After getting signed to Jive Records, Petey Pablo began working on his debut album. The first single "Raise Up" was released in summer 2001, which was produced by Timbaland. "Raise Up" was helped by rotation on MTV and heavy airplay on urban radio, and reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Petey Pablo's debut album peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
2003–2006: Second studio album, and hiatus
In early 2003, Petey Pablo's debut album received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album, losing the award to Eminem's The Eminem Show. Petey Pablo would continue his success with the release of his second studio album, which he started working on in 2003. The album was a critical and commercial success, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The lead single off the album, "Freek-a-Leek", produced by Lil Jon ended up being Petey Pablo's biggest hit single of his career by reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Also in 2004, Petey Pablo achieved more mainstream success for his feature on Ciara's hit single "Goodies" which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Eventually after the release of his second studio album, Petey Pablo went on a hiatus from music.
2010–present: Return to music and third studio album
After his departure from Jive Records, Petey Pablo founded his own independent label, Carolina Music Group. He released a track in July 2010 entitled "Go", which was produced by Timbaland. In September 2011, Petey Pablo had released a single called "Get Low" on iTunes. On February 17, 2012, Petey Pablo released a mixtape called Carolina #1 while in prison under the independent newly founded label "Carolina Music Group". Pablo had also confirmed working on his third studio album A&R: Anticipated Recordings, which has yet to have a confirmed release date. In late 2015 Pablo released a new single titled "Never Imagined". On Sunday, January 17, 2016, after the Carolina Panthers' victory off the Seattle Seahawks in the 2016 NFC Divisional playoffs, Pablo released a new single via Soundcloud and YouTube titled "Carolina Colors". The single was used as a hype song for the 2016 NFC Championship Game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Acting career
In 2002, Petey Pablo appeared as himself in the film Drumline where he performs "Club Banger", "You Can Find Me", "Raise Up", and "I Told Y'All". Pablo had a small guest appearance in ""A Thousand Deaths" ", a 2005 episode of The Shield. In 2009, Petey Pablo appeared in the film Just Another Day where he played a character named B-Bone. On September 23, 2015 Petey played Clyde in the episode "Without a Country" on the hit show Empire, in which his character performed "Snitch Bitch" with Lucious Lyon behind bars.
