Young Chop is a man of few words. He’s humble, thoughtful, and just so happens to be the producer behind the rise of Chief Keef, Lil’ Durk, and Lil’ Reese, a group of artists who have exploded onto the national Hip Hop scene. In true producer form, Chop lead the way and signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music Publishing in early April. That same month, Lil’ Durk and Lil’ Reese followed, inking their own deals with Def Jam. And while Chief Keef hasn’t announced any formal signing, it’s definitely imminent, and word is that he has already inked up as well. With all the sudden success, it’s tough to believe that it almost didn’t happen.
“I was going to stop though, stop making beats,” Young Chop tells me in a quiet and calm voice, sitting in front of the board at Chicago’s SoundScape Studio. Chop has arrived at the studio with his luggage, catching a flight to Atlanta directly from the studio after a short weekend at home, his first in a month. He was supposed to be here an hour earlier, but he made it a must to attend church with his family. At the moment, Chop’s line is blowing up with artists and producers trying to work with him, and catch some of his energy. But, that wasn’t always the case, and when his friend and collaborator, Chief Keef got locked up, Young Chop thought about retiring as well.
“Cause I was like, ‘nobody’s messing with me, this is crazy,’ He tells me. “I’d been messing with Keef before everything, because he had a mixtape called Bang, and I had the song before Bang, the single. I’m like, ‘man, [Keef’s] gone we can’t do nothing.’ Once he got out he hit me on Facebook because he didn’t have a phone. He hit me on Facebook like, ‘man, bring your studio through, bring your studio.’ I went that same day. I got out of school, went to his house and we recorded “3Hunna”. That was the first time I linked back up with him and I felt it. I felt it in my soul. I made the beat right there, 15-20 minutes. Made it right there and he just sat on the futon couch and started writing.”
It’s crazy how life works. Close to hanging it up, Young Chop now has the opportunity to see the world, create music, and change his life as well as the lives of his friends. And it almost didn’t happen. Check back soon for the full interview with Young Chop in which speaks on his record deal, working with new artists, and getting ready for the spotlight.