In 2003, Chingy cashed in with his now classic, triple-platinum album Jackpot. He struck certified platinum again in ‘04’ with PowerBallin’, which proved to the world that Chingy was no one-hit wonder. Now it’s 2006. And Ching-a-Ling is back with his third and most exciting album, Hoodstar. This time, it’s personal.
“I’m from the ghetto and I wanted to show my appreciation for where I come from,” he says. “Even if you’ve had success, you don’t ever forget where you come from.”
Hoodstar is one album you won’t soon forget, either. Part auto-biographical, part club-bangin’, it chronicles the life of a star from the hood—the highs, the lows, and all the girls, cars, clothes, and everything in between. The record is also a great big shout out to Chingy’s hometown—Walnut Park in North Side St. Louis.
To make musical magic, Chingy assembled an all-hoodstar team of producers, including Jermaine Dupri, Poli Paul, Timbaland, The Trak Starz, Mannie Fresh, Mr. Collipark and Kwame. Guest artists include Three 6 Mafia, Tyrese, Young Spiffy and Fatman Scoop.
The album is divided into two parts, each highlighting a different side of Chingy’s musical style: The “Hood” side is street-smart and crunk-heavy. “These are the hardcore jams,” Chingy explains. Songs like “Hands Up” and “Cadillac Door”, talk about life in the ghetto in raw and real terms. On the “Star” side, Chingy lightens up the vibe, cranking out high-energy, party anthems like “Brand New Kicks” and “Dem Jeans”. Music, that in his words, “gets you so amped you just come out of your shirt.”
Hoodstar’s personal tone is captured perfectly in the lead single, “Pullin’ Me Back.” Over a smooth, R&B track, Chingy rhymes with his trademark laid-back flow about the difficulties of balancing a successful career and a personal relationship. He confesses the jam was inspired by a real-life experience. “Somebody that I was seeing made that song happen.” But he also says it speaks to a universal problem in the industry. “If you’ve got a woman in this business, you are not going to be able to give her that quality time,” he says. “You’re going to try, but you’re also on the road, and it’s hard to keep the relationship going.”
The track was produced by Jermaine Dupri, and Chingy says the first time he heard it, he immediately got into the zone: “I just went down to the studio in my basement and laced it on the spot,” he recalls.
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