Mr. Cheeks is preparing for the release of his third solo album, Ladies and Ghettomen, which will arrive in stores in September on his newly formed Legal Drug Money Records. 
 

Mr. Cheeks' standout career as a solo artist and as a member of the Lost Boyz, both of which were in the Universal Records system, caught the attention of aspiring record label executive Michael "Shoop" Harrison, who in April 2004 formed Contango Records with underground rap legend Breez Evahflowin.

Sixshot.com had a chance to holla at Mr. Cheeks at the HOB where he was performing together with Pete Rock and Truth Hurts to promote the upcoming album “Ladies And Ghettomen”.

Sixshot.com: Let me know about the new album “Ladies And Ghettomen”.

Mr. Cheeks: Good album, good music. For real…

Sixshot.com: Who did you work with on your new album?

Truth Hurts, DJ Sage and Pete Rock produced the album.

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Sixshot.com: You are coming out on your new label, what happened to Universal?

Mr. Cheeks: I was doing what I suppose to do, when I put our “Light Camera Action”, it took me a minute, we had a remix on the joint, we had Missy Elliot, P. Diddy but they would not take it to the essence. I have never even been on tour only when my first album came out. With my new Label now, I get to-do whatever I want, I am like an Artist/CEO. You know how I am saying?

Sixshot.com: How many artists are on your label?

Mr. Cheeks: About 4 to 5 artists

Sixshot.com: What kind of flavor is it?

Mr. Cheeks: Every artist got their own type of talent. Every artist has its own rhythm. We got Cut & P, Slum Loaders, Lady Gadavil.

Sixshot.com: Where do you feel hip-hop is at right now?

Mr. Cheeks: It’s good right now, hip-hip is feeding a lot of people right now. It’s a good business.

Sixshot.com: Do you feel that a lot of MC’s are more concerned with their popularity than the roots of the culture? A lot of MC’s are moving towards Pop to make some more money?

Mr. Cheeks: I mean, you got to go trough this to win, you know. No gimmicks, I am just trying to keep it thru. Like I said I just focus on my music.

Sixshot.com: What are your plans for the future?

Mr. Cheeks: Plans man, I want to start this label and build my own little enterprise, you know how I am saying…I have a movie out right now, on DVD it’s in stores right now.

Sixshot.com: Can we expect another Lost Boyz album?

Mr. Cheeks: Not the original cats. But there is no question that we are going to let the Lost Boys style live on. I think this album is hard, Mr. Cheeks, Lost Boyz.

Sixshot.com: What is your favorite joint on your upcoming album?

Mr. Cheeks: My favorite joint is “4 Walls”, because it’s like, me talking everything I have been trough, loosing my man, it’s about the shit I went trough in my personal life, you know how I mean. I still got up, you know..

Sixshot.com: When is “Ladies And Ghettomen” going to drop?

Mr. Cheeks: September 14th is the date, you know what I mean. You got to get a copy of the “Ladies And Ghettomen” album, It has to be in your collection. The album is Crazy, you all.

Mr. Cheeks: Shout out to all the fans that supported me all this time and shout out to Rick James, we lost a good man right there.

*Disclaimer: Exclusive Mr. Cheeks interview and text was conducted by SixShot.com.  No part of this interview may be duplicated without written permission from SixShot.com.  The interview content or text layout may not be altered in any shape or form.