It’s time for Chingy to receive his flowers.
The legendary St. Louis rapper will be featured in TV One’s “Unsung” series on April 21 at 9 p.m. ET.
Before the episode aired, he stopped by rolling out to discuss the feature and the current state of rap.
What does it mean for you to be on “Unsung” and receive your flowers?
I’ve always wanted to be on this show. I’ve watched many people [featured], from Temptations to Teena Marie, Rick James, may they rest in paradise. I used to hang out with Rick James and Teena Marie in Atlanta. They used to come pick me up from my hotel and we’ll go out. One time, we were going to this club and a girl says something to Rick James and he said, “Chingy! She must not know who I am.” And I said, “This Rick James, b—!” Man, that was legendary. I used to hang out with them. They were some of the greatest people.
How did that friendship even come about?
Their kids liked me. I just bumped into them; their kids liked me. We had drinks, communicated and became friends. I used to talk to Teena Marie and Rick James on the phone and we became friends, like for real, but I used to watch all the “Unsung” episodes. For me to have my own, it’s a dream come true. I’m going through my trials and tribulations, ups and downs, obstacles in my career trying to get in the business, as well as the good. I think my fans and everybody will appreciate when they see it April 21.
“Nu Beginnings,” my single, dropped on April 19.
Catch for men, Caught for women, my fragrance is coming soon on my website chingy369.com. It’s a beautiful thing.
My ebook, Conscious Creation to Manifestation, as well as the audiobook is going to be on my website, as well. Life is short, so love in light, try to live, get things done, be humble and appreciate existence, because once you’re in your last days, can you actually say you lived before you transition? I can say I lived, so that’s important to me.
What do you think about Sexyy Red and Smino representing St. Louis in rap right now?
St. Louis has always been around. It’s just about when certain acts get a chance. Smino and Sexyy Red got their chance. There’s a lot of other talent here that deserves another chance, as well. When certain artists get highlighted, it brings more attention to the city, but the focus never left because people like me and Nelly stamped it.
What do you think of the current beef between Drake and Kendrick?
What I see is a lot of guys who are very successful and are grown men, and I don’t see why any of them are talking about the next. It doesn’t make sense to me. Everybody’s doing what they love to do. We all know what comes from things like this; I guess nobody learned from Tupac and Biggie and so many other artists. I’m not talking about Drake or Kendrick, any of them. I like those guys. I’m inspired by their journey, but everyone’s grown. We need to get over this silliness about who n-ts is bigger, who has this and who has that. Who cares? Everybody’s successful. Everybody’s doing what they love to do. Everybody’s feeding their children, taking care of their children, taking care of themselves, their mothers or whatever the case may be. Man, live your life because life’s too short.
