Smoke Chapo
Smoke Chapo, Is One of The Most Versatile Artist Leading DC’s Emerging Underground Scene, As One of The Leaders of The New Wave, He Touts Lyrics That Give A New Swag To Trap Music.
Q: How was your upbringing ?
A: “I grew up like everybody in the hood, I had it hard, trying to make the struggle look good. Growing up, I really came from poverty, a lot of people wouldn't know, but I really had times where I had to stay in a shelter. I feel like I've experienced every struggle DC has forreal. As I got older things got better, mom started figuring things out and so did I.”
Q: How did you start rapping?
A: “I rapped for fun when I was young. As I got older, I was around a lot of people I saw rapping, and I'd give them advice to make their work better. After a while I got tired of giving out game and not seeing people take advantage of it, and through that I began to do it myself. In 2018,I had a lot of time in the house when facing my gun case, and I just spent a lot of time tampering with my sound, remixing a lot of old hits. It was Mike James who saw my drive and would let me rock out in the studio and allow me to experiment with my craft. The sessions with Kidd (Upt Kidd) and my cousin Lee (Migo Lee), where I would see how comfortable and locked in they were recording. I became more comfortable. Whenever I was bored, I would go fuck with Kidd and practice my flow and get it in. I prolly wouldnt be who i am if it wasn't for him, in a way he made Smoke Chapo.”
Q: How do you stay on top of your game and keep a steady buzz as one of the city's leading rappers?
A: “It's all about perseverance. At the beginning it was hard, when everybody started to know about me and my name was buzzin all over the city. When I started to go anywhere, people used to notice me, especially being in the ghetto, I could tell people would see me and salute me. I acknowledge people and appreciate people showing love as my humble self, I had a lot of moments where people were starstruck by me or asked for a picture. It's really been crazy because I remember when I used to practice these moments in the mirror. However, You can never get too caught up in your status, your time is everything.”
Q: What is YGM? Or “Youngins Gettin Money”?
A: “Me and my friends started YGM in 6th grade, at first we were just kids who loved to stay clean at school. We got inspiration from Swipey and the trouble squad back then,and spiraled from that. A couple of us rapped back then, but eventually it died down. Fast forward 2020, I started shooting videos and I got back on it, YGM the label. I went ahead and put it on paper, so we really YGM incorporated, I'm standing on it.”
Q: Artist you wish to work with?
A: “On the industry tip, I wanna work with Babyface Ray or Brent Faiyaz. On the street tip, I wanna work with my man Leek OTG, it's not out of my reach, but we be so caught in the grind we don't get music. Another artist I wanna hear more music from, even if we don't work together, is Deemuney.”
Q: What are three songs you suggest people check out to get a good idea of your sound?
A: “I’d say “FatSwagg”, “Fraternity” and “Fuccn Da Goat”.”
1. “FatSwagg”
2. “Fraternity”
Q: What are your plans for 2023?
A: “2023 Ian gon lie i got some important features on the way, working with some major platforms and YGM exotics and apparel otw. I'm pushing my men this year.”
Q: Pass the torch who are 3 artist we should watch out for in 2023 in your opinion?
A: “KP Skywalka (@skywalkalaflarekp) , Leek OTG (@leeky13th) and Paco Panama (@paco_panama) for sure.”
