You probably know Jibbs best from his stuck-in-your-head-for-days 2006 hit, “Chain Hang Low.” Back then, the rapper was just 15, but his song managed to rack up over 20,000 ringtone downloads in two week’s time. Now Jibbs is older, wiser and ready to rock the charts once again with his new album, New Tempo, New Swag (out August 25^th).  Jibbs recently had chat with myMag about the new album and what it’s like hitting it big as a teen.

You collaborated with Lloyd for your single “The Dedication (Ay DJ).” How did you guys meet and start working together?

I met Lloyd doing a tour that Bow Wow put on about two years ago and we always said we wanted to work together. When I went into the studio and actually did the song I was like, ‘Oh man, this would be the perfect song for Lloyd.’ So when he got the song he loved it, and when I got it back after his vocals were on it, I was like,’This is exactly what I imagined!’  That’s how the whole thing came about.

There’s a prom scene in the video for the song. Did you attend your own high school prom?

No, I didn’t get a chance to go to high school. I was home-schooled fresh out of middle school ‘cause I was signed when I was 14-years-old.

A lot of people know you from your song, “Chain Hang Low.” How have you progressed lyrically since your last album?

Lyrically and as a person, I’ve grown. I’m older now, I know a lot more and my songs are different subject-wise. I’ve read a lot more since I was 15, my vocabulary is thicker, and the subject matter is definitely different.

Who else have you collaborated with on your new album, New Tempo, New Swag?

I didn’t collaborate with many artists because on this album it’s a new me, I’m a new person  coming out and I’m gonna show everybody the real me. But I have a few like Lloyd, Pleasure P, Dre from Cool and Dre, and so on. I work with a lot of local artists too.

How do you feel about getting compared to other young artists because of your age?

It’s always a good thing because for an artist to even be in the game, they’ve done something right. I always try to be different from everyone, but being compared is always a good thing. 

You have quite a few tattoos. Can you tell us about them?

I only have two tattoos; they’re just big on both of my arms. The one on my left arm is dedicated to God; I got Psalm 91 from the Bible. The one on my other arm is dedicated to music, it says Jibbs on a music scale.

Now that you’ve been touring for a few years, do you find yourself getting recognized in public more?

Actually, it’s pretty crazy because I look totally different from how I did two years ago. I got hair on my face, I’m taller, I’m slimmer, so a lot of people don’t recognize me. They look a second time like, ‘Whoa, is that him?’

A lot of rappers change their names when they get older. Do you think you’ll ever do that?

Nah, if I change my name then it’ll be another nickname, like how Lil’ Wayne goes by Weezy. It’ll probably just be something like that, but changing Jibbs will not happen.

You got your start when you were just 14, do you have any advice for other young people who want to make it in the industry?