Raptalk.Net hooked up with Ace Hood for the second time, on his second promo run, on the eve of the release of his sophomore album, Ruthless, which drops tomorrow, June 30th 2009. We start off by discussing the promo run and how it is treating him differently than the first one did. Ace explains to us why this promo run has been better, and why he has thoroughly enjoyed it more.

 Although it's only been a handful of months since the release of his debut album, Ace Hood talks about how he has evolved as an artist since the release of Gutta, and how his personality and work ethic has seen Def Jam allow him to come back so quickly for a second album.

After spending some time reflecting on Gutta, we begin to gather the details on Ruthless. We talk about the meaning behind the title, his relationship with DJ Khaled, the "Overtime" single with Akon & T-Pain, additional guest appearances, production, and what sort of goals Ace would like to see this album accomplish.

Enjoy...

Raptalk.Net: We’re here with Ace Hood! We had Ace for an interview on the brink of his last album release “Gutta”, and now we have him again right before his second LP “Ruthless” is set to appear in stores.  Start us off by letting everybody know how you’re doing Ace?

Ace Hood: Oh man, I’m blessed and going hard. I’m taking it one day at a time. I’m on my “I Am Ruthless” tour as we speak. Right now, I’m just getting it in. June 30^th my album is officially in stores. My second album, my sophomore project will be in stores. How are you?

Raptalk.Net: I’m doing really well but it looks like you’re doing better than me. That sounds pretty good to me!

Ace Hood: (Laughs) Yeah man, I’m blessed, you hear me?

Raptalk.Net: Absolutely. I’m glad you brought up the tour because I interviewed you twice on your first promo run. I could tell you were having fun but it was a new experience for you. How is this second promo run treating you?

Ace Hood: It’s treating me good. It’s an even better and bigger experience this time around. Every city I’ve been to, everybody knows who Ace Hood is now, rather than people trying to get familiar with my name. Now they are definitely matching the name with the face and they know who I am. They are getting a feel for me when I step out like “oh my God that is Ace Hood.” It’s this and that. They are showing a lot more love the second time around. I’m feeling good, you know?

Raptalk.Net: What would you say has been the most different on this promo run in comparison to the first?

Ace Hood: Just as far as like that, me being a bigger artist. I would say that’s the biggest difference.

Raptalk.Net: How have you evolved as an artist since “Gutta” was released?

Ace Hood:  I’ve seen a lot of things and experienced a lot of situations in my life that put me at this part of my life. That’s why I titled the album “Ruthless”, the way it is now. It’s just my state of mind right now. We gotta’ get it by all means and losing is not an option. My mind frame has grown mentally. I also grew lyrically with this album. I’m taking it to another level.

Raptalk.Net: I want to get more in-depth about the title, but first off, are you happy with how “Gutta” came about and how it was released with everything involved with the project?

Ace Hood: With the timing now, as far as the sales, the game is different nowadays. “Gutta” was my first album and my introduction being who I am. I’m proud of what it’s done.

Raptalk.Net: And on the topic of record sales, if Def Jam was that disappointed with what it accomplished, I don’t think you’d be putting out a second album not even year after the first.

Ace Hood: Yeah, yeah. That’s what I’m saying. At the end of the day they know one thing about Ace Hood – he is a humble dude. He makes great music. I‘m just building me. I made this album more personal. The fans have to know you as a person in order to buy into you. That’s the route I’m taking with the music. I’m letting people know more of who I am as a person. They will know more about who I am rather than just hearing about what I did. I want them to experience me laugh and having fun, me clowning, me doing this and that. People will see a more personal Ace Hood. That is what we’re doing the second time around.

Raptalk.Net: You touched on it a bit, but I want to get more into it. What is the meaning behind you titling the album “Ruthless?”

Ace Hood: It’s just my state of mind. “I Am Ruthless” is the title because of the way I rap and go hard on the mic. I’m ruthless on that mic and in that booth. Ruthless is my state of mind being that I grew up being told that I couldn’t do a thing in life. I flipped that around and showed people that I could do it. I made non-believers into believers. Part of that has to do with my mom and her work ethic. She worked 2-3 jobs to get the job done. This “Ruthless” title represents that, whatever it takes to get the job done, we’re gonna’ do it.

Whoever isn’t with us, it doesn’t matter because we’re stepping on them. That is the mind frame we have nowadays. Either you’re with us or your not, or we’re stepping on you. That’s how we feel about the whole situation. That is why I choose “Ruthless.” That’s just my state of mind. We gotta’ get it by all means. We’re just number one and we are ruthless. I am ruthless on this mic and the way I go hard. I am Ruthless with the way I’m promoting right now. It’s my whole demeanor.

Raptalk.Net: I feel that. Do you think is that humbleness of yours that is allowing you to release a second album in less than a year span?

Ace Hood: I would definitely say that. My hunger and my starvation is what separate me from a lot of artists. A lot of people salute me for that. You don’t find many artists with that hunger and starvation nowadays. At the end of the day, one of the things that got me here in far as me having a second album with hit records and good music is my hunger and my humbleness.

Raptalk.Net: How has DJ Khaled who really found you, becoming the president of Def Jam South positively effected your situation?

Ace Hood: He could pull certain strings as far as working. He has some say on some aspects and situations. I am proud of my brother. He is head of his situation at Def Jam South. That’s what I am able to stand from and say about that.

Raptalk.Net: That is good because he is definitely one of the biggest supporters of your situation.

Ace Hood: Yeah, he definitely is.

Raptalk.Net: Tell us about the first single “Overtime.”

Ace Hood: That is the first single. “Overtime” is a motivation and inspirational record. It’s a huge record. One thing I wanted to do with this album like I was telling you before was get more personal with my situation. I feel like with the state of the economy and the whole situation, we need some hope. I felt “Overtime” was the perfect record. But I didn’t just want the video to be a regular original hustler’s video, like when you see a hustler trying to get money on the grind. I wanted the motivational aspect. That is why I did it music wise, sports wise, academic wise. That’s the basis of “Overtime” and what I mean by going overtime. It’s a huge record. It’s gonna’ be one of those big records that the youth is going to love with graduating situations and what not. Even regular people in life, just going overtime trying to get money the way that you do it. You gotta’ go overtime and work extremely hard in order to get yours.

Raptalk.Net: Tell us about featuring both Akon and T-Pain on it; you normally just see one of them.

Ace Hood: Akon is a phenomenal dude. T-Pain is also a phenomenal artist in the game. Just to give me that extra little pop, I went and did that. Akon did a phenomenal hook and we just called in a extra favor and got T-Pain on the little bridge and what not. He made it that much more of a hit record.

Raptalk.Net: Who else appears on the album in terms of guest appearances?

Ace Hood: This album, I have Jeremih on the album. I have The-Dream on the album. I have Ludacris on there. Lloyd is on the album. It’s a phenomenal album. I have my man Schife on a couple of crazy records. This is definitely a great album, just like “Gutta” was.

Raptalk.Net: Who handled the production?

Ace Hood: I had The Runners co-produce just about the entire album. They have a lot of big tunes on the album. I have DJ Nasty as well. The Inkredibles came through as well.

Raptalk.Net: Cool & Dre?

Ace Hood: Nah we didn’t have a chance to get Cool & Dre but they definitely played a part in this project.

Raptalk.Net: We talked about “Overtime” and it’s definitely doing his thing. Have you begun working on what the second single is going to be?

Ace Hood: The second record is already out playing on the radio. It’s titled “Champion” with Jazmine Sullivan.

Raptalk.Net: That’s the record with Rick Ross, correct?

Ace Hood: Yes.

Raptalk.Net: I’ve heard that on the radio and what not. Is that the record you’re going to shoot the next video for?

Ace Hood: Yeah. We’re gonna’ shoot the video for that on June 13^th. It’s going to be big.

Raptalk.Net: What are your goals for this album? And you can interpret goals however you’d like. It could be success record sales wise, ring tone wise, how the people receive the album and what not. What are your goals?

Ace Hood: My goals for this album are to get great responses from the people. I want after this album to be done, is for the people to get more of a feel for Ace Hood as a person. That is definitely the goal I want to get out of this album. Of course more or less sales wise with the way the game is, you can never expect anything. I would just say the response from the people. I want them to know who I am as a person. I want them to feel me on this album.

Raptalk.Net: Why should the fans go cop “Ruthless” on June 30^th?

Ace Hood: Because this album is me. It’s my actual life. We’re chasing the motivational aspect. I’m giving you the Ace Hood life. We’re reckless and this has hit records riding on there. We have a record with me and Jeremih that is incredible, it is “Ride” times ten, a phenomenal record. It is giving the people hope, its motivation for the people. If you’ve ever doubted your life or have ever been down on yourself, this album is for you. We have “Champion” on there with me and Jazmine Sullivan, “Champion” with me and Akon. This is a big album. That’s my state of mind. This album is definitely a representation for the people.

Raptalk.Net: Thanks a whole lot for your time Ace. You’re on Raptalk.Net and will definitely catch you on the next album for the third time.  Do you have any last words before I let you go?

Ace Hood: I appreciate everybody for supporting me across the world, and for holding me down. Hit me up on MySpace at www.myspace.com/acehood and www.twitter.com/acehood954. “Ruthless” is a classic album. For those of you who copped “Gutta”, that was your introduction to me. Help me make history once again with this “Ruthless” album. It’s a big album. It’s Ace Hood and it’s more inspirational with such records as “Overtime.” We’re taking you “Overtime” in order to make you a “Champion.”Ace Hood is the future of this music, you understand me? Ace Hood is the next thing that is popping right now. I do this music for the people. Feel free to hit me up, 954-357-3476. I keep the lines open and popping. “Ruthless” June 30^th, I appreciate y’all.

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