Word of mouth has taken Jive Record's newest hip-hop artist Petey Pablo many places -- literally. Within the course of two years, the Greensville, North Carolina native moved to New York and gained the respect of music industry veterans, copped a record deal, and finished recording his debut album, Diary of a Sinner: First Entry. Having already appeared on Mystical's double-platinum album and on Black Rob's "Whoa!" remix, itís time for the world to meet the rapper that hip hop diva Missy Elliot hailed as the illest MC Down South.

"I go everywhere on the album. I talk about everything. You ain't gonna hear no bling, blinging, that I killed 15,000 people, or how much my car cost or how many cars I got ‚ cause that ain't rap. I only write what I feel, what I believe, what I have done, or what I want to do. Everything is real. As wild as some stuff may sound in my rhymes, either I've done it, thought about doing it, is gone do it or I been through it in some shape, form, or fashion."

Petey's interest in music was sparked at a young age via the church and the school where he learned to sing and acted in plays. Although he originally dreamed of being a singer, the North Carolina native quickly became fascinated with hip-hop in junior high school where he began rapping with a local crew. Long after his crew disbanded, Pablo kept rapping until his interest in the streets peaked, eventually landed him a six year jail bid in jail ‚ and even then he kept busting flows and throwing concerts for inmates.

Fresh out of jail with nothing but determination and "a hole in a doughnut," Petey took the few dollars that his friend gave him and moved to New York. However, things didn't work out as quickly as he had planned. Meanwhile, Petey's resilience, easy going ways, and rhyming ability helped land him a few celebrity friends like Busta Rhymes, Mystical and Black Rob.

However, it was the one night while Petey was chilling with Black Rob at a club in New York that would change his life forever. "We was in the bathroom rhyming and Jive's head A&R walked in the bathroom while we were in there. It was like me, Rob, Doug E. Fresh, and a whole lotta kids. So the A&R walked into the bathroom and asked me if I was signed, and I was like nah. He was like come over to Jive and we'll give you anything you want."

Already having worked with Black Rob, Mystical, Heavy D, Queen Latifah, and with projects in the works with Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez, Petey is fast becoming one of the industry's most sought after artists. And most of the requests to have him appear on other artist's albums have come through word of mouth. Such with the case with Missy and Timbaland. By the time he met Timbaland, the legendary super-producer was already a fan.

"Timbaland had been looking for me cause he heard on the Black Rob "Whoa! Remix," says Petey. When we went to Miami, I seen Missy and she was like this is Petey Pablo, and he was like I've been looking for you. And it's been on and popping ever since."

However, what many people don't know is that Petey was almost the newest member of Busta Rhymes Flipmode Squad. Although things didnít work out, the two still remain on good terms.

"Busta had his hands full and it was just the wrong timing. I mean, he wanted me bad, I know he did, and I respect him a lot for that. But when youíre in a position like that, I don't think it's fair to stifle your dreams. Me and Busta talked and he told me he understood. I mean he told me the other night if anybody deserves it, itís you. I was really happy to hear him say that."

With production from such producers as Timbaland, Prophecy (Busta Rhymes and Mobb Deep), Chucky Madness, Abnormal, and Petey Pablo himself, hip hop fans will undoubtedly hear some of the realest songs they've ever heard on Diary of a Sinner. Diary has the type of balance that most hip-hop albums lack today. While Petey's amped-up, vicious, rough flows will get the party started with such rugged, bouncy dancefloor anthems as "Who Da Shit" and "Fun Room," both of which Petey Pablo produced himself, he lets listeners visit more personal moments of his life. Songs like "What You Tell My Mama" and "Truth About Me" -- both of which deal with his mother having to deal with his involvement in street life -- and "Testin My Faith" where he talks about making it through some of the hardest times of his life -- feature Petey candidly sharing his life with the listener.

"I really don't look at it like an album when I listen to it," says Petey. Itís a diary for your ears to read. I give it to you where you can either accept it or not accept it. There's no in between. And all my stuff is very, very visual."

While the world has yet to experience the pride of North Cacalaca, it will only be a matter of time before everybody knows Peteyís name since word of mouth will take him everywhere.