Chingy

Chingy, born Howard Earl Bailey Jr. on March 9, 1980, is a rapper from St. Louis, Missouri, who became one of the defining voices of early-2000s Southern-tinged crunk-pop rap. He began writing rhymes as a child and worked his way up through the St. Louis scene, opening for Nelly in 2002 before signing to Ludacris' label Disturbing tha Peace. His breakout single, «Right Thurr», released in 2003, reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the defining hits of the era with its bouncy, Southern-inflected production.

That same year, his debut album Jackpot peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and eventually went double platinum, powered by additional hits like «Holidae In», featuring Snoop Dogg and Ludacris, and «One Call Away» with Jason Weaver. His follow-up, Powerballin', arrived in 2004 on his own Slot-A-Lot label and included the single «Balla Baby» as well as «Right Thurr's» chart-topping momentum carried into further collaborations.

Chingy's third album, Hoodstar, released in 2006, debuted strongly and went gold, continuing his run as one of the most commercially successful rappers of the mid-2000s. His melodic, hook-driven style and knack for club-ready singles made him a fixture of the era's rap-pop crossover sound.