With his third album, 'Blood Sweat & Tears,' officially on shelves today (August 9), Ace Hood not only chose the title, he lived it. Spending up to 12 hours at a time in the studio making magic, the Florida native has put his all into the reflective work, which is an ode to his struggle, fallen homies and hustler mentality.

Over the years, Hood, born Antoine McColister, has gone through ups and downs, all pushing him one step closer to his dream. Although his previous two releases were not commercially successful, the 23-year-old counts himself lucky to have been given the opportunity to sign with DJ Khaled's We the Best label imprint, and has steadily gained his footing as both an artist and a business man.

In seeking advice on how to navigate his way through stardom, Hood relies on Khaled and other hip-hop heavyweights for help. "Whether it be Khaled or [Rick] Ross or [Cashy Money CEO] Birdman, or just my team," he tells The BoomBox. "I'm mature in a lot of aspects but the best advice [I've gotten] is just to save. Be wise with your funds. If you're able to, invest and expand your money."

Unlike his peers, Hood hasn't fallen victim to keeping up with the "hip-hop Joneses" when it comes to his spending habits, admitting that his most prized purchase was not a car, or a diamond chain, but a house for his mother. "I been there, done that," he reveals. "I'm young, I'm only 23 years old, but thank God I had those type of experiences with me being up at a point then being down. I endured that when I was young and that is an experience I never want to go through. I will never reach that point again. I'm not a huge flasher type dude; as long as my mom and my loved ones are taken care of and I'm healthy, that is all I really care about."

Hood's 'Blood Sweat & Tears' is in stores today. Read here for The BoomBox's in-depth interview with the rap star, where he opens up about his newborn twins, songs like 'Memory Lane' and his workout regimen.

Watch Ace Hood's 'Hustle Hard'



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