W hether you like him or not, Chingy has had notable success since entering the music business. Just think of the time when he came out with “Right Thurr” as one of the next big things from the St. Louis right after Nelly. Chingy came into the game with his own style showing hip-hop fans his St. Louis swag that also charmed the ladies. His  debut album, Jackpot , went triple platinum with help from his two other hits, "Holidae Inn"and "One Call Away".

His sophomore album, Powerballin', also attained platinum status but was less successful than his debut. During that time period, his business relationship with Ludacris' label, Disturbing The Peace, turned sour.

The STL spitter departed DTP for Capitol Records and released his third album Hoodstar which spawned the major hit “Pullin Me Back” featuring Tyrese . The single was Chingy’s very first number one single as an artist. The album would attain gold status but was considered a failure due to the success of his previous releases.

After mending his relationship with Ludacris, Chingy is back on DTP and is gearing up for the release of his fourth project titled Hat e It or Love It.  Sixshot.com caught up with Chingy to discuss his return to DTP, Ludacris, his issues with Capitol Records, and the ups and downs of being a celebrity.

You have the new album titled Hate it or Love It , why did you title it that?

This is my fourth album and I just feel like either you like me or you don’t. It also had something to do with me getting back with DTP, because it’s gonna be haters on the sidelines talking with their opinion and don’t even know the situation. You got people that want you to have success and rooting the situation on so I feel like it’s only right to call it Hate It or Love It.

Speaking on you going back to DTP, can you explain what made you decide to start doing business with Ludacris again?

Actually it wasn’t one of those things where it was like “Well I want to start working with Ludacris cause they want to start working with me”. It was kind of something that just happened as we seen each other in Las Vegas for an event at the Billboard Awards last year. We ran into each other and we all just sat down and talked. You know the whole thing was a misunderstanding, miscommunication, so we just all sat down and talked man. We settled the differences, put it in the past went to the club after that and it is what it was man I just ended up back on DTP.
 
So Chingy explain what it’s like working with Ludacris now as to before when ya’ll had the fall-out?

I mean it’s the same man like it ain’t no love lost. Everybody is still cool, all our work ethics are still the same, ain’t nothing changed for real. It’s just like you and your family getting into it ya’ll probably be mad at each other for a second, but eventually ya’ll be cool again. It’s still all good it’s just the same, Ludacris is still like a brother.

DTP as a label made some big moves in the industry so what you like about being a part of the DTP movement?

Everybody works as a team being fast, focused, and trying to execute goals. Everybody works as a team so it’s a beautiful thing with everybody working together. Everybody is on the same page and everybody knows that we are here to do a job so everybody plays their part.

One thing I noticed about you Chingy is that you have the ability to make hit songs back to back. You came out with “Right Thurr”, then you hit them with “One Call Away”, “Pullin Me Back” the list goes on so tell how you continue to come out with chart-topping songs?

Actually man I don’t have a certain formula it’s just what I feel. I like catchy hooks and having a little style and swagger with it. It just comes to me it’s kind of natural, I’ve been doing this since I was like 8. Then I just try to target, I know women is a big part of this music industry so you have to cater to women. They are most of the people who buy records. It just kind of comes natural man, whatever happens at the time I feeling that’s what I write about.

To this day Chingy what’s your favorite chart-topper?

I gotta say “Right Thurr”, “Right Thurr” was my favorite.

Want to explain why?

Just because it was different, it was a different song, it had a different slang to it, and it reached people worldwide.

You just mentioned that women are a big part of the music business and with you being in the game for some years what you love most about the ladies?

What I love most about the ladies is I just love women period. I love all the women, I just love women, I love the same thing you love about them.

[Laughs], well you know how it is.

Yes sir I gotta have it.

Your last album Hoodstar came out on Capitol Records, what it was like being on Capitol aside from DTP?

Capitol just don’t know how to direct an urban artist in the right direction. They really work with pop and rock so they didn’t really know what to do with me. We tried to give them direction, but you know everyone wants to take credit for stuff. I ain’t mad at Capitol, because that’s where I started at. They didn’t really know what to do man they was confused and they couldn’t lead you to where you wanted to go. DTP understands the business and works as a whole understanding were we all tryna get. Capitol just didn’t understand the urban music to me.

Do you ever regret signing with Capitol?

I’m not gonna say I regret it. I sold a lot  records with Capitol, but at the same time I think they just didn’t know what to do with me.

Did Capitol feel any type of way when you decided to go back with DTP?

They couldn’t, I don’t know what they felt actually I didn’t ask them. They couldn’t feel no way, my lawyer got me off there and now I’m on DTP/Def Jam, I can’t even really say.

Now let’s talk about some other things. Talk about how it feels to be famous, because a lot of people don’t know the ups and downs of being a celebrity so can you give some info on that?

The ups and downs of being a celebrity is tough. Sometimes when you not in the mood and you just want to be you with not being bothered. You have to worry about being bothered and you still have to worry about keeping calm and not being an asshole at the same time. With me, it be times when I go out I don’t want to be bothered and you still get people you come up to you wanting a autograph and picture.

You just gotta be humble about it, you don’t want to be an asshole having somebody come up “I’m not gonna buy your album” and stuff like that. They don’t understand that we human too and we go through things just like them.

Besides that it’s a cool business to get into, it’s getting a little shaky with a lot going on, but it’s a cool business for the most part. You can make a good living in this business so that’s the ups of it.

I bet one of the best benefits is the ladies!

Yeah, of course. I never had a problem with the ladies, but it’s better [laughs].

[Laughs], alright. Chingy tell what it was like getting down with Amerie for the new single “Fly Like Me”?

She’s a cool young woman, I had fun shooting the video with her and she’s very down to earth, very humble, she got a nice personality as she’s nice as a human. It was fun working with her as I never worked with her before.

Do you like forward to working with her more in the future?

Yeah, I would work with her again I don’t mind.

Besides Amerie are there any other females you would like to work with for a future hit?

Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blidge, Missy Elliot, it’s a couple.

Back to the album for some of your biggest fans what can they expect from Hate It or Love It?

Just some great music man, it’s music on there you can vibe to. You got your positive music, you got your club music, and you got your street-hardcore music. It’s all in one so I would just tell them to expect some great music man and another great album.

Chingy appreciate the interview, you have a final message for Sixshot.com?

Right on for supporting me Sixshot.com and let everybody know you can get the Hate It or Love It album on December 18. I appreciate all the support.

This interview was conducted and written by Quinton Hatfield for Sixshot.com