A PORTRAIT OF: Rasheed Chappell
PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY | RASHEED CHAPPELL
INTERVIEW TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK PHOTOGRAPH @MODESTKINGDOM
PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY EMCEE DISCUSSES RECENT ALBUM “A PORTRAIT OF” AND UPCOMING ALBUM “SUGAR BILLS”.
VALIDATED: A native of Passaic, New Jersey, what’s your earliest recollection of Hip Hop Culture?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: The Awesome Two with Special K and Teddy Ted. Special K’s dad owned a corner store and barbershop across the street from my projects so we would see K in the store on occasion. l was young but l remember the older kids excited when he was there.
VALIDATED: You’ve said, “Music is the reconciliation; it’s the one place I can always find peace.” Can you elaborate on that quote?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: Music has always been a place where the words to my emotions resided, even before l was an artist. I was taught about love and heartbreak, struggle and even the 5% lessons through music, so when l became an artist l wanted that level of transparency and emotion in my music so l have to reconcile in real time what it was l was saying.
VALIDATED: You’ve been rapping for more than a decade, but how did you get your start?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: I started like most, as a fan first and foremost. My cousins and l decided we wanted to be in a talent show in school and we thought rap would be the way to go. Wrote my first rhymes in my homie Coop’s attic and never stopped.
VALIDATED: What was your defining moment that made you say “I can do this!”?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: I’m alert, having defining moments, that aspect has never stopped. Rapping for Nas as a teenager in the parking lot at the rink was one, meeting Marley Marl a few weeks later and rapping for him and him saying l was nice is another, but there’s been a constant and steady progression that has affirmed it for me.
VALIDATED: Which MCs influenced your style and what, if anything, did you “borrow” from them?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: Everything l have ever heard, it’s taught me what to do and what not to do. I can name the Nas’s and Rakim’s, the Black Thought’s and Common’s all day, but it was really the guys around me who I sparred with daily that got me sharp. I always used the artist l liked as tests to my level of good, whether it was a certain aspect of them l wanted to be as good as but in my own way.
VALIDATED: You dropped your debut album “Future Before Nostalgia” in 2021, what was the response to the project?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: 2011 was a whole different world, blogs were king and l was shown love by so many. That album was very well received and got me around the globe, parts l only dreamed of.
VALIDATED: How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist from the release of your debut album in 2011 and your recent album “A Portrait Of” released in 2022?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: In so many ways, I have been much more hands on when it comes to the post production. The mixing and mastering, much more involved in the marketing and roll out of projects, as an independent artist I’ve become active in all aspects of the process.
VALIDATED: Your album “A Portrait Of” dropped in 2022, what’s your favorite record off of it and why?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: Depends on the day, my mood changes. “A Portrait Of” was a very personal, my most personal album to date so to pick one is difficult. The one that defines the mood of the album is “BEcoming”, which has become an ode to my parents. After my father passed it means more to me now.
VALIDATED: My condolences regarding your father passing, was he a fan of your music?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: I appreciate your condolences, Pops was definitely a fan and would always ask to hear my music. He was gassed hearing my song on the Wu-Tang Hulu series.
VALIDATED: Which artists and producers did you work with on the project?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: As far as rappers, none…this was a open letter to self and those l love. It was a self discovery album. As far as a producers just one, that’s Little Vic who has provided me an AMAZING canvas to paint my truths. I was blessed to have some amazing vocalists on this project, Lamar Tyree, Yolanda Sargeant, Dyani Star Myles and Aidan.
VALIDATED: You recently dropped the “Sugar Bills” album produced by The Arcitype, featuring Noel Pancho, Rome Streetz, 38 Spesh, Jasmine Lopez, Neenah, STD GLD and Lisa Bello. What’s been the response to the project so far?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. I knew when we made this album that it was special to me and it’s a good feeling to see the people are feeling the same way about it.
VALIDATED: How did the collaboration between you and The Arcitype come about on this album?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: Arc and l have been working for years, he’s been my go to engineer for my past several projects. We initially discussed the idea of a song or 2 over 10 years ago l’d say. I just believe the timing and energy was right when we linked and that’s how this all came about.
VALIDATED: For those that haven’t heard “Sugar Bills”, what can they expect from the album?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: They can expect some of my best work, in my opinion. I believe Arc’s musicianship sets him apart from many producers and it’s on full display on this LP. I am giving you a glimpse into the lives that shaped mine, through their stories… the losses, the gains, the ugly and beautiful all at once.
VALIDATED: My favorite records off the album are “Concrete Cinema”, “Shine” and “Make It Out”, but which records are fans feeling the most?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: Ah man, l have heard “Mascots”, “Chappell Show”, “When They See Us” as well as “Twisted Bells” people are feeling. A few hit me up about “Lucifer In The Candlelight” as well. I guess the whole project, depending on the mood.
VALIDATED: What’s the importance of the neighborhood landmark “Sugar Bill’s” that the album is named after?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: It was a bar around the corner from my projects where any and everything took place. As kids who should have been in bed, we would run around by the bar, sneak inside and see some of the wildest things the streets offered.
VALIDATED: Other than the album, what does the remainder of 2023 look like for you?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: More work, it never stops, don’t be surprised if another project drops as well.
VALIDATED: Where can we follow and support you and your music?
RASHEED CHAPPELL: On all platforms just me, @RasheedChappell.