Rasheed Chappell & Kenny Dope Interview

If you have been following the site for the last two years you’ve more than likely seen the name Rasheed Chappell.  We introduced Rasheed to KN Readers in June 2009 with an Artist Spotlight then gave everyone his music via The Chappell Show (The Lost Episodes Vol. 1).  Since then we’ve supported every project, leak, and freestyle, but now the main course is upon us.  Sheed along with the legendary Kenny Dope will be releasing his debut album, Future Before Nostalgia on Kay-Dee Records.  I was able to track Sheed and Kenny down during their busy schedule to speak on the album, how they built their relationship, and of course the album.  July 12 is coming…

Introduce Yourselves

Rasheed Chappell: Who is Rasheed Chappell…a man, father, son, friend, husband, MC so many things…I am a fan of the culture of Hip Hop and someone who is extremely dedicated to adding on to the culture. As an MC I understand that each word I write, record or say will either add to or take away from the legacy I hope to build. So I take what I do very seriously…at the end of the day I’m still defining who Rasheed Chappell is.

Kenny Dope: Kenny Dope is a music head to the fullest. I am a hard worker and a loyal friend and partner (business and personal) to those around me who I respect and deserve it. I am passionate about anything and everything I do. If I agree to work on something, anything you best believe it will get 150%. I don’t do anything ever just to do it. I have to believe in every aspect and element of what I do (Production and in Life). I am a no non-sense type of person, don’t want to waste anyone’s time or have my time wasted. I don’t care for or want to be around negativity and drama. Although I am well seasoned as some would say having a lot of experience in this business, I am learning and building each and every day. Even after twenty years in this game I am absorbing and taking it all in. With all the evolving that’s going on around me and I’m rolling with the punches and evolving with it. Every minute of every day I am learning something new. I’m always learning how to be a better producer and person.

Kenny, you have a long history in this game (Google him). Can you please do the honors and run down some of your many accomplishments in the music business?

KD: I made my first record 1989 (Powerhouse that was a beat record on Nu Groove) with a borrowed drum machine from producer/friend Todd Terry and in 1990 we formed the production team, Masters At Work along with little Louie Vega.  For the next 10 years we remixed everyone from Michael Jackson, Madonna, Tito Puente; to working with George Benson, BeBe Winans, and Eddie Palmieri on the house/club side.  During the same time in the 90′s I did Hip Hop tracks like “Get Up (Clap Your Hands),” “Supa (Don Dadda),” and “Blood Vibes.”  During the same time I produced for Shaggy and Supernatural for my unreleased project releases and had a huge record in 1995, The Buckeheads “The Bomb!” (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind) which is still played today everywhere. In 97′ I did an album called Nuyorican Soul where we brought a lot of artists together such as Roy Ayers, Jocelyn Brown, Q-Tip, Vince Montana, India and his Salsoul Orchestra. I have also been nominated for three Grammy awards.

Kenny, for someone who has done so much in Hip-Hop, you’ve kind of stayed low-key. Has this been a conscience effort to let your music/talent/skills speak for themselves or have people just been sleeping on you?

KD: Well yeah I never went out much for a very long time in the Hip Hop scene. I never had the time I’d rather be in the studio working on the next track, album or beat. For a while people believed Kenny Dope was African American. When people did meet me they were kind of shocked to see that I was Puerto Rican. I guess back then the music did speak for itself. But in this day and age with all that’s out there, you have to get out there and promote yourself. This Internet game and technology has taken music to a whole new level. Everyone wants to DJ/Produce/Sing and Dance. It’s Crazy! It almost becomes too easy!

Before we move on, I have to give props to Kenny for the board work on Raheem DeVaughn’s The Love & War MasterPeace. One of my favorite R&B albums from last year.

Thank You!  That’s what’s up, yeah I’ve been in on production since first album The Love Experience, when I produced “Guess Who Love’s You More” on that. I did two on next album Love Behind The Melody (“Hello Love” and “Marathon”), and now eleven songs on The Love & War MasterPeace. Working with Raheem as a friend and business partner has been an amazing experience and journey. Raheem has more drive then most of the artist I’ve ever worked with. He deserves every blessing that’s come his way. Together we make a great team.

I have a ton of questions, but I’ll start with how you met and eventually built a working relationship?

RC: We met thru a producer named Maleet that I was working with and he let Kenny hear some of my music and Kenny took a liking to it.  Our first meeting was at a diner and I had NO IDEA who Kenny was and all his contributions to music so I think that was a plus because there was no pressure to front; just me being myself.  Sometimes when you go into things thinking ok this could be it you may tense up or be unnatural, not the case.  We spoke briefly that day, stayed in contact after, and our first session was with Biz Markie.  From then…we’ve been working…I’m blessed to be in this situation.

KD: ‘He’s a REAL MC” and the stuff he’s spitting about…WOW! Rasheed got some lyrics. Rasheed Chappell is the Hip Hop artist I’ve always wanted to produce. So we’ve been building since then and now we have a nice stack of songs. Wait till the album. I think it’s going to do really well; especially coming after the mix-tape is dropped next month. It’s pretty Crazy! I’m Looking forward to people’s reactions on this project.

Based on the music, you all have an obvious connection and share the same vision musically…where does that connection come from? When did you both know….”ok this is who I need to work with?” What has each of you learned from the other?

RC: Our connection goes beyond the music as I consider Dope a friend, like for real.  We talk about things other than music…our families know each other  As an MC I seldom witnessed the beat making process as I would show up, record, mix down and keep it moving, but Kenny is a producer.  His vision was come to the studio and map out songs before you even write them.  So the chemistry comes from us knowing each other and he knows what sounds and samples would allow me to shine.  I trust him completely.  Some of the records we did I didn’t see his vision at first but as we got into it came together. I was honestly a bit intimidated by his work ethic at first and when I found out who he was and what he has done.  I was like wow I HAVE to step it up.  When I say intimidated by his work ethic I mean he LIVES in the studio and I’m not really a fast writer I like to sit and think and this man can just sit at the boards and crank out heat rock after heat rock.   I had to really say to myself this is where you belong Rasheed.  What haven’t I learned from him…Ha Ha…the biggest lesson is that you can achieve everything you want in this music business and not compromise who you are.  He is still a genuine person and so are all the people he’s introduced me to.  I tell him all the time that “so and so” was so cool and he’ll say “yeah man I don’t deal with NO FAKE PEOPLE”… Ha Ha

KD: Like I said when I first heard him I already knew what I wanted to do with him because I’ve always wanted to do this in a certain way and with Rasheed I could do exactly what I had in my head. Just some real lyrical content and some straight up Hip Hop type beats but I stay pushing his buttons because there’s a certain vibe I’m after as a producer and I just want to make classic sounding Hip Hop, A REAL Hip Hop Record. At first Rasheed didn’t see the big picture I was trying to draw for him, but I think now he gets it. Well I know he gets it. With all the work we’ve put into this project over the last two years, I’m sure everyone will get it. It’s one of those things you can’t rush. It takes time to evolve. I knew I didn’t want to waste what we’ve worked so hard on to put out a rushed album. Nostalgia’s a HOT album.

Rasheed, we’ve spoken before about your current situation with Kenny and the honor you feel working with a legend as well as the opportunity you’ve had to connect with other greats (DJ Clark Kent, Biz Markie, DJ Scratch, Lord Finesse, DJ Ogee, etc). Can you share some of the experiences, knowledge, and wisdom these people have shared with you?

RC: Oh man from Clark to Jeff to Ogee to just everybody they just tell me to keep doing it, doing it my way, and don’t change; grow but don’t change.  Biz tells me to always practice and sparr with my crew like he did when he was rocking with the Juice Crew.  I can’t talk to Clark Kent to long because he is absolutely hilarious but he tells me I’m an MC and what it means to be an MC to Finesse telling me how Big L used to do it before he passed.  So much wisdom has been imparted on me, but from all of them I get the message to strive for greatness.

Kenny from the information I’ve gather, Rasheed is the first Hip Hop artist you’ve taken under your wing. At what point did you know that he has a gift that needed to be heard by the masses?

KD: I think I answered it previously, but as soon as I heard the demo. It’s that twenty year cycle right now and it’s time for lyrics turntable’s and the DJ again.

FBN has been in the works for months. Two singles (“Building 8” and “I Know”) have been released to a good response. What can we expect from the album? Any guest producers/artist or is it just Sheed and Kenny for Dolo?

RC FBN is like the prequel it started as a mixtape and “Building 8″ was the last song we did the night of the first session for FBN.  It felt really good once he mixed it down and we both were like, OK where we going with this.  As we kept working it became an album and what you can expect when two people who put their all into a project.  Hard BEATS!  Like for real Kenny really went into beast mode on the boards for this and lyrically I try to match that level of intensity. No guest MC’s but we do have DJ Scratch & DJ Mel Starr doing a few cuts, but yeah this is my introduction to the world so it’s Kenny on the beats and me on the rhymes.

KD: Just that pure Hip Hop…samples, scratches and hooks. Future Before Nostalgia it’s just Kenny Dope & Rasheed Chappell cause we’re looking at it like a mix-tape even though it’s an actual album. I saved the great stuff and my people’s beats for the Nostalgia album which are (DJ Clark Kent, Lord Finesse, DJ Ogee, DJ Scratch, and a feature from Raheem DeVaughn).

Rasheed blessed me with a rough mix of FBN and all I can say is HEAT. The album sonically pays homage to the golden era of Hip-Hop….hard drums and some classic break beats. Was this a conscience effort to sonically channel this sound but update it for 2010?

RC: That was Kenny’s goal from the start he always says I rhyme like I’m from that era but updated so I’d say that was certainly a conscious decision to keep the essence intact.

KD: YES SIR!!! Mos def….. that’s exactly what I wanted to do! That was my vision from day 1, and “HEAT” is a strong word so….. I’m glad you feeling it.

Rasheed we’ve talked about Hip-Hop and I give you props for your knowledge and respect of the history of Hip-Hop. Does your sense of the history of Hip-Hop influence your writing? What other influences do you draw from for your subject matter?

RC: Most certainly.  I am extremely humbled by all the accolades I have received for my lyricism and I credit that from knowing the history and striving to reach the level of a Rakim, Nas, Black Thought, Wu Tang, Kane, Kool G. Rap and so many others.  I’m not saying I’m in that category or class of those MC’s but I’m motivated to get there.  That’s what drives me…to achieve that level of history to be put in the lyricist hall of fame one day…ha ha sounds crazy I know.  I don’t usually share that with people but it’s the truth I have so much more to accomplish in that regard and I look forward to it, but my biggest inspiration is LIFE.  Everyday I wake up and see new things that inspire me such as other artist and my children.  It’s all my experiences past, present and future that keep me going.

I’m feeling the track with the “Criminal Minded” breakdown; what’s a favorite so far?

RC: My favorites change from day to day…Ha Ha today it’s “Hold Your Applause” because it’s next to drop but…I think the song that tells the whole story of the album is “The Genesis (Just Be Tru)”, “Stay Sharp,” “Theology Of War”…they are all my favorites…ha ha.

What are the expectations for this album? What message do you both want fans to get from this album?

RC: I expect to introduce myself to the world on this album.  I expect to set a standard for myself that the listeners will hold me to so I can continually push myself to exceed.  I expect to learn a lot as well.  I expect expectations to rise after we release this album. Simple message do what you love and share it with the world.  Hip Hop is a beautiful thing.

KD: I think the real Hip Hop lover will get into it. So far the people I’ve played it for are digging it. Hopefully the world will dig it as well. It’s just refreshing true school Hip Hop album. That’s basically the point were trying to make. True Hip Hops not dead!

It’s been my pleasure having the opportunity to sit down with the both of you. Any last words/shouts outs?

RC: I wanna say thank you to you and Kevin for showing us love from day one.  Thanks to my team, Lisa, Kat, EBS, Sef, COG and my right hand Marcus.  My family, every blog, and website that has supported my music.  I wanna put this in print…Thank You Kenny Dope for taking a chance and believing in me and allowing to take the fantastic journey I have been on.  To everyone that has worked on this project, DJ Scratch, Mel Starr thank you! And to everybody that told somebody to check me out this album is a result of that passion…THANK YOU!!!

KD: That’s what’s up! Thank you for the interview and peace to: Tracy Morales, Eddie B Swift, Lord Finesse, DJ Clark Kent, DJ Scratch, DJ Mell Starr, DJ Spinna & Marcus Anderson For holding K-Dope Down!  I think 2011 is going to be a great year for all involved and I am blessed to have the honor to have all these people as friends and on my side.

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“Building 8″

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“What I’m Here 4″ (feat. DJ Scratch)

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“I Know”