Passaic, New Jersey’s Rasheed Chappell is one of the Mc’s that choose to go by his real name. He states after a few bad names it was suggested by his management at the time to use the real one. This was to reflect that his music has no filter and reflects him.
The music definitely comes off as an extention of his thoughts and not a whatever is in the moment thing. It’s reality rap, aspirations, motivation, creative, swaggy and still provides lyricism. He’s an artist I’ve gotten familiar with over the last 3 or 4 years but he has been putting in the work.
Rasheed contributes his journey in music to his family like his Dad who traveled within New York as well as his Uncles and Cousins. This would be his introduction to Hip hop culture more or less. This would then transition to him getting into the music end of it, citing acts like legends Run-Dmc, Rakim, and Big Daddy Kane as starting points. Growing into his own preferences he’d later on get into Mcs like Nas, Mobb Deep, Raekwon and The Roots. He also credits Video Music Box.
Around the age of 15 he would begin to write his own rhymes and credits one of his Uncles in helping him expand his writing. Rasheed understood early that he would have to branch out of Passaic to get his career going. His willingness to do so awarded him a chance to meet legendary producer Kenny Dope who would produce his debut “Future Before Nostalgia” and several other albums. “First Brick” would be thier last collaborative effort in 2019
At this point Rasheed had established himself as a top tier Mc and artist. Earning the respect of other legends & his peers the next albums would be produced by Buckwild “Sinners and Saints”
38 Spesh “Checks & Balances” and a collaboration album with West Coast Mc XP The Marxman “Rx”
With each project Rasheed gives narration, reality rap, some lifestyle music, authenticity and creativity. Also he’s been consistently releasing music as the pace of the industry has changed. Currently he is gearing up to release his next offering “A Portrait Of” produced by Little Vic closing out the year. I got a chance to sit down with him last year. Tap in with the link below and stay Tuned.
Ref Deme D
