Frank Dukes

Category:Albums produced by Honorable C.N.O.T.E.

Category:Albums produced by Lil' C (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by London on da Track

Category:Albums produced by Mannie Fresh

Category:Albums produced by Metro Boomin

Category:Albums produced by Mike Dean (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by Mike Will Made It

Category:Albums produced by Southside (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by TM88

Category:Albums produced by Zaytoven