Hate it or Love It: Rapper Chingy is Back and Speaking Out

Four years ago, it seemed like there wasn't a radio station or party playing music from Chingy. He was made famous with the tune; I like it when you do that"Right Thurr" and "Holidae In." It was almost like everything he touched turned to gold. Now Chingy is back and he says "For me, it's all about trying to make good music for everybody around the world. The one thing I wanted to do on my new disc Hate It or Love It was to try and dig a little deeper. I'm older now, and I want to talk about more things than money and cars. I'm a grown man now, and vocally I'm better at expressing myself."

Scheduled for a December 18, 2007 release, Hate It or Love It marks a long journey not short of music industry drama. In a public dispute with his managers over money, Chingy broke away from Ludacris and the crew at Disturbin' The Peace in 2004 and released Powerballin' in the same year, with the singles "Balla Baby" and "Don't Worry." He put out his third album Hoodstar in 2006 under his own label, Slot-A-Lot Records and Capitol, the album had two popular singles--"Pullin' Me Back" and "Dem Jeans."

Well, like most families there is always room for forgiveness and understanding. So, Chingy is back on with DTP and readying for his new attitude, releasing "Fly Like Me," produced by L.T Moe and featuring Amerie. Chingy comments that, "Many of my fans are women, so I wanted to create a track that spoke directly to them."

Well, Mr. Chingy aka Ching-a-ling spoke with me about a week ago on a number of things, and here, I share that conversation with you:

Saba,Ink: So, let's skip on into the new song you've got goin' on here. How did the collaboration with Amerie come about?

Chingy: Actually I had already did the song...a while back and we wanted somebody with nothing current. We wanted them to be relevant but nothing out so we chose Amerie. We sent her the music, she added the vocals and it was done. Then we shot the video.

Saba,Ink: Well the song is entitled FLY Like Me and Amerie is definitely a Fly woman but what do you consider Fly? Is it physical, brains, personality or a combination of all?

Chingy: A woman with style, knows fashion, knows how to dress, keeps herself together like her hair, toe-nails and hands done...

Saba,Ink : So let's throw some names out there that you'd consider to be as fly...

Saba, Ink: What about Gabrielle Union , Garcelle Beauvois or ladies like that?

Chingy: I like , Gabrielle Union and Eve is fly..

Saba,Ink: What is it about Eve that makes her fly?

Chingy: Eve has style, swagger, she dresses fly and she's confident.

Saba,Ink: I read somewhere, in another interview that you did not like the fact that the industry was no longer like a secret society. Like everybody can make music?

Chingy: Yeah. Not that anybody can't make music but that you can make anything and push it out there.

Saba, Ink: Isn't that a good thing that technology has made things more accessible to people?

Chingy: Yeah it is easier. Like I did not have the You-Tube, MYSPACE and all that stuff. I had to get out there and hustle .

Saba,Ink: So, somebody once asked you in an interview - If you were to run for President, what would your slogan be. You said, "No Talkin' Just Executin"

Chingy: Oh yeah.... I did say that.

Saba,Ink: So what do you think is lacking or needs to happen with the current presidential candidates?

Chingy: They need to start going into the ghettos and neighborhoods and start re-building. They need to make a lot of these people feel important - like they got a chance. They also need to raise the minimum wage.

Saba,Ink: That's for sure. Can't very well make a dollar out of fifteen cent too much often can you?

Chingy: Yeah man. Things are getting tougher and tougher...

Saba, Ink: So, since you're so passionate about this, are you thinking about doing anything with the upcoming elections- like P.Diddy's Vote or Die campaign?

Chingy: Yeah that's a good idea.

Saba, Ink: (laughing) Put me down. I'm on it Chingy!

Chingy: Aw'right....(laughing)

Saba, Ink: Let's make it happen.

Chingy: Let's do it!

Saba, Ink: So, I have two pre-teen young ladies with me as I'm doing this interview with you. They're excited to hear what you have to say. What words do you have to offer young ladies like these and other folks working to get to where you are?

Chingy: Keep God in your life. Whatever you want to do, go for it and perfect it, keep negativity and negative people away from you, never get discouraged - set the goals you want in your life. No talkin' just executin!

Saba, Ink: Thank you Chingy

Chingy: Thank you

Hate It or Love It.... will be in stores Tuesday, December 18, and it should be interesting to see if fans continue to elect and/or support a brand new Ching-a-ling.

Until next time!