Styles P hurt his leg after a recent run-in with a man filled
with road rage, but it’s not stopping the MC from recording. Styles says the new
LOX album is almost done, and he’s working on his next solo album
as well. SP is a free agent and wants to drop again right away. "I’m off
of Ruff Ryders and Interscope," he explained. "I’m
still there as the LOX, but as a soloist, Styles P, I’m gone. I give it a smile.
I get to do a lot of work. I get to let loose.

"There’s a lot of people hollering right now," he added about where
he might land a new record deal. "But to tell you the truth, I don’t even
want to speak to anybody in the majors until I speak to everybody independent.
I don’t even know if I will speak to any of the majors. … Then again I will,
just because there’s some people I respect. I’ve been through a lot of ups and
downs. I want to get properly paid for my work. I think I’m too street for them
to ever put me on a high industry pedestal. I don’t see that coming. I get respect
’cause I’m a made man, because of the work I do."

Styles said after a long talk with Dee Dean from Ruff Ryders
and Interscope head Jimmy Iovine, everyone decided amicably
it would be best if they sever business ties — at least when it comes
to the album Styles is doing by himself.

"I’ll be critical of myself. Maybe I was real anal on my project as an
artist," he said of his recently released Time Is Money. He did say he
was upset that Ruff Ryders/ Interscope didn’t give him a single or video to
support the project’s release, and the LP was pushed back several times over
an almost three-year period. "I don’t just handle my project as an artist.
I’mma try to handle it as a CEO, a businessman.

"I guess it’s hard to market me," he continued. "I may rap one
way one day and make ‘I’m Black,’ then another way another day and make ‘Favorite
Drug.’ I had to spread my wings and do what I do. You can look to hear from
me hard in March or April. I will be right back. I haven’t thought of an album
title yet. I’m still smoking and pondering on it. But I’m the Phantom now; the
Ghost is over with. If you’re my friend, you can call me the Ghost. But as far
as MCing … and don’t call me a rapper no more. Call me an MC."