Grammy Award-nominated rapper Tauheed Epps, better known as 2 Chainz, is best known for his chart-topping hit songs, such as “Birthday Song” and “No Lie.”
But he doesn't just cook up beats. He has added the title “chef” to his repertoire with his new cookbook #MealTime. In a interview with Dr. Travis from the TV show, The Doctors, 2 Chainz shares why he has to have a special diet.
“[The cookbook] shows people some of my favorite tour bus recipes; you know, what it takes for me to become, I think, the best person that I can be at all times. It’s about what you put in your body,” 2 Chainz says.
Four years ago, 2 Chainz says he started suffering from stomach problems. After being diagnosed with ulcers and acid reflux disease, he decided to change the way he eats in order to combat his health problems.
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"I usually don't go to sleep until about 7 a.m., so I tend to wake up about noon. I go through my normal morning activities as far as washing up. I never drink a drop of coffee. I also don't eat beef or pork. I rarely eat fried foods, though I do indulge once in a while."
"The position I'm in, being up all night, doing live shows—it's a lot of cardio. You basically have to be built. You need the mind of an athlete to be part of this game. So it's very important to me to have a chef around.
I suffer from acid reflux along with ulcers. It's a double-whammy, so for me, I'm not about getting too full, or getting too hungry. I need to have healthy snacks around, whether it's nuts or fruit.
I also try to drink plenty of water. I cannot lay down without a bottle of water next to me. When I wake up I'm parched, so I need it right by my bed."
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The rapper continued to reveal a number of foods he isn't able to eat, as well as alcohol, because of his dietary issues. "I wanna indulge in things like lemonade, ice cream, there's ton of things I just can't...orange juice, I can't do that anymore. I can't drink alcohol I'm tryna find a lil wine I can rock with."
He added, "Drinking is a big part of socializing in hip-hop. All these bottles come out.."
Dr. Travis notes that rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are higher in the South than they are in the rest of the country, and asks 2 Chainz, who grew up in Georgia if he feels any sense of responsibility to that population of Americans.
“Well … I’m definitely not trying to be a preacher. I’m a rap artist first, but at the same time, I understand that I do have a platform. I just try to share some of the things, which would be a healthy lifestyle,” 2 Chainz says.
