A throng of fans gathered by the Atlanta Film Festival’s red carpet entrance at the Plaza Theatre on Saturday afternoon to greet Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz, actor Omar Epps and Atlanta director Christian Nolan Jones, who were screening a 22-minute short film based on 2 Chainz’s life growing up in College Park.
2 Chainz showed up in a white suit that matched his mini-me son, Halo, who was by his side wearing a matching version. 2 Chainz’ mother and other family members were in tow to support the artist’s courageous effort to show Atlanta a more personal side — one he rarely speaks or raps about.
“I feel like I’m into a real creative space where I want to try to articulate my ideas in different ways and put music out in different ways,” 2 Chainz said. “ … It ended up turning into a passion project that became therapeutic. (The film) is just something that probably needs to be out so I can go on with my life.”
The short film, “Red Clay,” which was co-produced and co-written by 2 Chainz and Epps, follows fictional characters Nook (played by Christopher A’mmanuel) and Bub (played by Jaylan Ragin) growing up in a gritty side of Atlanta in the early 2000s.
Both boys’ mothers are addicted to smoking crack cocaine. Nook’s father, who is behind bars, dials him in timed increments to remind him to man up, “make bread” and take care of his “old lady.” Bub’s father is a “snaggletoothed” man spotted on the street who is more of a customer for the dope they slang than any meaningful figure…