Sterling Simms epitomizes pure humility. Even before the December 23rd release of his debut album, Yours, Mine & The Truth, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with the best in the music business. Appearing on Jay-Z's "Dig A Hole" in '06, Sterling Simms has already achieved what many artists salivate over. This actualization of a treasured dream can be overwhelming to say the least. However, after realizing what was once an elusive fantasy, Sterling's grounded behavior has remained unchanged. Transforming himself into a sponge, Sterling has absorbed an invaluable lesson in humility from the musical masterminds that he has worked with.

It's been a long time coming and the painstaking work is about to pay off. "All I Need," featuring Jadakiss, is Sterling's current single. Creating an inviting symphony of inviting "ooohs" and "aaahs," the ease at which Sterling accesses his upper register is akin to that of Prince. Sterling's voice is as succulent as his engaging lips. The pleasant confidence that he naturally exudes is as appealing as his sincere love for the craft.

Standing six foot on his good days, the R&B chanter has a lot to be happy about. The star that is tattooed on the left side of his neck is an unassuming sign of what's to come -- stardom.

BallerStatus.com: I read a quote from you that really resounded with me. Regarding your music you stated, "This is what I breathe..."

Sterling Simms: Ah yes it is, definitely. I do breathe this, (chuckles) everyday.

BallerStatus.com: How would you describe your relationship with music?

Sterling Simms: Describe my relationship with it? It's like my girlfriend. You know, I can't cheat on my girlfriend. A lot of times, that puts a strain on a lot of my relationships because I choose my business over a lot of things. I guess other people wouldn't, but at the end of the day, this is my livelihood. I gotta go all in. You gotta go hard or go home.

BallerStatus.com: I'm beginning to believe that music may be intertwined in your DNA. I've read that your grandpa was a musician...

Sterling Simms: Definitely, my grandfather was into music. I got a lot of cousins and a lot of aunts and uncles that are into it as well. They are musicians, [and] a couple of singers. You know, it's always been in my blood. I've been singing since ... they say I sang first when I was six years old. And I've been going hard at it since I was like 12 or 13. That definitely had a lot to do with it as well. I don't feel like I'm doing it just for myself, I feel like I'm doing it for my family. The Simms, we've been all trying to do this for a long time. But, I've been the one to make it this far, so it's like I gotta carry it out. I got to see it through.

BallerStatus.com: Okay, that's what's up. So, music is like a cohesive family tie?

Sterling Simms: Yeah, and it's a family effort. Shout out to the Simms family they holding it down. (chuckles)

BallerStatus.com: Does your cousin still play with Wynton Marsalis?

Sterling Simms: My cousin, Farrid? I'm not sure if he's still playing with Wynton. But, I know he was on tour with Wynton Marsalis for a long time.

BallerStatus.com: Where are you from and where do you currently reside?

Sterling Simms: Right now, I'm in Atlanta. Originally I'm from Philadelphia. I've been in Atlanta, off and on, for the past ten years. Atlanta is definitely in my veins as well. I feel like I coined the phrase "Atlanta-delphian."

BallerStatus.com: Seeing as you've lived in Philadelphia and Atlanta, do you have a more Southern or a more Eastern mindset?

Sterling Simms: I've lived in Atlanta for a long time, but Philly definitely molded the man that I am today. I think it's safe to say that I have a Philadelphia state of mind, when it comes to everything. You know what I'm saying? The way I move, the way I shake ... you know, my swag. That's all Philly. And anybody that knows me will tell you that, too. Atlanta definitely created and molded and fine tuned the artist that I am today. But, Sterling Simms the person, when you speak to me, you'll definitely know that I'm a Philadelphia native.

BallerStatus.com: In the words of Sam Cooke, "it's been a long time coming!" December 23rd, Yours, Mine and The Truth, hits stores. Why should the public invest time into embracing you as an artist?

Sterling Simms: You know, with this project, I put a lot of work into it. Yours, Mine and The Truth is really autobiographical. You know, that's why it's called Your, Mine and The Truth. It's based off a relationship. There's my version of what happened, her version of what happened, and then there's the truth. It's something that fans will be able to relate to because everybody that's been in a relationship goes through these things. The things I talk about on this record, I think fans will get an appreciation from it. You'll get an appreciation from it. I know I got an appreciation from it. I'm just anxious to meet everybody else and for them to meet me.

BallerStatus.com: Was this lady your first love?

Sterling Simms: This lady was definitely my first love, and it just goes into depth of what happened. It's definitely gonna hit home of what happened in my eyes, and definitely in her eyes, and then the truth. You know, you gotta listen to the album to really see what the truth is. I think that's gonna be the twist to it.

BallerStatus.com: Which track is the most personal to you?

Sterling Simms: There's a record on there called "Best Friend." It's really personal to me. And, another record that I did with Oak, from my writing team, the Knightwritaz. [It's] called "Single."

BallerStatus.com: Do you mind discussing the details behind "Best Friend?"

Sterling Simms: Oh, no, not at all. That's one of the records that comes from my version of what happened. It's basically about me and my girlfriend breaking up. And shortly after we broke up, I found out that she was pregnant. And I automatically assumed the baby was mine because we weren't broken up that long. But come to find out, when we got into it, it was by my best friend.

BallerStatus.com: Yikes.

Sterling Simms: Yeah, it's kinda crazy. It's a soap opera if you will. (laughs) Yours, Mine and The Truth, volume one. Series one, episode one.

BallerStatus.com: Do you have any kinda relationship with either of the two now?

Sterling Simms: Um, yeah we're cool. It's water under the bridge for me now. I made a good record out of it, and I'm over it. It's cool, we live and we learn. It happened to me when I was young. So, it's all good now, I'm not tripping. I've moved on.

BallerStatus.com: I respect your maturity.

Sterling Simms: (laughs) I appreciate it.

BallerStatus.com: With this being your debut album, you've already worked with several elite producers and MCs in R&B and hip-hop. What's been the most important lesson that you've learned from these industry icons?

Sterling Simms: The most important thing I've learned throughout the years, you know, from meet and greeting everybody, the thing I've learned is just humility. Being humble and staying humble, that's what's gonna get you longevity in this business. I try and greet everybody that I meet with a smile. I try to be courteous, I try to be cordial. I try to be me, the best me that I can be. I try to remain myself by keeping a strong team around me. The people that are around me keep me grounded and keep me humble. Humility, definitely that's the one thing that I can pass on to anybody out there is to say humble.

BallerStatus.com: Originally titled Worth Your While, your album was slated to drop in '07. What events led you to rename your album and to push back the release date?

Sterling Simms: I've been signed to Def Jam for two years, but this has been something that I have been working at since I was 16. I've been going at it professionally since I was 16. In my opinion, the album Worth Your While was a little rushed. You know and this wasn't something that I really wanted to rush out. I really wanted to take my time and give the fans my best effort. So, in the past year we kinda changed the direction and the theme of the album. We put some new records on there because some of the other records had leaked. There's definitely new material on the album that fans haven't heard. I just feel confident in this album now. I feel like we're so ready. Yours, Mine and The Truth is coming soon. I'm happy and I'm excited about it.

BallerStatus.com: Creatively is there a big distinction between being a writer and being an artist?

Sterling Simms: It depends. When I'm writing for myself, it's really all the same because it's all me. But when I'm writing for other people, I gotta put myself in another artist's mindset and see what they really want to talk about. So, there's definitely a distinction between the two.

BallerStatus.com: Are you currently boo'd up or are you just working on your music?

Sterling Simms: I'm boo'd up with my music right now.

BallerStatus.com: Is that what they tell y'all to say?

Sterling Simms: Nah, nah, nah. I don't have any coaching right now. It's all me. I'm married to my music, I have to be focused. I have an album that's coming out. I'm bout to hit the road, I gotta touch the people. You know, I got to promote this album. So, I gotta stay focused on my craft and what I do right now.

BallerStatus.com: In your opinion what constitutes personal success?

Sterling Simms: Really being happy with oneself. You know, I don't think success is measured by any amount of money that you can make or any status. I think it's about being happy with yourself. I consider myself a successful person. I'm happy with my life, with my relationship with God, with my relationship with my family. You know what I'm saying, so I consider myself successful. That's just my opinion.

BallerStatus.com: You present yourself as being a jazzy gentleman?

Sterling Simms: What? A Jazzy gentleman? (laughs)

BallerStatus.com: Uh huh. I mean you dress nicely.

Sterling Simms: (chuckles) Okay, thank you.

BallerStatus.com: What can you tell me about the clothing line Selfish?

Sterling Simms: Um, that's something that's still in the works. That's a t-shirt line that I want to start. It's still in the works. I haven't gone all the way in with it now. But it's definitely a project that I'ma start getting out there.

Your, Mine and The Truth hits stores December 23. For more info, visit MySpace.com/SterlingSimms.