ST. LOUIS — The idea of hitting the jackpot someday was something St. Louis rapper Chingy put into the universe early.
He named his 2003 debut album "Jackpot," so the message was loud and clear.
In his first Post-Dispatch interview that same year, Chingy told me: "I stuck with it and stayed focused. Eventually, I knew I would make it, that I would hit the jackpot. I kept moving ... and hoped it would pay off."
"Jackpot" went on to sell more than 3 million copies and reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The album features several hip-hop, R&B and pop hits, including "Right Thurr," "Holidae In" with Ludacris and Snoop Dogg, and "One Call Away" featuring Jason Weaver.
Today, Chingy, now 43, says, "'Jackpot' just means what it was supposed to mean: success. I wanted to become successful in this business, and this album made that happen for me. There was always this thing of it seeming impossible to make it coming from here. But I'm living proof. I had the faith it would get somewhere, and it did."
"Jackpot" marked its 20th anniversary on July 15 and remains one of St. Louis' top hip-hop albums of all time.
As hip-hop turns 50, Chingy (Howard Earl Bailey Jr.) says the Midwest's contributions to the genre largely have been overlooked.
"I don't see any real representation of Midwest artists," he says. "It seems like it's all East Coast and West Coast and down South. But when you think of the Midwest and St. Louis, it's iconic stuff that happened here — Nelly, Chingy. The music was classic, and we don't get our just due as far as being trendsetters. We made a statement as well."
Chingy says his style and charisma made "Jackpot" iconic — something he wasn't seeing often from other young artists.
"I was trendsetting and didn't even know it — being original and different and having my own lane," he says.
Chingy says he doesn't often get credit for the storytelling on his debut album: "'Holidae In' is a story. 'Pulling Me Back' is a story. 'One Call Away' is a story. Even 'Right Thurr' is a story."
"Jackpot" began in a small apartment near Interstate 170 and Delmar Boulevard, where Chingy and his production team, Trak Starz (Alonzo "Zo" Lee Jr. and Shamar "Sham" Daugherty), made musical magic together — while eating Imo's Pizza and watching the movie "Baby Boy" on repeat.
Recording took place from September to November 2002. The deal with Capitol Records/Disturbing Tha Peace was signed Dec. 14, 2002.
"When I saw the paperwork, I knew it was serious," Chingy says. "But I didn't take it for granted. I know as quickly as it came, it could go.
"We didn't know it would be received as legendary and iconic music. We were just doing what we love to do. Sham had this ability on the drums, Zo was a master on the keys, and here I come with my melodic instrument on top of that, like a painting on a beautiful canvas."
One of his favorite things about the album is that its pace-setting first single, "Right Thurr," didn't feature any guest artists.
"My biggest hit to this day is just me," he says. "Nobody contributed to those lyrics but me. That alone tells you about the artistry of a songwriter and of a superstar."
In 2014, Chris Brown issued a "Right Thurr" Christmas dance challenge that went viral.
Chingy since has released several albums, including "Powerballin" (2004, stacked with stars including Janet Jackson, R. Kelly and Lil Wayne), "Hoodstar" (2006), "Hate It or Love It" (2007), "Jackpot Back" (2012) and "Success and Failure" (2022), among others.
Chingy isn't convinced he needs a formal St. Louis celebration of the "Jackpot" anniversary.
"I'm still thinking about it," he says. "But I'm one of those guys who appreciates everything from within. I don't always have to have a big bash — not all the time — to celebrate these things in my career. I'm appreciative just waking up and knowing I had the success."
His latest album, "Chinglish," was released in June. Its first single, "Can't Blame Me," addresses people who have deceived him for fame.
"Dat Good" is for fans who enjoy "the intimate chick records from me, like 'One Call Away' and 'Pulling Me Back.' If you listen to 'Dat Good' alongside those, it's a hit just like those."
"Ballen," which Chingy released June 12 (Tupac Shakur's birthday), speaks to spiritual currency over material wealth.
"Rewind Time" is about reuniting with deceased loved ones. It's dedicated to a childhood friend, Lil Frank.
The album also includes "She Do It," featuring Twista, and "Do Ya Thang," featuring T Hood.
Chingy says the album is "all about my truth, my terminology, how I perceive existence from my view. People trip off how we talk — the accent and all," he says, referring to a Black St. Louis dialect that includes thurr (there) and herre (here). "That's my 'Chinglish' — my truth."
