(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

With no time to spare fretting over the uncertainty of a sophomore jinx, Brooklyn rapper Maino is back in full promo mode in preparation for his 2nd album, The Day After Tomorrow.

After releasing a string of hits such as “Hi Hater,” “Million Bucks” featuring Swizz Beatz, and “All the Above” featuring T-Pain off his 2009 debut If Tomorrow Never Comes, the Brooklyn rhyme slinger has his sights set on exceeding his previous highs with his latest bangers “We Keep It Rockin” and  “Let It Fly” featuring Roscoe Dash. Already making his presence felt on radio, and climbing to #57 on the R&B/hip-hop charts with “Let it Fly,” the sophomore spitter tells BET.com he’s feeling good about ...Tomorrow.

Still, before he delivers the main course, Maino wants fans to eat up a hearty appetizer. Gearing up to release a feature-laden mixtape, I Am Who I Am: The Album Before the Album, in conjunction with DJ Green Lantern and DJ Infamous, the Brooklyn MC’s using a different method to build fan’s anticipation for his next album.

“I got a lot of features on there. I got Prodigy on there, I got Jim Jones on there, I got Yo Gotti , Ace Hood, Trina," Maino says of the guest spots. “This is more album-song format, that’s why it’s the album before the album.”

As Maino puts the finishing touches on the mixtape, there still might be some time to add a new name to the guest list. Maino was pleased to hear that his good friend and “Hi Hater” remix collaborator T.I. was released from Forrest City Correctional Facility yesterday (August 31) after serving 10 months for a 2010 parole violation.

“That’s my dude, that’s my friend more than anything,” says Maino. “I’m just happy he’s gonna be in a position to be around his family and be free...that comes first. Grand Hustle [T.I.’s record label] treated me like family from the door. There’s not too many people you’re gonna meet in this game that’s gon’ open up their whole house to you and be willing to help you and do whatever they can for you.”

While fans can expect a Grand Hustle/Hustle Hard collabo someday in the future, the BK rapper still remains tight lipped about his television plans, but does hint at an upcoming project with TV exec James Dubose that won’t be a reality show.

Maino’s follow up album The Day After Tomorrow is due out October 11.