2 Chainz has been aiming for a Jay-Z collaboration for years but recently, he revealed he was once offered a deal from HOV. Earlier today, 2 Chainz debuted his the first episode of his new YouTube series #CrateTalk with special guest Steve Stoute. The rapper explained to the industry vet that Jay-Z once offered to fly him out for a meeting but he declined out of loyalty to someone in Atlanta who helped him get his foot through the door.

2 Chainz’ explained to Stoute that he was working with a DJ out of Atlanta called DJ Teknikz who believed in his star potential early on. After the two got in business together, they began to gain a lot more traction across America. 2 Chainz said he was speaking to Kanye West during the Watch The Throne era. Chainz relationship with Kanye helped put the Rap Or Go To The League rapper on Jay-Z’s radar who called him with an offer to be flown out for a meeting. However, there was a catch.

“So after Kanye called everyday, I got a call from Hov,” he explained to Stoute. “And Hov was like, ‘I want you to come to New York, I heard you making a lot of noise.’ And the only reason that I did not go was because I said, ‘Can I bring my buddy Tek with me?’ He was like, ‘Why you wanna bring your DJ for?’ But I’m trying to tell them that bruh helped me get to the point where I’m on your radar, you know what I’m saying? I couldn’t go by myself. I just chose loyalty.”