Word of mouth has taken Jive Records
newest hip-hop artist Petey Pablo many places -- literally. Within the course of two years, the Greensville, North Carolina
native moved to New York and gained the respect of music industry veterans, copped a record deal, and finished recording his
debut album, Diary of a Sinner: First Entry. Having already appeared
on Mystikals double-platinum album and on Black
Robs "Whoa!" remix, its time for the world to meet the rapper that hip hop diva Missy Elliot hailed as the illest MC Down South.
"I go everywhere on the album. I talk about everything.
You aint gonna hear no bling, blingin, that I killed 15,000 people, or how much my car cost or how many cars I got cause that
aint rap. I only write what I feel, what I believe, what I have done, or what I want to do. Everything is real. As wild as
some stuff may sound in my rhymes, either Ive done it, thought about doing it, is gon do it or I been through it in some shape,
form, or fashion."
Petey s interest in music was sparked at a young age via the church and the
school where he learned to sing and acted in plays. Although he originally dreamed of being a singer, the North Carolina native
quickly became fascinated with hip-hop in junior high school where he began rapping with a local crew. Long after his crew
disbanded, Pablo kept rapping until he finally decided to make a move into the world.
With nothing but determination and "a hole in a doughnut," Petey picked up
and headed North. In New York, Peteys resilience, easy going ways, and rhyming ability helped him land a few celebrity
friends like Busta Rhymes, Mystikal and Black Rob.
It was the one night while Petey was chillin with
Black Rob at a club in New York that would change his life forever. "We was in the bathroom rhymin
and Jives head A&R walked in the bathroom while we were in there. It was like me, Rob, Doug E. Fresh,
and a whole lotta kids. So the A&R walked into the bathroom and asked me if I was signed, and I was like nah. He was like
come over to Jive and well give you anything you want."
Word of mouth contributed to creating a serious
industry buzz on this Southern MC. Thats why, by the time legendary super-producer Timbaland met
him, he was already a fan.
"Timbaland had been
looking for me cause he heard me on the Black Rob "Whoa! Remix," says
Petey . When we went to Miami, I seen Missy and she was like this is Petey Pablo, and he was like
Ive been looking for you. And its been on and poppin ever since."
With music from such producers as Timbaland, Prophecy (Busta Rhymes
and Mobb Deep), Chucky Madness, Abnormal, and Petey Pablo himself, hip hop fans will undoubtedly
hear some of the realest songs theyve ever heard on Diary of a Sinner. Diary
has the type of balance that most hip-hop albums lack today. While Petey s amped-up, vicious, rough flows will get the party
started with such rugged, bouncy dancefloor anthems as "Raise Up" (Produced by Timbaland)
and "Fun Room," which Petey Pablo produced himself, he lets listeners visit more personal moments
of his life. Songs like "The Truth About Me" talking about his mother having to deal with his involvement
in street life -- and "Test of My Faith" -- where he talks about making it through some of the hardest
times of his life -- feature Petey candidly sharing his personal experiences with the listener.
"I really dont look at it like an album when I
listen to it," says Petey. Its a diary for your ears to read. I give it to you where you can either accept it or not accept
it. Theres no in between. And all my stuff is very, very visual."
While the world has yet to experience the pride
of North Cacalaca, it will only be a matter of time before everybody knows Petey s name since word of mouth will take him
everywhere.