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MC Jin Talks New Album 14:59 , Life After Ruff Ryders

Former Freestyle Friday rapper gears up for more music.

Stepping away from the game for one year could be career suicide for some hip hop artists, so imagine making a come back after a decade-long hiatus. Former Ruff Ryder MC Jin is doing just that. He's back after stepping away from mainstream music for more than a decade and ready to test his faith with his forthcoming album, 14:59.

“It’s definitely the most conceptually focused album I’ve ever worked on over the last 10-plus years,” the former Freestyle Friday rapper told BET.com of his forthcoming studio effort. “I’m feeling re-inspired and refocused."

Jin quickly became known as the “Chinese kid who could rap,” devouring his opponents in 106 & Park's weekly rap battles. He eventually was etched into the Hall of Fame and became the first Asian rapper to sign to a major label when he dropped his Ruff Ryders debut, The Rest Is History, in 2004. But after his two singles, "Learn Chinese" and "Senorita," failed to top the charts, Jin retreated from the hip hop spotlight.

During his time away, Jin migrated back to his native country, China, and found musical inspiration in Hong Kong. The inspiration behind his first English album in almost 10 years forced Jin to treat this album like it could be his last.

“All I’m saying is, what do you do with that last second of your 15 minutes of fame?” Jin asked. “That’s were the 14:59 comes from. Your'e looking at the clock and it’s 59 seconds left. 'This is it, Jin.'”

Check out the video below to hear what MC Jin's been up to.

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

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(Photo: Jon Ricard/Getty Images)

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