Chingy: One False Move
When I use the personal pronouns “us” and “we,” it’s because I’m not separate from the machinations of the devil. I also forget how easy it is for the business to write people off. How, once a narrative is set, it’s hard to shake off. Chingy was large — 2.8M records sold, large. But that was awhile back.
Although it’s hard for me to think of 2003 as a long time ago, if you’re a senior in high school in 2021, you weren’t even pulling yourself up when Chingy had hit the figurative Jackpot (pun intended). Hell, if you’re 24 “Right Thurr” is a song from when you were in Kindergarten. But if you’re 30 — Chingy was the music that you did the chicken head to in middle school.
He was a part of the crop of rappers that put St. Louis on the map in the early aughts. “Right Thurr” was followed by “Holidae Inn,” which was another monster hit (the next jawn, “One Call Away,” was my shit doe). Everything was going well.
But then Chingy got in a beef with his management team (Disturbing Tha Peace), fell out with Luda. Beefed with Nelly, and, despite his next album Powerballin’ also going platinum, the controversy outshone the music. Of course, he later learned that his lawyer was wrong about the DTP team stealing money. The reality was, Chingy just hadn’t done his due diligence.
By the time the Walnut Park representative realized that, it was too late. The world was a different place in 2008. The record labels were reeling. No one was selling any records. There were other image damaging scandals including endorsing that orange man.
Back in 2019, Chingy teamed up with a business, UP Companies, to bring awareness to the possibilities of construction work. Citing the fact that entertainment isn’t the only way to make a living.
But that’s what made me think, this is a 40 year old man, now. And, after living “the dream” he recognizes that everyone won’t make it. Not to mention, if they do, all it takes is one misstep and no matter how large you were, you too can be forgotten.
