By Mehka

When Ace Hood spits, he spits with a passion. There’s a feeling in his voice, the way he punctuates his words. Maybe its his attitude. But you can tell from all his recordings that when he picks up a microphone controlling a crowd is what he’s supposed to do.

So it’s no wonder that the prodigious star grew like a rose from the concrete after finding himself under the wing of Dj Khaled. After helping the likes of Rick Ross and Fat Joe break records, Khaled turned his attention to Hood.

Signing Ace to his “We the Best” label, Khaled landed a deal with Def Jam to release his debut disc “Gutter” Spawning hits like “Cash Flow” and “Ride or Die” and rhyming alongside the likes of Trick Daddy, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, Ace solidified himself in the game as one of the next wave of superstars.

A week before his sophomore set “Ruthless” drops, Ace talked to wordonthestreetsmag.com about his new album, his relationship with Dj Khaled and what makes him “Ruthless”

What makes you “Ruthless”

Ace Hood: That’s my mind frame right now. There’s been a lot of people trying to stop my grind. And trying to stop my whole camp from doing what they doing, so that’s how we thinking. Loosing is never an option. They said that I wouldn’t make it out my city and I did. They said that I wouldn’t have a first single and I did, they said that I wouldn’t have a first album and I did. They said that I wouldn’t come out with a 2nd album and I did. First single bangin, second single bangin.

You’re single “Overtime” is different than either of your last two singles. What was the concept behind “Overtime”

Ace Hood: Overtime is a motivational, inspirational record. I felt like with how the world is right now with the economy and the recession, that this was the best record to put out. And let them know that you don’t have to take this route and I can take them through an motivational route and open myself up.

Dj Khaled was the one who brought you into the game and to Def Jam. Now he has a big position at Def Jam. Does that help or hurt your relationship any?

Ace Hood: It aint effecting me in anyway, it’s a blessing for me. Him working with Def Jam and me being apart of the situation is just helping me a lot more. He got a big situation coming up with his new album and all I can say is victory!

Talk about “Ruthless” the album. What can we look out for?

Ace Hood: I got this crazy record with Jazmine Sullivan. I’m telling you this is going to take us to the Grammy’s triple black tux! We gonna get it in. I got Jerimah, Baby, Dream, Ludacris, Rick Ross.

Do you fear a sophomore slump any?

Ace Hood: People heard the 1st album, they loved it! We got records, music is never the problem. I’m trying to go for that number 1 album.

myspace.com/ace hood, twitter.com/acehood954