“We’re young & running s**t ya dig?” says Cleveland’s Chip Tha Ripper, some of your favorite upcoming emcee’s favorite upcoming emcee.  After spending a day with Chip and his S.L.A.B. crew it’s easy to see why.  Chip’s music, style, and dialect creates a steady diet of ‘what…that s**t’s crazy…’, and with an upcoming project with Hi-Tek in the works, it doesn’t look like that is going to stop anytime soon.  Chip first hit our speakers via Kidz In The Hall’s last LP, and we’ve been tuned in since.  In this week’s RH First Look, we get to know Chip Tha Ripper a little bit better.  Check it out below.

RubyHornet: What was your introduction to music like?  Was there an ‘aha’ moment when creating music started to make sense?

Chip Tha Ripper:  My introduction to music was when i first heard/saw “The Fresh Prince of Bell Air”.  I had never heard rap before that day. I was like 5 or 6.  Making music came easy because there are no rules.

RubyHornet:  Please tell our readers where the name ‘Chip Tha Ripper’ comes from.

Chip Tha Ripper:  I got my name from a spitboxing (battle rap) host. At the time I was just Chip. After a while they just started calling me Chip Tha Ripper. I hated it at first, but I guess it grew on me.

RubyHornet:  Musically, the Midwest is known to pull influences from the coasts to produce their own flavor.  What do you pull from to create your music?

Chip Tha Ripper: Well, I just pull from the ol’brain.  I never really kept track of the music pattern in Cleveland.  I always knew I was a different type of n***a, so I just put some swag with it!

RubyHornet: Your mixtape is called Can’t Stop Me.  Explain why you are feeling that way right about now.

Chip Tha Ripper: There has been a lot against me, despite all the good that has come so far.  I’m a living testimony in my city.  Can’t Stop Me is a title of hope to all underdogs everywhere.  It means there’s nothing you can do to ruin what I’m doing.

RubyHornet: If Naledge is flyer than giraffe pussy, Chip Tha Ripper is flyer than…

Chip Tha Ripper: LoL… flyer than PF

RubyHornet:  You came through Chicago last week, and I know this was your first time in the Chi in about a year.  What has the growth in your career been like over that last year?  How did the two trips compare?

Chip The Ripper: Yea, had to swing bak to tha go Ill.  The first time I was there it was like the first day of school or something.  Ya know when in Rome…It was a great experience.  I got to see a lot of the music scene the first time i came to the Chi.  But this last time was crazy.  Sound check at Kid Cudi & Hollywood Holt’s show was crazy.  I learned a lot about the lingo out here. It ain’t too different though.  Mano had these Reeboks from Europe..crazy!  That show was off the hook.

RubyHornet: On “Neva Nervous” you say we’ve never heard someone from Cleveland like you.  Please tell our readers what’s happening in Cleveland’s Hip Hop scene. Set it straight for those that think Cleveland Hip Hop starts and ends with Bone.

Chip Tha Ripper: ATTTENTION  For all readers who think Cleveland starts and ends with Bone, google the following: “Chip tha Ripper” “Ray Cash” “Young Ray” “Paper Chace” “Kid Cudi” “Bitch I’m From Cleveland”.

RubyHornet:  You’re on “Next Up” with Naledge, Mic Terror, Mickey Factz.  Do you feel like you are a part of growing movement of young artists?  And if so, what is it that is the common link, cause you guys are spread out around the country.

Chip Tha Ripper: Yea, that “Next Up” is stupid!  Naledge, Mic Terror & Mickey Factz really looked out for me by being a part of this mixtape.  I feel that we are the new generation of music along with many other artists. I think we are the most important generation because you get to watch us evolve right in front of your eyes.  We’re young & running s**t ya dig?  It’s up to us to get Hip Hop back in order, so I’m gonna rep this new Cleveland s**t, and spread this good music as far as I can!

RubyHornet: What does the rest of ’08 and the top of ’09 have in store for Chip Tha Ripper?

Chip Tha Ripper: Lord willing, some TV airtime and mo dollaz! Hi-Tek and myself are working on an album right now, so hopefully that will have a great response. I just got a nice litte sponsorship with DC Shoes,  as well as a clothing company called Gold Coin.  Hopefully I can get more peolpe hip to Chip and tha Land.

RubyHornet: For some of our readers, this will be their first introduction to you.  What are three things you’d like people to know about you when listening to
your music?

Chip Tha Ripper: 1. Yea take dat take dat take dat..(p.diddy)lol…2. I know you like this s**t n***a lol…3. Can’t Stop Me!