JC Poppe - Interview

How That Sound recently hooked up with American hip-hop artist JC Poppe for an Interview in which we ended up discussing everything from how he got his MC name to what he felt were his biggest challenges as an artist.

Read the Interview in it's entirety after the jump.



HTS: I'd like to just start by saying thank you on behalf of How That Sound for joining us!

Let's get the ball rolling with a bit of an introduction - firstly tell everyone a little about yourself.

JC: My name is JC Poppe and I'm from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I love cheeseburgers.

HTS: As do I! What was the inspiration behind choosing the name JC Poppe?

JC: Well, I decided to go with my real name. The initials of my first and middle name make up the JC and Poppe is my last name. I’ve been through a slew of 'rapper' names though and nothing ever fit so I was much more comfortable going with what I naturally am called.

HTS: How long have you been making music? How did you start?

JC: I started recording music in 2004 but I started writing raps in the mid 90’s. I got my start through my interest in my English classes. For some reason writing wasn’t a chore to me like doing math. I started with poetry and then decided that start converting my poems into songs.

HTS: For the people that haven't heard of you before, could you give a little background info into previous projects you've put out and what you're working on at the moment?

JC: In 2004 I put together my first project, The Anger EP. It consists of four songs and was recorded, produced, engineered by Brian Reith who actually went out and got his own deal with Toby Mac’s Goatee Records. It was an interesting experience being my first time recording and while working with Brian I had to make sure my lyrics were clean so it helped me focus on using my vocabulary.

That EP produced my first “hit”, a song called “Give It To Em” which actually got some spins on a few different stations in Milwaukee, but it mainly served as a track for my friends to enjoy.

2005 to 2008 were pretty turbulent years for me musically and personally. I was able to put together a few songs with a really talented musician who became a good friend, but our project really never was able to come together because he was battling a pretty bad addiction to heroin. I also developed an unhealthy taste for alcohol.

It was during that period that I entered into the Milwaukee underground hip-hop scene officially at the request of my then friend, now manager, Damon. He really took me around and introduced me to people and I managed to get a couple of beats and even put some songs together that were supposed to go towards a new EP, but the gas for that idea ran out by the end of 2007.

Right at the end of 2008 the desire to write music and record came back and I had built a relationship with a couple of producers (Raze and Dylan Thomas) who really helped me out by tossing me beats and allowed me the chance to complete a dream of mine. This led to me finishing my first album Sleep Therapy and I put it out in the 3rd quarter of this year.

Now, because Sleep Therapy was able to get into some of the right ears, I’ve been given a chance to re-up via a contract with HiPNOTT Records and I should have a new project out by April/May of 2010.

HTS: Wow, I like that a little turned into a lot! Have you done any shows recently or have any on the horizon that people should get to?

JC: I actually haven't performed yet. My family has had a slew of medical catastrophes over the past year so I'm not using any energy or brain cells for that quite yet. I hope to be doing shows by this Spring/Summer.

HTS: That's very commendable of you, your family should always be first priority. Whilst on the subject of challenge - what do you feel has been your biggest? Have you ever suffered the dreaded 'writers block'?

JC: My biggest challenge as an artist is actually two things, being from a little known city for hip-hop and a trying to have a budget for my music.

Milwaukee has a small, competitive, hip-hop scene and at times it’s hard to get people outside of the city to look at me because of that fact.

Of course I’ve had writer’s block. I battle that all the time. The only thing that cures that for me is a hot beat. So, that’s how I come to get the beats that I select for my projects. The music has to say something to me and call the lyrics out of me. I’m not really one of those people who just writes to anything or sits around making generic raps that can fit over whatever beat.

HTS: With that in mind, would you say your style has evolved since you first started out?

JC: Wow, when I first started my music was all about thug shit. I was a pretty angry kid and got into lots of trouble and I think the shock value of writing gangsta raps was too much for me to pass up.

As I matured I started becoming more introspective and I started focusing on lyricism over the thug style. I started really coming into my own throughout high school and that growth continued into college where I refined myself further.

At this stage of the game, I care more about writing what is inspired and that is a big difference from the past, where I would just try to write for writing’s sake. My subject matter is much more focused now as well.

HTS: Which artists have influenced you in your career?

JC: The rapper that has had the biggest influence on me is probably Black Thought of The Roots. Some of my other influences are Common, Chuck D, Zach de la Rocha, Big Pun and Slug of Atmosphere.

HTS: It's that time of the interview where I let you expand on your dreams so without further ado - If you could work with any artist or group (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

JC: I would absolutely love to sit in on one of The Roots jam sessions. You never know who is going to turn up and what is going to happen.. and the creativity of all those people in one spot, it’d be crazy. I’m not a freestyler so I wouldn’t even think of picking up the mic.. I would just want to sit there and take that all in.

As far as dead artists go, hands down, I would’ve wanted to be around J. Dilla. He was a genius and is the best producer of all time.

HTS: Ah great call on The Roots! I was lucky enough to see Questlove Live this past year. Easily one of the best live music experiences I've ever had.

Onto my next question - Which current artists and songs are you feeling at the minute?

JC: You know, I’ve been rocking the shit out of P.O.S.'s album Never Better for quite a while now.

I've actually been listening to mainly Milwaukee hip-hop as of late. The House of M’s The Alternate Reality Of.., Speak Easy's Well Spoken, Haz Solo and Dylan Thomas’s All Jokes Asideand Adlib’s The Wade Wilson Project. This younger Milwaukee artist named Frankie Flowers just came out with his second album and that’s slowly starting to make its way into the regular rotation.

HTS: Always good to support the local music scene! I'm going to swtich it up again now. What's a day in the life like for JC Poppe?

JC: Ha! Well, that’s pretty easy. I’m a family man so I wake up with my son and take care of him while my wife works. During the day I do any number of mundane things along with continuously networking with people.

I try to get my music into as many people’s ears as possible without being too annoying about it. I just believe in what I do so I’m trying to lay as much groundwork down as I can so that when my second album comes out, more people are aware of who I am and are more willing to listen.

I try to fit song writing in there as much as possible as well. I’m not really into the nightlife any more. I did that in college and I did it big so relaxing with the family now is my dream of a good night.. as boring as that may sound to some people.

HTS: For people who want to keep up with you, what's the best way to go about that?

JC: You can always stay up with me on my Twitter page, which is simply jcpoppe.

I also update my Myspace page with information fairly regularly.

I also just created a Facebook fan page (JC Poppe) which I’ll keep updated with any news that breaks.

You can also buy my music on iTunes and on CDBaby.com or CDUniverse if anybody uses that. Also, if you are stateside, you will be able to find my CD in several Hot Topic stores around the country.

HTS: Thanks for all those links. Lazy people worldwide are rejoicing!

Any last words?

JC: I just want people to know that what I do is out of love for hip-hop. I’d like to shout out my new record label HiPNOTT Records, the entire Milwaukee hip-hop scene, and my family.

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That about wraps it up for this interview. I have to say a huge thank you to JC for devoting his time to answer my grueling questions! It really means a lot. Much respect.
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