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Not one to limit his sound, 26-year old MC Coppa is an incredibly versatile vocalist, having gained over seven years of live performances and recording experience in the electronica circuit.

To an older electronica fan, Coppa will probably be associated to Drum & Bass, since he’s been on the international roster after a successful break in UK’s reputable Drum & Bass scene circa 2001-2003, playing alongside heavyweights like Aphrodite, Micky Finn, Roni Size & Dynamite, Adam F, Marcus Intalex and many others. He even found himself touring across China with the infamous big beats outfit, DJ Roobles of Kitachi, in 2003.

Nowadays, the gym-going musician finds love in beats and ryhme. We think he’s done pretty damn well, with worldwide recognition from New Zealand’s Concord Dawn to New York’s Brendon Moeller aka Beat Pharmacy. His lyrical flair also got him handpicked by dancehall and hip-hop stalwart, Stereotyp, one of the maestros behind Al Haca, to collaborate with him on the album, Keepin Me, in 2006.

Born in England to Jamaican parents, Coppa’s talent, unquestionably, has its roots in raggae and hip hop, though you can’t pigeon-hole him into one genre. Wherever the beat goes, if he feels it, he’d be putting vocals on it. Electro, dub, house, breakbeat.. he’s our man with the elemental vocals.

With XLive just a week away, Halfway Street is hot on the chase of a rare Al Haca’s showcase in Malaysia - let us remind you that it’s a huge and COMPLETE reunion on stage (that includes Coppa!). Because it’s Family Business and they truly mean it.

So let’s waste no time in introducing MC Coppa, who’s provided numerous vocals on Al Haca’s projects, as well substantial collaborations with Stereotyp.

Listen to Stereotyp Live Feat. MC Coppa

HS: Let’s start with a little history.. You started out in electronic, drum & bass, and progressed to being a professional MC/host. Was it hard to make the transition?
Coppa: I’ve always seen music as music, and felt the same vibes that inspire me to put my voice to it. I also record for dub, electro, breakbeat, ragga and house, so for me to be into something or involved in it, I just got to feel it. I have always been interested in rhyming and writing, my first lyrics where hiphop orientated, it was just I stumbled across the opportunity to try them out in drum and bass.. That’s how that started.

HS: We’re seeing much more electronica merging with hip hop, creating a new generation of genres. Do you care about any of the “nu skool” or “ol skool” division?
Coppa: For me music genres should go through evolution like everything else on the planet, those people that wanna make a big deal and a divide between old and nu skool are people that don’t really have the interest of that genre at heart..
Artists should move with the times. It is important for things to develop for survival’s sake, if not for variety. People like what they like; call it what ya want, it’s all music.
Regarding hiphop and its associated sub-genres it shouldn’t really matter too much about the musical canvas, as long as the final painting captures the overall spirit of Hiphop. Beatz, Rhymes and Life ;)

HS: What inspires or motivates you?
Coppa: My main inspiration comes from life, people who have made a difference… by this I mean people whose works or art is still relevant today in the lives of people across the globe, even after death. These are people that inspires me and gives me the motivation to continue and develop my work. What motivates me is simple… the pursuit of excellence!

HS: Where are you currently living? And what’s the hottest trend there now, music or otherwise?
Coppa: I´m currently travelling with my work a lot, and living in-between Germany, Vienna and Bratislava.. but spend most of my time in Germany. Electronic music is kinda happening in Germany right now, a lot of cool people from out of Berlin and Munich.. and of course the German “Gangsta” rap thing.. ahem.. yeah..

HS: Hm.. talking about gangsta, we see so much of Snoop Dogg, doggfather of pimpin’, on MTV recently. So I really need to ask: Is pimpin necessary to hip hop?
Coppa: Damn.. I suppose if Snoop says so…then..errr.. yeah! But on the real, a lot of that industry is based on pimping.. But it’s actually the rappers BEING pimped by their labels, lawyers, managers and industry on a whole.. But that don’t sound as cool does it *lol*

HS: Haha, you’ve got a point! Well if you weren’t in D&B or hip hop, what kind of musician do you think you’d wanna be?
Coppa: I’m currently doing every kind of music I want to be doing. I guess I can consider myself lucky that my imagination matches my versatility. However to be honest, I’ve always fancied smashing a guitar on stage and biting chicken heads off, but I don’t think I have the stomach for that sort of thing!

HS: What are some of the musical influences that changed your life when you were growing up?
Coppa: Digging through my mother’s old reggae and soul vinyl collection when I was child introduced me to artists such as Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Bobby Womak, Sam Cooke, Dionne Warrick.. So from a young age I developed a love for inspirational music and music with a message, which has never left me still to this day..
I also listened to a lot of reggae artists such as Sizzla, Buju Banton, Capelton who really opened my eyes as far as me taking an interest in the roots of my Jamaican culture and the story of our people, it’s important to know where you’re coming from in order to know who you are Identity-wise.

HS: Can you share with us what’s a typical day like in your world?
Coppa: In Coppa-World, no two days are ever the same, but an “average” day would be.. waking up around 10 am, grab a cup of coffee, usually check my mails and my MySpace to see what’s popping, go to the gym, look to see what’s next on my recording or writing schedule as I always have multiple projects “open” at one time.. And then try to complete some of this never-ending recordings and song writing while my energy is still flowing… Yet meanwhile also liaising all-day with my Agent about my live bookings & itineraries and my Manager about my Solo recording project I’m under-taking at the moment.. Lots of food in-between, then bedtime.. when I can’t see straight anymore.. ;)

HS: That’s a very productive schedule! Do you like movies? What’s your all-time favourite?
Coppa: Yeah, I’m heavily into movies when I’ve the time to catch them. I’m more of a back-catalogue type of head, meaning I always look for older films coz they’re often more creative or unique.. Usually I would say Scarface, but every wanna-be badman says this so I’m gonna go with a French film called “La Haine”.. Subtitled & Dope!

HS: What should we expect from your show with Al Haca next week, here in KL?
Coppa: I’ll be performing various songs I was featured on the Family Business album and some extra joints I put down with Stereotyp. Basically.. we gonna get busy!!

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Take a peek at Coppa + Stereotyp’s live performance

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Massive thanks to Coppa for his time in answering our questions.

STRPPN FRIDAYZ is a weekly feature on Halfway Street with artists of sorts (fashion, music, arts, etc). If you would like your favourite band or artist to be interviewed on STRPPN FRIDAYZ, drop us a mail at halfwaystreet@gmail.com

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