Chingy: What’s up with ya?
MiddleChild: Nothing much man. How is everything going for you so far in ’08?
Chingy: Everything’s good man. We just getting started.
MiddleChild: That’s what’s up. You already shot your video for the new single “Gimme Dat” with Bobby V. and Luda, right?
Chingy: I sure did. It’ll be dropping in a minute. You can actually see it on the internet though. On youtube.
MiddleChild: Okay. How was the energy on the set?
Chingy: Energy on the set was great. You know? You got Bobby and Luda and me and we were just clowning around and having fun with it.
MiddleChild: Sounds cool. So for us who haven’t seen it can you run down the concept of the video for us?
Chingy: The concept of the video. Like at the beginning of the video I fall asleep and whatever is in the magazine…you know how in a magazine there is a lot of things going on and whatever. And like in the magazine everything comes to life. Everything in the magazine is actually seen with us and it comes to life. We actually pop out of the magazine...little characters of us pop out of the magazine. I pop out of a magazine and walk over to another magazine that might have Chris on it and jump into that magazine and that scene comes to life.
MiddleChild: Okay. So like you said we can look out for that in a minute. So I been checking out this album man. Pretty well put together.
Chingy: Right on.
MiddleChild: My favorite three tracks right now has got to be “Spend Some Money” with Trey Songz, “All Aboard” with Steph Jones and “Check My Swag”. Those are some pretty hot ones.
Chingy: Right on. Them like some of my favorite songs too.
MiddleChild: Yea. Last time I talked to you I wasn’t aware that Steph was even on the album. How was that working with your labelmate?
Chingy: Steph Jones is like my homeboy. That’s like a best friend of mine. Steph is a real funny dude. He’s real funny and real talented. Every time we get in the studio together and just come up with a hot song. We got other songs too. I’m going to be on his album as well. We work good together man and like I said he a real talented dude. When he comes out he’s going to do real good.
MiddleChild: That’s what’s up. So you on his album, are you going to be featured on any other albums this year?
Chingy: I’ll be on Chris album. Ludacris album and I’ll be on the new Disturbing Tha Peace Compilation album called “Strength In Numbers”. I been working with a couple other people.
MiddleChild: Just been working, huh? We’ll be on the look out for those as well. So we know that once a person enters the industry you either get much love or you get hated on a lot. So what motivates you the most? The people who got the love or the ones who root for you to fail?
Chingy: Both actually. The ones that hate on you make you stronger and the ones who show you love, you appreciate the love and you accept the love and roll with the love. But both of them gives you the drive to want to do better.
MiddleChild: I know there are a lot of things we may not know about Chingy. What's one thing we would be surprised to know about you?
Chingy: One thing you would be surprised to know about me is that I'm really shy, man, when it comes to women sometimes.
MiddleChild: Oh really?
Chingy: Yea. I can be shy. But sometimes I'll be in that mode where I jump down on em or sometimes I can be a little shy. If there is a woman that I find a little intimidating sometimes I can be shy.
MiddleChild: You run into any of those intimidating women in the industry yet?
Chingy: Yea. I have.
MiddleChild: (laughs) No names huh?
Chingy: I’ve crossed a couple of em.
MiddleChild: Well reality shows are really big right now. Do you think you would do a reality special or show for your fans?
Chingy: I’m actually trying to put together a reality show now. I’m in the midst of writing it.
MiddleChild: What would that be about?
Chingy: It would probably be about my artists I got on my label and working with them trying to get them signed or whatever and at the same time show the making of a young CEO. I’m about to start doing the acting thing also and showing my transition into acting. But basically showing the making of a young CEO.
MiddleChild: So acting, huh? You got anything lined up in that area?
Chingy: The movies that I’m looking at the role for I think are for ’09 and 2010.
MiddleChild: Oh ok. So that’s a new avenue for you. Is there anything you have yet to tap into that we don’t know that you’re capable of that you want to do?
Chingy: Actually I’m about to start this coffee shop and cold sandwich spot. I’m going to start with one, then two, then three and start this little franchise. You know people need coffee in the morning and need cold sandwiches and need to eat so it’s all about finding the right spots to put them in.
MiddleChild: Making that paper long. Investing and making it work for you, right?
Chingy: Yes sir.
MiddleChild: At least you’re not buying teeth and chains.
Chingy: Naw. Naw. Naw. That’s only going to last so long.
MiddleChild: I know right. Well I know we just dropped the second single, but do you have any idea on what your third single will be yet?
Chingy: The third single is going to be the joint with Anthony Hamilton. Yea. That’s the third single. Showing a little more of the positive side.
MiddleChild: Now what about tour plans?
Chingy: Well I’m about to tour in Japan and then we coming back over here and do a tour at like the end of March. So we hitting it.
MiddleChild: Cool. I usually like to ask artists what age would they go back to and have a conversation with themselves if they could. Seeing that you have been through so much, what point and time in your life would you go back to and have a conversation with yourself?
Chingy: I would have a conversation with myself when I was about ten. That’s when I started smoking weed.
MiddleChild: So you’d lecture yourself on that?
Chingy: Yea. I would lecture myself on that. (both laugh)
MiddleChild: So you let that go right?
Chingy: Yea.
MiddleChild: Well we definitely got love for Chingy at MiddleChild Promotions so we’ll keep everyone in the loop on your project. Anything else you want to say to the readers?
Chingy: Pick up that “Hate It Or Love It” album and I appreciate the love and support.
MiddleChild: That’s what it do. Well you stay out of trouble playboy.
Chingy: Alright man. Right on.
MiddleChild: And we’ll be in touch.
Chingy: Aight Dirty.
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