The Return Of "The Freestyle King"

The ShowBuzz's Caitlin A. Johnson interviewed Lil Flip for this report.

After three years of relative quiet, Houston rapper Lil Flip — "The Freestyle King" — is releasing his much-anticipated fourth album, "I Need Mine."

The 26-year-old, who helped jumpstart the careers of popular artists such as Chamillionaire, was out of the limelight after a battle with his former label and a now-resolved feud with Atlanta-based rapper T.I.

"I Need Mine" features guest appearances by Rick Ross, Academy Award-winners Three 6 Mafia, Nate Dog and Mya. Two years overdue, it was scheduled to be released several times by Sony, but creative differences led to delays.

Flip, whose real name is Wesley Weston, said he eventually bought himself out of his contract and was allowed to take his album with him.

When Flip landed on Warner Bros./Asylum records, the album had to be delayed again when one half of the two-disc set was leaked on the Internet — forcing Flip to essentially start from scratch. In the end, though, he said he produced a 36-track album that will please all his fans and give them better value for their money.

The idea behind his latest project, he said, was to show that he can hold his own. He doesn't over-collaborate with other artists and on 28 of the 36 tracks he is rapping alone. His topics run the gamut and he said his favorite track changes weekly.

"Last week it was — I got this record called 'Single Mother' where I told a story of a lady who raises a child on her own. That was my favorite one last week," he told The ShowBuzz. "Now it switched to this — I got a record called 'Fly Boy.' What I did with that record, it's three verses. Each verse I rapped a different style. The first verse I rapped a slow style, the second verse I rapped fast, the third verse I broke the beat down so to where most of the verse was being rapped a cappella."

Flip, who got a major deal after selling more than 100,000 copies of his 2000 release "The Leprechaun," got his first platinum plaque for 2002's "Undaground Legend." He followed that success with 2004's "U Gotta Feel Me," which also reached platinum status with hits like "Game Over" and "Sunshine."

Since his last release, he's made 29 mixed tapes, hosts a satellite radio show, sells pineapple-flavored liquor called Lucky Nites, shot an autobiographical movie and is in negotiations to do a reality show called "Lil Flip's American Rapper."

He said he'll be killing "10 birds with one stones" as he embarks on his Fly Boy tour. He'll audition prospective rappers during his sound check and pick the top 10 from 10 cities. He said he plans to give the contestants media training and even teach them how to be on time.

"The goal of my show is to teach a person how to be a well-rounded rapper," he said.

At 16, Flip's ability to flow — sometimes for hours — with no written lyrics impressed the late DJ Screw, the storied underground innovator of Houston's slow-downed hypnotic style of rap, and moved him to anoint the precocious teenager "The Freestyle King."

Today he's known for his lavish jewelry, platinum grill and his collection of tattoos — he's has one for each album in addition to the many others. But he says he keeps it real with his devotion to God. In fact, he got his start in music playing the drums in his church's band.

Flip still lives in Houston — albeit in $1 million home with 15,000 square feet — and has a fierce sense of loyalty to the city that has been called the capital of Southern hip hop.

"We're more laid back with our records," he said. "We take pride in our cars, our grills, of course our teeth."

He also takes pride in his ability to help his fellow Houstonians break into the cut-throat industry.

"Most rappers, they get to a level and they look at it like, 'OK, I got money, look at what I got and they don't even try to extend their hand to help someone else to bring them up,' " Flip said. "That's why when Chamillion got his deal, I told him, 'Anytime you need me for a verse, just call.' "