Choppa

Choppa, an energetic and physically chiseled rapper, entered the world and grew up in New Orleans. During his teenage years he honed his lyrical abilities purely as a pastime, convinced that professional athletics represented his true path forward. Tension with his high-school football coach ultimately pushed him to abandon sports, prompting him instead to treat his rapping talents with greater seriousness. A guest spot on the city’s popular radio program Nine O'Clock Props instantly won over listeners and quickly turned him into a recurring presence on the show. Take Fo' put out his debut album, Choppa Style, in 2001; the independent release showcased a party-oriented strain of Southern rap known as bounce music. Its title track emerged as an inescapable local favorite, soon prompting BET’s late-night program Uncut to air the accompanying video. Master P heard the single and traveled to New Orleans, where the visit concluded with Choppa signing to No Limit Records and a pledge from P to bring bounce music to a global audience. A re-recorded edition of “Choppa Style” that featured an added verse from Master P quickly caught on, leading No Limit to release the follow-up album Straight from the N.O. in 2003.