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  Chester Copperpot Interview
interview 0279 added 10.02.05 words: Nikesh
technical:
QED
Chester Copperpot, a producer from
Chi-Town is making moves in
the UK, thanks to a vital collaboration with Braintax on
Chester’s debut album, “Chapter Seven,” and Low Life Records
distributing the record in the UK. A producer who loves his
hip-hop, he draws inspiration from a diverse taste in music
ranging from Duran Duran and The Police, to DJ Shadow, Pete
Rock, and DJ Premier. In 2000, sick of hearing tunes in his head
that he simply just had to make, he bit the bucket and bought an
MPC2000 so he could begin to craft his own hip-hop. After many
trips to London and squatting on the Low Life studio floor, the
end result is “Chapter Seven”, an album of raw hip-hop beats and
rhymes courtesy of our Joey Brains, the legendary Ed OG, and
Chi-Town friends Profound and Diverse.
 Nikesh caught up with Chester on the information super-highway
to get the bottom of yet another trans-Atlantic marriage made in
hip-hop heaven.
Introduce yourself and give us a thought for the day.
What it is, I’m Copperpot, a producer from Chicago. First thing
I thought about was I had too much pilsner last night.
"...I
had too much pilsner last night...."
Tell
us about your album, how did you go about producing it and what
lyrical themes did you explore?
The album, CHAPTER SEVEN, is the culmination of the last few
years of grinding, just trying to make good music and pay rent!!
Lyrically I explored the emcee’s rhymes I guess. I don’t rhyme,
so I told each emcee the concept for the album, the title etc,
and they did their thing.
How
did you go about hooking up collaborations?
I just tried to get in touch with people I wanted to work with.
Sometimes they were easily accessible and sometimes not. There
were people who helped me a lot, DJ Rude One big ups!!
What
was your original vision for the album and how close is the
finished product to that?
My original vision had Braintax on it surrounded by a bunch of
heads from Chicago. It just kind of snowballed into something a
little bigger with a bigger budget which allowed me to bring
people from out of town in.
 How
did your collaboration with Braintax come about? Do you check
any UK hip-hop? Who do you like here?
My guy, DJ Sapien, caught a homegrown mixtape at a Jeru concert
in London in 98 0r 97 I think, he brought it home, I listened to
it and was hooked. I loved it, it was fresh. I found a Braintax
record, got the Low Life email, and emailed Brains. I was
planning on going to London to check it out so I asked if I
could bring some beats by. That was in 2000 I think. We have
been friends ever since with me going over there to visit once
or twice a year. I check all UK hip hop!! Some of what I am
feelin is: Verb T, Kashmere, Ty, SkinnyMan, Rodney P, Taskforce,
Joey Brains (of course), Klashnekoff, Asaviour… there are more,
but it is early and like I said, too much pilsner.
"...I
will not spend the next four years in the US, I refuse to live
under this tyranny...."
What
are your plans for a live tour?
I am planning on being over in the UK for a little tour with Ed
OG in late March. Here I will go on a club circuit, do some spot
dates etc, I don’t play out much.
How
did you get from making beats in your bedroom to putting out the
album?
The album came about when I decided after a few years that I was
good enough to let the world hear it.
Who
else are you feeling as a contemporary?
As far as producers I like that are at my level of experience,
records out, etc… K-Kruz, Brainchild, Kenny Keys.
"...a
bigger budget which allowed me to bring people from out of town
in...."
 How
should we spend the next four years of bush?
Fucking scared I suppose. He is a maniac. I will not spend the
next four years in the US, I refuse to live under this tyranny.
Final shout-outs/shameless plugs...
OK, why not, Check my album, “Chapter Seven” it drops February
22nd. Check the websites:
www.copperpot.cc,
www.evproductions.net,
www.lowliferecords.co.uk. Thanks for havin' me, I really
appreciate it.
- Nikesh
Shukla
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