Chelsea Lauren/Getty ImagesWill people soon be addressing 2 Chainz as "Mr. Mayor?"
The 37-year-old rapper, whose real name is Tauheed Epps, told hip-hop magazine XXL and the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper this week that he is considering running for mayor of his childhood hometown—College Park, Georgia. He made his comments two weeks after an on-air political debate about pot legalization with outspoken HLN host and legal commentator Nancy Grace went viral online.
"I'm a musician, not a politician," the rapper told XXL. "I'm supposed to be running for mayor in College Park. I got everybody wishing. I'm really gonna do this little mayor thing in College Park. I'm just trying to make sure I have the right qualifications."
"I am looking forward to running at the end of this year or next year," he told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "[I'm] waiting to see if I meet all of the qualifications!"
Jack Longino has served as College Park's mayor since 1996. The 2015 mayoral elections are set to take place on Nov. 3 and potential candidates have until Sept. 4 to register to run for office. According to the College Park website, they must meet the following criteria: They must be U.S. citizens who have also been residents of College Park for at least one year and are also registered local voters.
2 Chainz is not registered to vote in the same county. Public records show he registered to vote in 2012 in another nearby town where he had owned a home.
Potential political candidates must also have never been convicted of "fraudulent violation of election laws, malfeasance in office or a felony involving moral turpitude," or, if so, they must "provide verification that their rights have been restored." 2 Chainz has never been convicted of such crimes. In 2013, he was arrested at LAX on suspicion of drug possession. During his sentencing, his felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, which was to be removed upon completion of an 18-month drug aversion program, Rolling Stone had reported.
"We'll see where the future lies for me, but you know, everything I do gotta be organic," he added in his interview with XXL.
2 Chainz received praise from fans and other viewers over his debate with Grace, in which he expressed his support for legalizing cannabis. An E! Online poll showed more than 85 percent of readers felt he won.
Pot is already permitted for both medicinal and recreational use in several states, not including Georgia. Under federal law, pot is considered an illegal narcotic. Grace argued that people would find it easier to obtain cannabis if it is legalized and then their children could also get their hands on it.
2 Chainz also talked about politics in general with The Huffington Post in 2013, saying he voted for current U.S. President Barack Obama in the 2012 election. He also joked to the outlet before the ballot that he thinks he could himself beat Republican candidate Mitt Romney.
"He's just rich as s--t, that's all," he said. "I'm running this campaign for the right to vote for felons. That's my angle in it. I've been a felon since I was 15, so when I found out that I could be reinstated and all of that and get my votership back, I've been a voice for that. Not only in Atlanta but in other cities...so that people can find out what they need to do to basically become a citizen again."