alternative hip-hop

copperpot: come back home.

COPPERPOT, born Daniel Kuypers, is a Chicago hip-hop producer. He produces what some people call “real hip-hop”. I just call it hip-hop. Either way, it’s all good.

The latest Copperpot album, WYLA? (What’re You Looking At?), marks the first time that Kuypers has pulled in outside musicians to bring his music to life.

WYLA? also boasts two original songs featuring one of “the greatest rappers to hold the mic” KRS-One. “Come Back Home” is the lead track of the album, in which KRS-One states, “Hip-hop, I think it’s time for you to come back home”. It arguably comes off as grumpy and didactic as the last release from Nas, but…well, there’s something a bit more organic about his verses. He closes the song by saying, “Don’t be afraid to come back home”. I’d like to support this message, but I’m not sure if Hip-hop knows where to find it’s home. I’m not even sure if KRS-One knows where Hip-hop’s home is. And if he does, he certainly didn’t deliver the address in this song. Also, where did Hip-hop go that it needs to come back home? Why is it afraid to come home? I’m confused, but it’s a good confusion. KRS-One has me thinking. And I think that’s his point…sort of. Hip-hop isn’t making us think like we used to. Knowledge Reigns Supremely Over Nearly Everyone. In the world of hip-hop, knowledge isn’t reigning anymore, and KRS-One has every reason to be pissed.

Beyond the music, Kuypers is an intriguing individual. From 2000-2003 he spun records with the Phonograph Scientists, suffering from terrible stage-fright and anxiety. In 2005, he started a small gig in Chicago which soon became large. Apparently fans would approach him and say things like, “Hey man, I am going to sit right here and watch you deejay.” This still scared the shit out of him, and my assumption is that it probably would still scare the shit out of him.

If you’re in New York City and you’d like to hear Copperpot play some tunes, be sure to check him out at Shebeen (located in Soho, 202 Mott St. btw Spring & Kenmare) tomorrow night (May 15, 2007). Have a listen, but be sure not to scare the shit out of him.

d/l: COPPERPOT f/ KRS-ONE- Come Back Home (YSI)
d/l: COPPERPOT f/ ANG13- Ain’t Goin’ Down (YSI)
(Two Chicago hip-hop tracks)
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BLOGWATCH: Deaf Indie Elephants has a new tune by the Go! Team. That’s all that matters to me right now.

the most embarrassing thing to ever happen.

Yeah, that’s right. I’m the overexcited white boy in the blue & white shirt.

gangsta boo: queen of the south chronicles (continued).

GANGSTA BOO (born Lola Mitchell) is the queen of the south. Or at least she thinks she is.

“I’m hearin’ a lot of them hoes claim that motherfuckin’ title. Well, you know what bitch? I’m takin’ that shit, bitch. It is what it is. I ain’t claiming that shit, hoe. I’m telling you, bitch. I’m sayin’ facts. I’m the queen of the south.”

Ms. Lola Mitchell is one of four major contenders for this title. Jacki-O, Khia, and Trina are all jumping up to grab the crown. According to an interview with Hood Magazine, Mitchell has no problem with Jacki-O or Trina claiming the title of “queen of the south”. In true Lindsay Lohan Mean Girls style, she proclaimed that they all hold a piece of the crown. But don’t bring up Khia around her. Mitchell continues in the interview, “Khia doesn’t want to fuck with me and Khia frontin’ to be so damn hard, then why didn’t she say shit when I called her out at the Ozone Awards.”

Mitchell also has issues with Khia’s attitude towards other female rappers. And she has every reason to have issues, as Khia is the most dramatic of the bunch. In the August 2006 issue of XXL Khia asked, “How can you be a queen when you are being pimped by a bunch of n***as?” She continues, “All of ‘em, Foxy and Jay-Z, Lil’ Kim and Biggie, Shawnna and DTP, Mia X and No Limit. Every big female artists that ever came out, came out under a man. How can you claim to hold the crown like that?” This comment may have hit home for Mitchell, as she started as the first and only original female member of the now all-male Oscar-winning group Three 6 Mafia.

In Mitchell’s defense for the crown, she has been on the music scene since 1994 (three years longer than Trina and seven years longer than both Jacki-O and Khia). Her 1998 debut single “Where Dem Dollars At?” helped put Memphis on the map, despite making little impact on pop radio. While she may have become established with the help of Three 6 Mafia, she has since split with them and developed her own independent label. She has been grinding independently for nearly as long as Khia, so she’s certainly not being pimped. On her own, she’s managed to secure guest spots on several albums including Outkast, Rasheeda, and a DTP (Disturbing the Peace) compilation.

None of her albums went gold and she’s not appearing on the cover of your favorite men’s magazine. Her contribution to the Polow Da Don produced “Break a N***a Off” may have not made the final cut of Rich Boy‘s self-titled debut album. But damn, this girl is still outstanding, accomplished, and she could run circles around Jacki-O.

More importantly, Mitchell’s “Queen of the South” diss is surprisingly friendly, as it doesn’t seem to be directed towards any particular artist. Unlike her peers, she’s above mentioning names within her songs. She’s better than that…though we’ll have to wait until the release of her album Forever Gangsta to see just how much better she is.

d/l: GANGSTA BOO- Queen of the South (YSI)
d/l: RICH BOY f/ SNOOP DOGG & GANGSTA BOO- Break a N***a Off (YSI)
d/l: GANGSTA BOO f/ LA CHAT- Splash (YSI)
(two tracks featuring Memphis-born female rapper)
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BLOGGER NOTE: Good Googly Moogly! Three 6 Mafia affiliate Project Pat is performing at my school. Please, whatever.

BLOGWATCH: Chazology welcomes Leif as a new contributor, starting with a post about Mapei. It’s hard to find a Friend has a new live solo song by Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service. Something Velvet Blog hypes the upcoming Bishop Allen release. Copy, Right? has a cover of Paris Hilton, in honor of her recent arrest. Shameless Complacency writes about the upcoming Bonde Do Role release.