Hoodstar [PA]

Performer: Chingy
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: With two smash singles in his pocket, midwestern rapper Chingy returns with his third LP, HOODSTAR. Sticking to the formula of his earlier success, the St. Louis native and former Ludacris protege comes with more than a few possible club anthems, delivering a slew of aggressive gangsta scenarios, sex rhymes, and catchy hooks dedicated to booty shakin' and his superior fashion sense. Stylistically, Ching-a-Ling owes a lot to Nelly, as both share the same melodic rise-and-fall flow, the same penchant for bouncy club beats, and the same St. Louis twang. But with heavy help from beatmakers Mannie Fresh, Jermaine Dupri, and Timbaland, as well as cameos from Three 6 Mafia, Spiffy, and the ultimate hypeman in Fatman Scoop, Chingy manages to keep things interesting.

Spin (p.96) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "'Pullin Me Back' is a gloomy breaking-up-is-hard-to-do anthem crafted by superproducer Jermaine Dupri, and on the surprisingly candid 'Cadillac Door,' the St. Louis rapper laments lost friends."

Rapper Chingy (aka Howard Bailey Jr.) honed his craft in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. His style, which features a clever, quick delivery in a high-pitched voice, draws on Dirty South and East Coast hardcore. Chingy's 2003 debut, JACKPOT, released on Ludacris's Disturbing Tha Peace label, pushed the singles "Right Thurr" and "Holidae Inn" into rotation. Chingy's profile increased after his publicized beefs with Ludacris and Nelly. He continued to develop and refine his hip-hop stamp on the albums POWERBALLIN' (2004), HOODSTAR (2006), and HATE IT OR LOVE IT (2007). Each release yielded at least one single, and featured high-profile cameos from the likes of R. Kelly, Little Wayne, Snoop Dog, and Janet Jackson, and production from Scott Storch, Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri, and others.

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