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Wrought with a troublesome past and falling victim to alcoholism, Copperpot found himself at a his lowest point when he threw a beer can at a officer of the law while being arrested for drink driving after a thirty-five minute chase. Now having recorded an acclaimed solo LP, the Chapter 7 and Issues releases in collaboration with Longshot under the ’Coppershot’ pseudonym among other projects, the Chicago producer extraordinaire has honed in on his craft, moving forward and putting his turbulent past well behind him.
With a sway full of some of the best emcees from around the world, WYLA? is a musical work of art. Copperpot creates a veritable smorgasbord of diverse sonic canvases to individually suit each emcee that steps up to the microphone. Having worked with Pacewon from Outsidaz, Mr Complex from Polyrhythm Addicts, Diverse and Edo G on Chapter 7 and producing beats for Braintax and Psalm One, Copperpot has recorded with some of the most distinguished emcees in the hip hop game. Bringing back Edo for a second round along with Masta Ace, plus Braintax and Psalm One, and adding KRS-One, Truth Enola, Prince Po from Organised Confusion and *Rodney *P among others to his already impressive roster, WYLA? could easily be mistaken as a hip hop producer’s Christmas wish list. Also featuring guitarist Josh Abrams, who has played extensively with The Roots, and fellow Chi-city artists Jeff Parker and Dan Bitney from rock act Tortoise, Copperpot doesn’t conform to the norm. He combines sample-based hip hop purism with live instrumentation for a multi-layered depth of sound.
KRS appears on not one but two different tracks: Come Back Home and Dem Know, as well as Dem Know (Club Mix). Copperpot combines an eerie flute sample with live guitar-strumming sounds on album opener Come Back Home. KRS immerses himself as he raps about his #1 passion: the state of hip hop, while he covers similar subject matter in Dem Know. Truth Enola shines on the bouncy Let It Go and as the head of UK label Low Life Records, Braintax provides comical commentary on the amount of hollow demos he receives to the beat of an aptly hollow drum on Demo. The sultry Valeska Jakobowics croons over the burlesque-esque I Put a What which will have you asking, “I put a what on whose breast now?”
On the album highlight Art of Rap, Copperpot gets orchestral and proves that he is a true beat conductor. Ace and Edo lace his handiwork, and he commands the microphone with swagger and ease. Prince Po has some fun with title track while Rodney P flexes his vocal muse on Modern Day Vampires.
With intricately constructed instrumentals scattered throughout, Copperpot doesn’t need to hide behind a facade of talented emcees as it is his talent as an expert beatsmith that remains the focal point of WYLA? Never mind what you’re looking at and just make sure you have tuned in to Copperpot’s latest release off the chopping block.
