Choppin’ It Up With NLE Choppa

Last weekend, NLE Choppa performed for a sold out crowd at #HOTSHOW22! I was lucky enough to catch up with him after his set - here’s what he had to say: 

How has being from Memphis shaped you as an artist? 

It’s just built the type of aggression, type of grit, and type of hustle to my sound. It’s what I was brought up around. People I was listening to before I blew. Everything about the city influenced me and my sound, so I’m just appreciative of where I came from. 

Last month, you released your mixtape Me vs. Me - what inspired this project? 

Battling myself. Everybody’s worst enemy is themselves, so I just felt like I wanted to put that project out with that theme to it. It was beautiful to me. It was something special. 

What are you working on now in terms of new music? 

I’m working on a new album, kind of different from the stuff I dropped on Me vs. Me. The sound is more expanded, more different. Not the average hype and the trap going on with the drill music, something Atlanta’s for generations has been focusing on. 

You recently did an amazing freestyle with the LA Leakers on Power 106. How do you prepare for something like that? 

The best way to do it is preparation. Just to prepare. Before you get up there you have to already have your stuff together. No matter what beat it is, no matter what flow it is, you gotta have it prepared and just know the goal and the target. As long as you do that, you prepared the right way, the sky’s the limit. 

In addition to being an artist, you’re also a dad! How would you say fatherhood has influenced your music and creativity? 

My first daughter I had (she’s going on two right now) she created a lot of change in my life, to get on the conscious mindset that I’m on. When I had a daughter there was a lot that I had to change. Having a child is a big responsibility so it’s something you’ve got to work on yourself to make sure they can be the best being they can be. 

How bad did your neck tattoo hurt?

It didn’t hurt. A lot of my tattoos didn’t hurt. 

Of all your tattoos, which one is your favorite? 

All of them are different. All of them really tell a story to me, so it’s kind of hard to pick. I always say my last tattoo is my favorite. Every time I get done with it, I’m like “oh this my favorite one!” 

Something very special about you is your focus on health and wellness. What lead you down that path? 

Just to be a voice for the youth. I got a big following, as far as the kids and just around the world period, so I want to be a positive light for people. Even though sometimes my music probably don’t reflect that, me as a person day to day in my personal life, the balance within it is just me trying to be a world changer and inspire. I hold that job to the fullest extent. I feel like this is my favorite part about being an influencer, being able to change lives. 

Meditation has become a big part of your routine. What advice would you give to your fans who are looking to explore that? 

Just do it cause at the end of the day you’re doing something that’s best for you. Even if you don’t mess with it, if you try, the effort is something that God looks at. If you want change and you’re trying to bring change into your life, no matter what’s the the best way you can do it in, it’s a positive way. God’s never not looking. Just do what you gotta do. 

What has been the best interaction you’ve had with a fan thus far? 

Every one. I’m just appreciating all of them and embracing every fan. Even the ones that have caused certain things that are negative. Even the one’s that’s positive. Embracing it all because at the end of the day without them I wouldn’t be right here where I’m at today. Every experience from the women, from the men, from the kids, whatever it is, whoever it is, just being appreciative every time I can. 

Here in Maine, our state motto is “The Way Life Should Be.” According to you, what is the way life should be? 

Peaceful. Just peaceful, living in peace, love, and harmony. I feel like that’s the way life should be. It’s not, but at the end of the day, you got to do what you do here to be able to live in that peace.