When he walked out of prison in 2002 he came out, iron jungle armed with hand written songs and a desire to make something new out of his life. And like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Lyfe has come from being an ex-convict to a worldwide star and in demand artist.

With three albums already under his belt and countless hits like “S-E-X”, and “Must be Nice” Lyfe has made a good life for himself in the industry. So with his fourth and most likely last album “Sooner than Later” ready to drop it’s no surprise that we find Lyfe Jennings thinking about his life in the game and after the game.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com got up with Lyfe Jennings to talk about his new album, his retirement, auto-tune and Drake.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com: Where have you been since your last album

Lyfe Jennings: Been grinding on the road. Doing a couple of shows, doing some features and enjoying my family. I got a book deal, about to shoot a pilot for this show I’m doing. It’s a lot of stuff, a lot of stuff.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com: Talk about the new disc. What can we as fans expect from the new album?

Lyfe Jennings: It’s crazy. it’s the best album that I’ve done so far. I’ve been working with different producers and this is my last album so I have to make it as great as I can

Wordonthestreetsmag.com: So this is going to be your last album? We’re not going to hear from Lyfe after this disc?

Lyfe Jennings: Not a studio album. I’m going to still be writing for other artists and I’m going to be working with new artists. As far as me putting out albums, I’m going to leave it to them other cats.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com: What made you want to put the mic down

Lyfe Jennings: I got 2 kids. One boy who’s 4, another who’s 2 and I really want to be there when they start to be able to make their own decisions and I want to be there so I can help them make the right decisions. I would hate for them to make a bad one and for me to be able to help but not be there.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com: As usual you have a grip of hip-hop features. Do you consider yourself hip-hop?

Lyfe Jennings: I don’t consider myself no one but an artist who’s just trying to put out good music. Fab will add to it, Ludacris can add to it, but I don’t put myself in a box. I just want to put out good music.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com: You’re also known for giving back in the community, is that something that’s important to you as a person and artist?

Lyfe Jennings: Yeah, it is. If your blessed to have something, the only way you can justify your blessing is by blessing someone else.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com: Auto-tune has been debated a lot in hip-hop and R&B. What do you think about it and its use in music? Will we hear Lyfe on auto-tune?

Lyfe Jennings: I’ve done a little auto-tune here and there. It’s a fad and these young kids are doing it, but I ain’t a hater of it. I don’t think anyone has the right to hate on them. We had our fads from bell bottoms to baggy jeans and they have theirs. Stop worrying about them and worry about yourself.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com: Who are you listening to right now?

Lyfe Jennings: Drake. I really like that dude. Dude is crazy with it. He ain’t so obscene. Some rappers are so obscene that you can’t listen to them with your kids or your moms. He’s edgy enough, but he’s real witty and not watered down. I like him.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com Since you’ve been released from prison what has been your most proud accomplishment?

Lyfe Jennings: Having health insurance for my kids. That’s what I’m proud of cause most people didn’t have it. I didn’t have it at all growing up, medical, dental, nothing. So to be able to provide for my children is what I’m most proud of.

Wordonthestreetsmag.com: Talk about “Sooner Than Later” Who are you working with on the album?

Lyfe Jennings: We’re steady evolving. We got a new single called “Haters” out in the streets right now. The label didn’t really want to put that out, but I wanted to. It was just a statement to people who were putting negativity on my name. Fabolous on the album, Anthony Hamilton, Bobby Valentino, Ludacris and we’re going to go out and get some more features in a little while.

Wordontehstreetsmag.com: Are you nervous about selling records. This drought has even effected artists with a name.

Lyfe Jennings: If you got 100 people buying records and 1000 people putting out music then fans aren’t going to buy records. Fans aren’t just picking out an artist to support because it all sounds the same. They don’t have to buy anyone’s record because they can just hear the same thing somewhere else. I make music that people can make commitments off my music, make babies off my music and that’s something that will never go away.

Sooner than Later, September 22nd.