Chingy: Leaving Ludacris Behind
St. Louis rapper, Chingy broke through in 2003 with his debut album, the triple platinum Jackpot. Anchored by smash single "Right Thurr," the acclaimed collection also included two other hits: "Holidae In" (with Snoop Dogg and Ludacris) and "One Call Away."
Chingy builds off his strong foundation with PowerBallin', his second stellar album. Recorded primarily in Chingy's home studio, the high-energy collection features top-tier production from The Trak Starz and David Banner, as well as up-and-coming beatmakers Keith McMasters, Vudu and The Beatstaz.
This is your 2nd album, which album was more challenging to make?
Probably Powerballin, considering I was on the road and doing different things while trying to make that album. On Jackpot I was just in one placeI was in St. Louis and in a little apartment(laughs) I mean it...we really made the whole album in an apartment in the Loo. That was gravy compared to Powerballlin since I was moving so much and on the road after Jackpot blew up.
So after all the workany surprises on this album?
The only surprises that fans can probably expect on this album is the features. We got R. Kelly, Janet Jackson, Nate Dogg, David Banner, Lil Flip, Lil Wayne, the Git It Boyz. I guess you can call that surprises because all of them are handlin theirs.
Since your success, how has it been going back home to the hood?
Its love; its home and where I grew up in. You know, I know everybody in the neighborhood, so I go back there and still get love. Its a little more different, because you know, theyre excited when you come around, and everybody starts floodin the block. But, its all love though. I love going back over there.
Whats it really like to be considered a star?
Cool real cool. Especially when people give you that positive energy and feedback. When they come speak to you, and, see how youre doing and stuff, they give you that positive energy. It makes you happy. It makes you want to keep doing what you do.
I heard that you changed the name of the album from Soul to St. Louis to Powerballin. Why the title change?
Well I didnt make up Soul to St. Louis, and I didnt really want it to be called that anyway. So I thought, coming from Jackpot to work with the lottery and gambling theme and I thought Powerballin would be the next closest thing to make what Im trying to do big. So, Powerballin was a better title. Soul to St. Louis was a cool title, but it wasnt what I was looking for.
What about video shoots? What do you like best about the process?
I like the idea that I can be creative and interject my own ideas li/ke in the Balla Baby video The owl, the owl that was in it, that was my idea. The owl that was in it, I liked it, the white owl. It was a beautiful owl, and when I was doing the Oooh, oooh, it was supposed to have been the owl saying it. So it was cool. The owls my favorite part of that particular video.
Whats the next single from the album?
Next single would be Make That Thing Talk For Me. Its just about, like Say you see a fine woman walking down the block, she has a nice ass, and its pretty jiggly (laughs) and it shakes (laughs) and it looks like its talking to you when shes walking. So make that thing talk for me.
Who are some of your musical influences?
I grew up in a household with my mama and daddy listening to The Temptations so Temptations, The Isley Brothers, Run DMC, LL Cool J, Rakim, Eric B, NWA, Ice Cube, DJ Quick people like that are some of my inspirations.
Why did you choose to work with newer talent?
Because you always give upcoming producers a chance to shine. Theyre trying to get in the same positions, and they make just as good of music, if not better. So, you always just need to get those up and coming producers a little shine because they do a good job at what they do too.
What was it like to work with Janet Jackson, R. Kelly, etc?
I mean its cool, you know. I know Lil Wayne, Lil Waynes a real good friend and partna... I met R. Kelly a couple times, I met Janet a couple times. Its a good thing, because, coming from where I come from I used to see them on TV, doing what they do, and be looking from a consumers point. So now that Im actually doing it and can be able to meet those people and to interact with them, its cool, you know. Theyre just like meCool. (laughs)
Are there any sleeper tracks on the album?
All the tracks on the Powerballin album are crazy, but I would say its probably gonna be the song called Dont Really Care, the song called I Do, the song called, Give Em Some Mo, and the track We Do, people will listen to them and nod their heads and these cuts will hook them Theres a couple songs on there, you know. But I think theyre gonna like all the album.
You said in our interview a year ago, Everything I used to dream about is happening. Any new dreams yet?
Hell yeahIm starting my record company Im doing that now, Im in the position of getting that done. Slot-A-Lot Records(laughs) cant get away from the getting paper titles. And Im looking to put others with talent on alsoyou know my homeboys, the Git It Boyz, my little sista Ziggy I got a couple things were working on. Thats my label right nowthats probably the biggest dream that I wanted to accomplishits slowly but surely coming true.
What's the message you want to get out to the world?
VOTE! (laughs) Well you did that, but, you know, just try to make things right. I mean, I want peace in the world. Theres probably never going to be world peace, but world peace wouldnt hurt. And just keep negative out of your life. Always keep it positive. If you got any goals, any big dreams youre trying to accomplish, work hard at them and you shall accomplish them. And always look out for your boy Chingy and support your boy Chingy, ya dig, cause Im-a hold it down for you. You know, thats it. (laughs). And get my album too!
What can we expect on the DVD portion of the limited edition album?
Im basically taking you around my neighborhood, letting you holler at my folks, my mom and my aunties, uncles, cousins, and theyre just telling you little stuff about me(laughs) Not too much though. You know people talking about how I was when I was young, or whatever. And youre just meeting a lot of my family. And you know, in the studio with me, vibing with me and the Git It Boyz, Trak Starz. Just having fun with me on the DVD, and giving you a little insight on my day-to-day life.
Will you be dropping a mixtape?
Yeah, well me and the Git It Boyz, were going to drop this mixtape. Its just for the Git It Boyz to be heard, let people know the music we be comin withjust some hardcore street mentality, real life reality music, you know what Im sayin. Just expect it to be street.
2004 was off the chain for Hip Hop.What got play in your ride during 2004?
Thats a good oneFavorite albums of 2004, huh? Twista, definitelyof course my album Powerballin, Jay-Zs the Black Album is a nice album I liked plenty of albums. Juve, definitely Juvenile. Thats all I can think of right now.
Other than the record labelany other business venture that we can expect from you? A clothing line maybe?
Im still thinking about that. You know, thats a different ball game, so Im gonna take that slow until I find the right people. I still got that in mind, but Im gonna take that slow.
What do you do when you arent working?
Still working (laughs) I like being in the studio, creating more music. Me and the Git It Boyz, just creating more music. Im working on my 3rd album now.
Any chance for collabs or features with other St. Louis artists?
I did a song with Murphy Lee that was on the Jackpot album. But you know, were gonna hook up again and get some more stuff crackin, hopefully. You know, its all good with me.
Who handle the production and boards on the album?
The Beatstaz, Trak Starz, Vudu, David Banner did a track on the album too, and I also did a beat on the albumthe last song.
Are you going to appear on anybody elses album in the future?
Im gonna be on the Lil Wayne new album, still working on that, still working on that. Cause I aint really did nothing with a lot of people We been talking about it, so eventually we gonna get that done, but definitely Lil Waynes new album.
Any last words?
Get the Powerballinalbum! Look out for the Git It Boyzcoming next year, And just, thanks for the support, and be cool. (laughs).
Chingy builds off his strong foundation with PowerBallin', his second stellar album. Recorded primarily in Chingy's home studio, the high-energy collection features top-tier production from The Trak Starz and David Banner, as well as up-and-coming beatmakers Keith McMasters, Vudu and The Beatstaz.
This is your 2nd album, which album was more challenging to make?
Probably Powerballin, considering I was on the road and doing different things while trying to make that album. On Jackpot I was just in one placeI was in St. Louis and in a little apartment(laughs) I mean it...we really made the whole album in an apartment in the Loo. That was gravy compared to Powerballlin since I was moving so much and on the road after Jackpot blew up.
So after all the workany surprises on this album?
The only surprises that fans can probably expect on this album is the features. We got R. Kelly, Janet Jackson, Nate Dogg, David Banner, Lil Flip, Lil Wayne, the Git It Boyz. I guess you can call that surprises because all of them are handlin theirs.
Since your success, how has it been going back home to the hood?
Its love; its home and where I grew up in. You know, I know everybody in the neighborhood, so I go back there and still get love. Its a little more different, because you know, theyre excited when you come around, and everybody starts floodin the block. But, its all love though. I love going back over there.
Whats it really like to be considered a star?
Cool real cool. Especially when people give you that positive energy and feedback. When they come speak to you, and, see how youre doing and stuff, they give you that positive energy. It makes you happy. It makes you want to keep doing what you do.
I heard that you changed the name of the album from Soul to St. Louis to Powerballin. Why the title change?
Well I didnt make up Soul to St. Louis, and I didnt really want it to be called that anyway. So I thought, coming from Jackpot to work with the lottery and gambling theme and I thought Powerballin would be the next closest thing to make what Im trying to do big. So, Powerballin was a better title. Soul to St. Louis was a cool title, but it wasnt what I was looking for.
What about video shoots? What do you like best about the process?
I like the idea that I can be creative and interject my own ideas li/ke in the Balla Baby video The owl, the owl that was in it, that was my idea. The owl that was in it, I liked it, the white owl. It was a beautiful owl, and when I was doing the Oooh, oooh, it was supposed to have been the owl saying it. So it was cool. The owls my favorite part of that particular video.
Whats the next single from the album?
Next single would be Make That Thing Talk For Me. Its just about, like Say you see a fine woman walking down the block, she has a nice ass, and its pretty jiggly (laughs) and it shakes (laughs) and it looks like its talking to you when shes walking. So make that thing talk for me.
Who are some of your musical influences?
I grew up in a household with my mama and daddy listening to The Temptations so Temptations, The Isley Brothers, Run DMC, LL Cool J, Rakim, Eric B, NWA, Ice Cube, DJ Quick people like that are some of my inspirations.
Why did you choose to work with newer talent?
Because you always give upcoming producers a chance to shine. Theyre trying to get in the same positions, and they make just as good of music, if not better. So, you always just need to get those up and coming producers a little shine because they do a good job at what they do too.
What was it like to work with Janet Jackson, R. Kelly, etc?
I mean its cool, you know. I know Lil Wayne, Lil Waynes a real good friend and partna... I met R. Kelly a couple times, I met Janet a couple times. Its a good thing, because, coming from where I come from I used to see them on TV, doing what they do, and be looking from a consumers point. So now that Im actually doing it and can be able to meet those people and to interact with them, its cool, you know. Theyre just like meCool. (laughs)
Are there any sleeper tracks on the album?
All the tracks on the Powerballin album are crazy, but I would say its probably gonna be the song called Dont Really Care, the song called I Do, the song called, Give Em Some Mo, and the track We Do, people will listen to them and nod their heads and these cuts will hook them Theres a couple songs on there, you know. But I think theyre gonna like all the album.
You said in our interview a year ago, Everything I used to dream about is happening. Any new dreams yet?
Hell yeahIm starting my record company Im doing that now, Im in the position of getting that done. Slot-A-Lot Records(laughs) cant get away from the getting paper titles. And Im looking to put others with talent on alsoyou know my homeboys, the Git It Boyz, my little sista Ziggy I got a couple things were working on. Thats my label right nowthats probably the biggest dream that I wanted to accomplishits slowly but surely coming true.
What's the message you want to get out to the world?
VOTE! (laughs) Well you did that, but, you know, just try to make things right. I mean, I want peace in the world. Theres probably never going to be world peace, but world peace wouldnt hurt. And just keep negative out of your life. Always keep it positive. If you got any goals, any big dreams youre trying to accomplish, work hard at them and you shall accomplish them. And always look out for your boy Chingy and support your boy Chingy, ya dig, cause Im-a hold it down for you. You know, thats it. (laughs). And get my album too!
What can we expect on the DVD portion of the limited edition album?
Im basically taking you around my neighborhood, letting you holler at my folks, my mom and my aunties, uncles, cousins, and theyre just telling you little stuff about me(laughs) Not too much though. You know people talking about how I was when I was young, or whatever. And youre just meeting a lot of my family. And you know, in the studio with me, vibing with me and the Git It Boyz, Trak Starz. Just having fun with me on the DVD, and giving you a little insight on my day-to-day life.
Will you be dropping a mixtape?
Yeah, well me and the Git It Boyz, were going to drop this mixtape. Its just for the Git It Boyz to be heard, let people know the music we be comin withjust some hardcore street mentality, real life reality music, you know what Im sayin. Just expect it to be street.
2004 was off the chain for Hip Hop.What got play in your ride during 2004?
Thats a good oneFavorite albums of 2004, huh? Twista, definitelyof course my album Powerballin, Jay-Zs the Black Album is a nice album I liked plenty of albums. Juve, definitely Juvenile. Thats all I can think of right now.
Other than the record labelany other business venture that we can expect from you? A clothing line maybe?
Im still thinking about that. You know, thats a different ball game, so Im gonna take that slow until I find the right people. I still got that in mind, but Im gonna take that slow.
What do you do when you arent working?
Still working (laughs) I like being in the studio, creating more music. Me and the Git It Boyz, just creating more music. Im working on my 3rd album now.
Any chance for collabs or features with other St. Louis artists?
I did a song with Murphy Lee that was on the Jackpot album. But you know, were gonna hook up again and get some more stuff crackin, hopefully. You know, its all good with me.
Who handle the production and boards on the album?
The Beatstaz, Trak Starz, Vudu, David Banner did a track on the album too, and I also did a beat on the albumthe last song.
Are you going to appear on anybody elses album in the future?
Im gonna be on the Lil Wayne new album, still working on that, still working on that. Cause I aint really did nothing with a lot of people We been talking about it, so eventually we gonna get that done, but definitely Lil Waynes new album.
Any last words?
Get the Powerballinalbum! Look out for the Git It Boyzcoming next year, And just, thanks for the support, and be cool. (laughs).
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