Talk about your new album, “U Gotta Feel Me.”
This album is a little bit different from my last album because I put a lot more energy into it. I made a lot more tracks for the crowd to participate with. What people don’t understand is that not every track you record is going to be a track you can perform in concert. So, I got a lot of tracks that I can perform at my shows on this album. I got Ludacris on the album. I’ve got a track with Cam’ron. Of course, David Banner, Three 6 Mafia. It’s just a big step from the last album. I went out and found some more hungry cats. Every album I do, I try to find some cats without a deal, without a name, and do some work with them to give them a chance. So, I let some hungry cats produce about half of my album. I got two Red Spyda tracks, a Neptunes track, Heatmakerz, ya know.
Did the Neptunes send you a Southern-style track?
It’s like a smokin’, laid-back track. Down South. My flavor.
You recently went through some label drama with your own independent label, Sucka Free.
Well, I was told that I owned the company, and when I looked at the paperwork my name wasn’t on there. And show money discrepancies were comin’ about. So I decided to form my own label, that way I could know everything that’s going on. I can be involved with everything. Because I was just doing the rap before, just making sure the album was right. I draw all the covers, everything. Now I handle everything. I just co-directed my video with Benny Boom, the “Game Over” video during All-Star Weekend.
What’s the theme of the video?
I was really talking about the rap game. I didn’t want it to be a kiddie game video. See, I take themes from movies. When I did “The Way We Ball,” I took the theme from “Brewster’s Million.” I had to spend a million dollars in one day. And this one is the theme from “Blow.” They weigh the money up on the scale, and I’m walking through the crowd and everywhere I go they want Flip. The women are dancing with different men and going through their pockets, stealing money and jewelry. When I walk through the club, they hand it to Flip.
What’s the name of your new label?
Clover G Records, distributed through Columbia Records.
Was it an emotional split with Sucka Free?
Yeah, my partner was friends with my dad and I put a lot of trust in him, so I expected more. Out of all the people I knew, I didn’t figure him to do something like that, taking money and stuff. But you learn. That makes me realize that you’ve gotta back-track everything. If a person tells you something, you can’t believe everything a person says. You gotta go see for yourself.
Having been in the game for a while, what other lessons have you learned?
You just gotta represent you. Can’t nobody represent you like you. And if you’re in the presence to talk for yourself, that’s the best thing. ‘Cause a lot of cats get lazy and don’t wanna work, and they think it’s cool to have all kinds of managers. I like to handle everything on my own, that way there won’t be any mix-ups.
Did your popularity grow after being featured on David Banner’s “Like a Pimp?”
Yeah, ‘cause when we did that track I didn’t even expect it to do like that. I just thought it was an alright track. And Banner called me and said they were lovin’ it. That helped me out, that pushed my album to platinum. I only had one video, for “The Way We Ball.” I was still doing shows off “Like a Pimp,” and right after that, [Three 6 Mafia’s] “Ridin’ Spinners” came out. Then I did a track with Fam-Lay, Pharrell’s artist. I’ve just been doing features and staying afloat like that.
I read that you had a 50 Cent-like experience with being shot?
It happened real quick a couple years ago. I’d rather not discuss that.
Did coming that close to death give you a new perspective on life?
Yeah, it makes you take advantage of every situation you’re in, and it makes you pay attention. You observe more. I would go places with no security before. But when that happened, it made me more observant. Like, right now, I could tell you what everyone in this room has on if something was to happen. It makes you realize how to treat people, too. That wasn’t a problem before.
What’s next for you?
I got my own liquor coming out. It’s called Lucky Nites. I did the “Naughty Girl” remix for Beyonce and the J-Kwon “Tipsy” remix. I got a track on NFL Street, “NBA Live.” I’m a new character on Def Jam Vendetta Part II. In the future, I’m going to get into directing.
