Hoodstar

Personnel: Billy Odum, William Birckhead (guitar); Dean "DC" Chares (keyboards); Keri Hilson, Kanary Diamonds (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: John Frye; Jean-Marie Horvat; Jermaine Dupri; Jimmy Douglas; Phil Tan; Leslie Brathwaite.
Recording information: Chalice Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Full Deck Studios, St. Louis, MO; Headquarter Studios, Hollywood, CA; Hit Facotry, Miami, FL; Hypnotize Studios, Memphis, TN; SouthSide Studios, Atlanta, GA; Studio Atlantis, Los Angeles, CA; Trak Meet Studios, St. Louis, MO.
Photographers: Robb Epifano; Jonathan Mannion.
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.