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The motor city has been buzzing lately and not for good reason. In the past year, they’ve lost a few soldiers to violence. As time goes on Detroit tries to move on, from the heart ached they’ve faced since ´05. Looking to brighten things up is Obie Trice. Straight out of the Eminem stable, Trice is trying to blow up even more the second time around. Hence the title of his new album, “Second Rounds On Me”.

Coming off the stellar numbers from his first album, “Cheers”, Obie is looking to get it in. Will he cave under the pressure of the sophomore slump? Or will he prevail as the sizzling soph? Only time will tell, but for right now, the second rounds on him as we toast it up.

Detroit has been under a lot of scrutiny as of late with homicides in the hip hop community. What’s your response to everything that has been going on?

The violence in Detroit been going on. This ain’t anything new. Things first started with the murders of Wipeout and Blade Icewood, I think that’s when people started realizing what was happening. Before those two murders I think people thought the homicides would blow over, but it took those two cases for people to open their eyes. Then when Proof was killed, everyone starting saying, “we really have a problem out here.”

You yourself were caught up in an incident. Did anything ever come of that or was it just a case of wrong place at the wrong time?

Yeah. I’m good. I still got all the things I need to function, you know. My motor skills are good so I’m good. Right now I’m just blessed to be here and talking to you.

You have your second album, Seconds Rounds On Me which dropped lately. First off why that title?

Well I wanted to keep the whole bar theme going. You know, the first album was called “Cheers: so this is pretty much phase two. Also because all this is on me. I put the whole thing together myself and then brought it to Eminem’s attention. So that was where the whole saying came from. This one is on me and I’m ready for it.

Who can people expect to see you trading verses with on this album ?

Of course I got Em’ on there. I got 50 Cent on there, along with Trey Songz. I got a few up and coming dudes from Detroit. I’m sure you heard the track with Akon. He’s on the album and a few others.

What can people expect on this album that they probably didn’t get from Cheers?

This album is showing my growth as an artist. A lot of people say that, but you can definitely hear it on this album in contrast to the first one. On this one I’m doing a lot of things differently that you didn’t hear on Cheers. I took a whole different approach so I’m hoping people enjoy it and like it. I think I’ve also matured since the first album. Things are a little different to me now and you’ll see that with the album.

What was your vision behind this album?

The first joint I recorded was a song called, “Lay Down”. That was the very first song I recorded. On that track I’m rhyming somewhat slow. Something along the lines of the Chopped and Screwed you hear in Houston. It was something different. My fans never heard me spit like that so I decided to try it out.

The “Snitch” song was a hot record, but it caught some flack. Do you think the whole “stop snitching” thing hampered what you were trying to do pushing that song as a first single?

I’m still gonna stick behind that record. I think that record could have been a great, great record as a first single. I think the video should have been played, but it wasn’t . The original video, I wrote the treatment for. It’s the one that people saw on Yahoo Music. I think that version could have been played on television instead of the version that was running. I think that could have been a humongous record, but as you said there were some issues so we had to pull back on it.

Eminem did a track that was way out his element. Speak on the “Jamaican Girl” record?

When Em played that record….actually it was on a beat cd he had. I was in the studio one day and I grabbed a couple beat cd’s and took them back to my studio. I took it to the studio and heard it and it sounded different. I always try to pick a beat that’s not too distinctive. When I heard the “Jamaican Girl” beat, I knew people wouldn’t put that with Em’s name so I took it. It’s something that you wouldn’t expect from Em. You wouldn’t expect to see Em on a dancehall tip.

Is that the next single? Or do we have to get the album to hear it?

We actually just shot a video for it. That’s gonna be a nice joint right there. I’m going on 106 & Park to premiere so people will hear it soon and see the video. So be on the look out for that.

Did you have a hands on with that video treatment also?

Nah! I only did the treatment for “Snitch”. I’m gonna slowly work my way in that direction though. Writing treatments is something I could see myself doing.

If you had to pick one record of this album and say it’s your favorite what would it be?

Man, I couldn’t pick just one. I’d say the whole album is my favorite. I really went in on this album and put my foot in it. I really believe in this album. It’s definitely a dope album to listen to.

What’s next up for Obie Trice?

I’ll be going out on tour dates. I want to really work this album. I want to touch every city, every state and every country this time around.

- By Marlon Guild