Obie Trice is kicking off the second quarter of 2012 with a new album, Bottoms Up. And, to celebrate, the Detroit rapper held his album release party at S.O.B.'s in New York City last night (April 3rd). DJ Statik Selektah hosted the event and set the night off blazing the turn tables.

"It's a real solid record," Trice bragged to XXL. "I'm proud of it!"

Trice performed many tracks from the album including "Richard," a song produced by Statik Selektah and featuring Shady Records' Eminem. Obie also performed "Battle Cry" and his latest single to hit the streets, "Spend the Day." He didn't leave out his classic hits, either. The audience got a bonus treat when Trice performed some of his classics like, "The Set Up," with the late Nate Dogg on the hook and G-Unit's "We All Die One Day."

When asked what his relationship with Shady Records is since branching out on his own, Obie said,  "I most definitely will always work with Eminem in the near future making more music. Eminem is my brother. We'll always make music. That will never change.

"And Dre, I was appreciative that he gave me a song," he continue. "A record to form my album. I went through Aftermath, and it was just a good look. It's a good relationship. It's cool just to be able to have that outlet. I can just get with Dre and call him, and he'll look out. That felt good."

In reference to the hip-hop overall, Obie feels that rap artists from the mid west are making a tremendous impact on the music industry.

"I'm proud of artists like Big Sean and Kanye West," he saluted. "I like Royce the 5'9", Black Milk, Elzhi, Slum Village. I'm liking the way the mid west is looking in music. That's why I started Black Market Entertainment. I want to push local artists from that area to an international level. That's what we are trying to do with Bottoms Up. Just keep moving and grow as a company as well. We want to reach back to people like Eminem did for me."

In addition, Obie said  he recently spoke to 2012 XXL Freshman French Montana and hopes to work with him real soon.

"I spoke to French yesterday," he revealed. "He hollered at me and said, 'whatever, let's do this!'  I'll definitely work with him in the future." —Chanel Clark

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