You've been pretty busy since you came out. What are you working on now?
I'm just promoting my album and about to drop the next single, "Holidae Inn," and we're doing shows right now. I'm also in the process of working on the second album. I'm always working on music.
Are you going to change up your style or are you going to keep the party music vibe?
You've got to keep party music in it because people need that. It's going to definitely be a part of my album.
Where did the name Chingy originate?
It was a saying that me and my homeboys had for people with money. I just thought it had a nice ring to it, so I decided to make it my stage name.
So now that you're making money, what have you splurged on?
I ain't really bought nothing. I'm just letting it grow into more. The first thing I'm buying is going to be a house in St. Louis, though.
Now since you're from St. Louis and you even toured with Nelly last year, most people assumed you would work with Nelly. How did you hook up with Luda?
His management had just started managing my producers. My producers and I made about four or five songs in the studio and we sent them off to some people, including Ludacris and Chaka Zulu. They liked what they heard and wanted to work with me. It just came together. So we put "Right Thurr" on vinyl, got a nice buzz and we had a deal by December of last year. I didn't plan for it to happen.
That deal resulted in your album Jackpot debuting at number two on the Billboard Charts. Congratulations! What were your initial expectations when you made the album?
I was hoping it would do well, but I didn't know. We're getting ready to drop the next single, "Holidae Inn," with Snoop. I just shot the video in California. The concept of the video is just that we're in the hotel, kicking it, going room to room, having fun. Girls, guys and partying.
What's your relationship like with Snoop?
He's always been someone that I've liked. He's a cool, fun dude.
You also hooked up with Jermaine Dupri and Trina for the "Right Thurr" remix. Can you talk about that collabo?
We were looking for people who were from different areas, like down south and the Midwest. They were the two people who wanted to be down, so my manager Chaka Zulu hooked it up. I wasn't in the studio when Trina did her part of the song, but I was in the studio when Jermaine did his part. He's a friend of ours. It was a lot of fun. It's always nice working with him. The three of us just did 106th and Park together and performed the remix.
Who else would you like to work with that you haven't yet?
I would have liked to work with Tupac, but he passedÂ…rest in peace. But I'd like to work with a lot of other people too, like Busta Rhymes and Michael Jackson.
What's it like working with Luda?
Luda is a fun dude; a very down to earth and humble guy. He reminds me of myself. He's got a nice personality and a sense of humor. He's always fun to work with.
Did you always know you wanted to be a rapper?
Yeah. I was real young. I was around 8-years-old when I started writing. I just really liked music. I like how you can express yourself on a record.
A lot of people are out there who want to rap. How did you know you really wanted to pursue a rap career and that it wasn't just a phase?
I've just always loved music and being around it. I stuck with it and kept writing. Kept making music in the studio and kept trying to make it. I kept myself around positive people and positive things.
Is it hard to stay positive as a new artist when you're being compared to other artists? For example, how do you respond to the criticism that you're too much like Nelly?
People only say that because of the way we talk - our terms and how we speak. But that's just how we talk in St. Louis. That's their opinion. Nelly's my homeboy so there ain't no competition. He's doing his thing, I'm doing my thing. It's all love.
What do you think sets you apart from him?
I just do me. I talk about what I've seen, what I've done, and what I'm trying to do. Everybody says the same stuff, and just puts it in different phrases. But I'm just me. I do it my own way.
Now that you've experienced what it's like to be on top, what's the best part of all the success?
The fact that I know people are appreciating my music.
And the worst part?
Just meeting a lot of people and trying to remember who everybody is.
You're definitely getting a lot of attention from your female fans. How does that feel?
I love women so it's a cool thing. It's always nice to have women acknowledge you. Whatever happens, happens - but I'm not looking for a girlfriend right now. I'm single.
What haven't you accomplished that you'd like to?
Owning my own record company one day and being able to help other artists who may not have had the chance. I'm working on that now. The company is going to be called SlotALot Entertainment.
A lot of rappers have their crews that they bring up once they make it. Nelly has the St. Lunatics, Eminem has D12, Ludacris has his Disturbing Tha Peace family. Do you have a crew that you're helping out?
Yeah, I got a crew called the Git It Boyz. It's me, my brothers and one of my producers. We're going to drop an album - I don't know how soon - but we're working on it.
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