Disturbing Tha Peaces most recent acquisition, Lil Scrappy, is ready to unveil a side of his artistry that has only been witnessed by a few so far in his career.
The rapper, originally introduced to the world as The Prince of Crunk, held a listening session in Atlanta Tuesday night (October 27), offering DJs and the media a preview of his forthcoming sophomore album and DTP debut The Grustle, due in stores December 15.
Its always good when an artist knows the direction they wanna go with a project, DTPs CEO Chaka Zulu told AllHipHop.com. Scrappy came in with a focus and a work ethic, which helped materialize this project called The Grustle: his grind and his hustle. The album is the s**t! Go get it!
Before presenting the album, Scrappy promised that the album presents a more mature artist.
What the music would reveal is also a much more diverse body of work than most might expect, a fact largely attributed to the fact that this is Scrappys first release, since quietly leaving Lil Jons imprint BME Recordings last year.
I never did me, Scrappy explained to AllHipHop.com. Everytime yall heard me, that was somebody telling me to do that. You gotta be crunk, cause youre the Prince of Crunk. And once you put that out there, thats who you gotta be. But n***as grow up.
While refusing to address his former mentor by name, Scrappy reveals what he has been through in the last year and the circumstances that lead to his break from the BME camp on Im Coming.
From there he continues on a musical journey that runs the gamut from the braggadocios Expensive; to the soulful Don Cannon-produced Ya Dig, featuring former Warner Brothers Records labelmate Ms. Brown; to the introspective Thug It to the Bone, featuring Trey Songz.
Thats the most lyrical spiritual, real, heart touching [song] and people can feel that, Scrappy told AllHipHop.com. What people cant feel, they dont remember. Dance songs, crunk songs, all that s**t good. But when it come to songs thatll be around forever, thatll get you that publishing check forever, those are the ones that go. I dont give a f**k about that club s**t for real. Thug It to the Bone is one of those you can make a movie off just what Im saying in all the verses
Additional features on The Grustle include Gucci Mane, Maino, Diamond (formerly of Crime Mob), and even Scrappys daughter Emani, who provides the hook on Big Boy Talking, produced by Don Vito.
Also lending to the albums cohesive sound is Scrappys selection of mostly Atlanta based producers, including LT Moe and DJ Montay.