NLE Choppa

NLE Choppa was a star before he had time to realise what was happening. The MC, born Bryson Lashun Potts in 2002, first expressed an interest in rapping as a 15-year-old, and shortly after the release of his debut single, 2018’s “Nolove Anthem”, his career was skyrocketing. With the help of his mother, who served as his manager, Choppa stayed ahead of the hype and cashed in on the buzz by releasing a string of infectious, undeniable singles. Though Potts was born in the rap haven of Memphis, his flow is more chameleonic than the grimy, dark style often associated with Bluff City. “Shotta Flow” from 2019 finds the MC rapping with precision and speed over a slow, deliberate piano beat, giving the illusion that Choppa is working within the Houston tradition of Chopped and Screwed. His bars are clever and his one-liners ring with menace. But because his rise was so meteoric, Choppa had to learn how to deal with success on the fly. “I made my first song when I was 15. I blew up and I realised I had to get more serious,” he explained to Apple Music. He proves his mettle on 2020’s Top Shotta which features hits like “Camelot” and the Roddy Ricch-assisted “Walk Em Down”. “Camelot”, led by a simple piano line and Choppa’s natural, high-energy flow, best encapsulates the MC’s charisma. NLE Choppa keeps putting out gems, but he still makes time to focus on self-growth. “A lot of stuff was holding me back,” he told Apple Music. “I decided I had to focus really hard on music. It’s paid off.”