Edison Chen Koon-hei says he's been enjoying newfound freedom since his record deal with EEG ended last year.
'I'm free to do whatever I want,' said Chen, who on Tuesday will release Edison Chen Mixtape CD 69 FM. 'My voice isn't owned by any company any more. It feels good.
'Unless they pay me a lot of money, to be honest, I don't want to be a slave any more I don't want to be told what shows to go to, what radio programmes are good, what clothes to wear, which lyrics I should sing. I just don't think music should be done that way. It's a shame.'
His new CD, available only in his store, Juice, in Causeway Bay, features Chen's production team (Clot, MC Chef, MC Yan and DJ Tommy) as well as young Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco, who appeared on Kanye West's Touch the Sky. Chen also samples music by West and Dr Dre.
'It's going to be a banger, something shocking,' said Chen, 25, who appeared on a track for a Clinton Sparks/Kanye West mixtape released in February.
Chen started his career in 2000 singing sugary Canto-pop. He put out his first hip hop record, Please Steal This Album, in 2004 with the help of former LMF rapper MC Yan. The critically acclaimed record sold well. Since then, Chen hasn't looked back. Last year, he released another hip-hop CD, Hazy, with songs about his career changes and life experiences.