Joell Ortiz’s life will be coming to the big screen later today at the 11th annual HBO New York International Latino Film Festival. XXLMag.com recently chopped it up with the Brooklyn-bred MC to find out about his documentary.

The 43-minute film, titled Joell Ortiz: Free Agent, follows the Slaughterhouse MC from his big breakthrough, when he signed with Dr. Dre until leaving the label two years ago.

“After the Aftermath situation I could’ve went down hill from there,” he said. “It was very discouraging as a kid to get a record deal at a huge label with a huge super producer get there and it doesn’t happen. I had haters and whole bunch of people like see I told you, and a whole bunch of other people just like it just wasn’t meant to be, and then there was me, and a crew that was like it didn’t work, OK.”

“I want the documentary to inspire everybody and let them know its not over because everybody else say it’s over,” he continued. “You can be any place you want if you really work at it, because it’s the truth and that’s that.”

Free Agent, which was directed by the ICU Lab, features nine years worth of footage as well as interviews with fellow Slaughterhouse comrades Royce da 5’9”, Joe Budden, Nas, KRS-One, DJ Kay Slay, Fat Joe and 50 Cent.

It will be playing at the Clear View Cinemas in New York City tonight at 9 p.m. For more information on the film and to purchase tickets, visit here. —Rosario Mercedes Velazquez

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