There honestly isn’t any earth shattering lyricism here; no back packer anthems or metaphoric filibusters contained within.  What you see is what you get.  And what you probably see when looking at BG’s protégés is a grouping of NO new millennium street proponents who come with it hood style only.  They have been accused by a lot of critics of being one dimensional, maybe keeping it too real. But what of all the frowny-faced naysayer’s who demand rappers provide lyrics based on their own experience?  If this is most of what you have seen; this is most of what you will spit.  And the bottom line is, the streets check for these cats.  So if you are not down with the Chopper City style, have a seat and wait for Glow in the Dark on DVD.  But if you are, this article is for you. 

The now three man crew; BG, Gar and Snipe are dropping their sophomore project, Life in the Concrete Jungle on September 16^th. The obligatory claims of hood dominations; money, cars, broads are of course incorporated.  Yawn, you say?  Maybe.  However, there is an audience for this music; a big one.  And BG has been doing this for how long?  Someone is buying it.  Someone is playing it.  Someone is loving it. (Their first album, We Got This, was one of the top selling independent albums of 2007) And that is the audience these three young men are targeting; while at the same time diversifying their sound just enough to get the girls shaking their juicy fruit. 

The lead single Bubblegum is getting bumped as you read.  It’s a lean, rock, snap kinda southern club banger with some eerie synth thrown in for good measure.  For the ladies?  Most definitely. But Snipe implores you all; don’t get it twisted.  

“Basically the label was feeling the record and we wanted to cater to our female crowd you know?  Because already people know Chopper City puts out quality street music so we got the streets on lock, but we wanted to show the females we are backing them too. But if real niggas listen to it they’ll see it still got the swag on it.” 

Street swag is definitely crucial to a warm reception from the Chopper City Boyz fan base.  But the crew does recognized and boast of their growth as artists between album one and album two. 

“From We Got This to now, the level of growth in us as artists is off the chain. We just bringing a sound that everyone can relate to. We still have an album full of gangsta shit though,” offers Gar. 

And everyone knows with the gangsta shit comes a truck load of questions about street cred and artist created fakery.  However, when asked about the alleged creation of hood back stories and criminal exploits running rampant in the rap world, Gar and Snipe were very diplomatic. 

“Well, that’s not really for us to judge anybody.  All I can talk about is the Chopper City Boyz and we keep it motherfucking real 100%.  And that’s all we are concerned with.” 

But maybe not.  In the wake of the new release, listening parties and video shoot casting calls, this group is dealing with a lot of undue unresolved issues.  They have seen their home obliterated by Katrina.  One of their previous members, VL Mike, dismissed himself under acrimonious circumstances and then became a statistic of the unsympathetic New Orleans streets when he was found shot to death back in April.  When asked about the rebuilding process going on in New Orleans, the group definitely wanted their thoughts on the government heard. 

“I want the whole nation to know my neighborhood, where I came up at is dead.  They aren’t doing anything around here. I stayed around here a few years and it’s a motherfucking shame that the government isn’t doing what they should for the city of New Orleans. Yeah, the government is still slipping on New Orleans.” said Gar. 

Snipe also weighed in. 

“It’s a lot that can be done.  I’m back in my old neighborhood and there is still trees and shit all over the place.  As a matter of fact, I’m standing right next to an abandoned house.  There is so much more that can be done and if you come to New Orleans you will see that.”  

But one thing the pair also wanted everyone to know; they aren’t going anywhere.   

The love these dudes receive from the home folk is evident at every turn.  From the Live From the Concrete Jungle listening party to the packed club shows to the standing room only turn out for the Bubblegum video casting; their city has made it their business to support.  And come September 16^th, the Chopper City Boyz know that the rest of the country will come out in support too.

by Shelby Powell

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