USA: Rapper Chingy collaborates with Hip Hop elite Jermaine Dupri, Timbaland, and Oscar winners Three 6 Mafia for "Hoodstar"

Chingy's third album 'Hoodstar' pays homage to the 26- year- old's St Louis, Missouri roots chronicling the life of a star from the hood -- the highs, the lows, the girls, cars, clothes and more. "I came up with 'Hoodstar' it was really a little bit before I started getting into the album, basically with 'Hoodstar', what I want us to go with that is its all about not forgetting where you come from. Having a little success and not forgetting where you come from and that is basically where I got the title from . On the album there are two sides: there is a 'hood' side and a 'star' side. the hood side is just more basically it is more street edgy, more hard, more hardcore but still with that bounce to it. The star side is more partying, enjoy yourself, have a good time and music like that," Chingy said in Los Angeles, California on Monday (September 25). 'Pullin' Me Back', the track which hit No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop U.S. charts and was produced by Jermaine Dupri and features Tyrese, explores the difficulties of balancing a career and a personal relationship. "It was experience in my life and I also came up with it just looking celebrity relationships. The song I am sure everybody can relate to it, not just celebrities, but everyday walking the streets and doing their thing to be in relationships. It's about juggling a career like this, travelling, doing this and that, videos, and just everything travelling the country. Juggling with trying to be a in a relationship with someone to understand all that and you try to spend some time with them, but it is not enough time," Chingy told Reuters. With the triple Platinum 'Jackpot', Chingy became the best-selling debut rap artist of 2003. For his follow up to the 2004 Platinum album, 'PowerBallin' Chingy chose to work guest artists including Oscar winners Three 6 Mafia, Spiffy (Chingy's cousin), Tyrese, and Fatman Scoop. When it came time to pick producers he went with Poli Paul, The Trak Starz, Mannie Fresh, Mr. Collipark and Kwame and the hitmakers Dupri and Timbaland. Dupri, besides being famously known as Janet Jackson's boyfriend of 5 years, is also known for his work with Jackson, Mariah Carey's comeback, Alicia Keys, and Jay Z. Timbaland is knows for his work with Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake and the hit of the summer 'Promiscuous' with Nelly Furtado. Besides being the men that bring the hits that is where their similarities end, especially when it comes time to get into the studio. "They are very different they are not two of the same they have their own ways of making their music. Like with Timbaland he was making the beats as we were siting there then I left and he made some music and he brought it the next day. With Timbaland you are waiting in the studio for a long time. You know but it is all good. With Jermaine he always had the music ready, like we we know together ahead of time we are going to be working together, he knows the type of artist you are and what you like, he has the music ready for you and presents it to you," Chingy said.

ITN Source | September 28, 2006

Tags:. .explores. .relationships. .brought. .ahead. .someone