Rapper Peedi Peedi, formerly known as Peedi Crakk, is preparing to release his new single “Take Me Home,” featuring labelmate Megan Rochell.
The song is the first from his upcoming as-yet-untitled album, due in 2007.
“[It’s] a hot little single for the clubs,” Peedi Crakk told AllHipHop.com. “My album is finished. I just talked to [Jay-Z], and we’re about to send the single out.”
Peedi, 27, (born Pedro Zayas) will release his album under Def Jam after previously being signed as an artist on Roc-A-Fella.
The new disc will feature collaborations with Jay-Z, Bun B, Twista and Ne-Yo, among others.
“This isn’t going to be [anything] that gets looked over,” said the North Philadelphian. “This album is going to make a real impact.”
In the meantime, Peedi is currently featured on the Roots’ “Long Time,” a track on their recently released album Game Theory.
The rapper will also support the group on an international tour starting in December.
Though Peedi said he was not aware of rumors that he could become the latest member of the Roots, he said he would welcome the opportunity.
“If they were willing to pull me in, I’d be more than happy to rock with the Roots,” he said. “I’m always going to be a solo artist but who would turn that opportunity down? I wouldn’t. It’s unbelievable to even be on the Roots album.”
Peedi, a former member of Beanie Sigel’s rap collective State Property, signed with Def Jam after a rough split with Roc-A-Fella’s former co-owner Damon Dash.
The Def Jam deal took place after a chance meeting between Peedi’s Philadelphia-based attorney Bernie Resnick, ESQ, who negotiated the contract.
“Me and Jay see eye-to-eye so I trust his judgment on a lot of things,” said Peedi. “With Dame Dash, there was a lot of friction going on. Every time we talked, there was an argument about s**t. But, when me and Jay talk, we come eye-to-eye on a lot of s**t, and that’s a positive thing when you and the boss agree upon certain s**t in your career.”
Peedi is also launching his own record label, Intense Prince, which will release the Philadelphia based-group Men of Respect and produces “more street, and more unsensored” Hip-Hop, he said.
“That’s just all my radical music that I want to make,” he added. “With Def Jam, you got to stick to the script because they need records that they can market and promote. As opposed to that mainstream music that they’re looking for, I’ve got a whole different level of music that I’m making.”