Long before the Cash Money camp became known as Cash Money Millionaires, the label got its start hustling albums by a young teen known as B.G., who eventually scored a national anthem with his track "Bling Bling."

Originally known as the Baby Gangsta...B.G. grew up in the dangerous uptown section of New Orleans, among some of the most poverty-ridden areas of America. There he struggled to stay out of trouble and stay in school, yet thrived as a talented young rapper. Two ambitious entrepreneurs, Ronald "Slim" Williams and his brother Bryan "Baby" Williams, heard about the infamous Baby Gangsta and soon signed him to their infantile Cash Money label. After many hits and trials and tribulations...including a departure from Cash Money...the ex-Cash Money member talks about his heroin addiction, shady record deals and the making of his ninth album.

How were you feeling when you recorded The Heart Of Tha Streetz?
Same feeling when I go to do any other album. At first, I didn’t really want to do the album because I ain’t feel as though my situation with Koch was how I wanted it to be. So when I started off, I didn’t really want to do it. But when I got into the studio and got into it, you know…

Who were the producers that you worked with?
A lot of the same producers as on the Life After Ca$h Money album. I worked with Smurf. He did the first single, “Where Da At.” KLC, Daniel who produced the “Slow motion” record, Hush. I worked with a lot of different people. I wanted a lot of different flavor on it.

What are some of the things you talk about?
Basically, I can’t talk about my whole life in one album. You know me, I still be in the streets. I still see what’s going on, the struggle. I still be harassed by the cops. I still got situations I’m dealing with so when I rap, I basically rap for the streets. As long as I make the streets happy, I’m happy. People who listen to my music, I rap what they could feel and what they expect they can hear from me. That’s the foundation I laid since day one. Being street and being gangsta and telling it how it is. That’s what the album is about.

You still live in the hood?
Nah. I was fortunate enough to move out the hood when I started getting money. I still go in the hood. I may stay with the doctors and the lawyers and where the judges live, but I can’t hang out there all day every day. I sleep home, but once I wake up, I go out and just hang. Continued on page 2 »