Duece Poppi

In the artsy Midtown section of Atlanta the traffic, for once, is quiet. It’s mid-morning, and the busy socialites that dominate the area are still basking in their party induced slumber. But inside of his high-rise studio nestled in the heart of the eclectic area, Duece Poppi is wide-awake, contemplating the question he’s just been asked: What sparked your interest in HipHop? Though the question seems relatively simple to most, the artist in him simply can’t take the inquiry lightly. He’s silent for a moment, and his eyes grow distant before he answers. The answer is as complex as his street-bred sound.“A deep love for music,” he finally says. His eyes are pensive. “When I was younger my mom used to play a lot of ghetto music, like Marvin Gaye and artists who were talking about situations in the world. That’s why I liked Black music because it was a snapshot of the times. Rap did that. Anything that tells about what’s going on, that’s what I’m drawn to.” Born in Atlanta, Duece was raised in the city that has produced some of music’s most innovative artists until he was 16, when his mother moved him to Miami. He quickly connected with the local rap scene while still in high school, befriending a then unknown Trick Daddy and Trina. Little did he know at the time, the three would soon take the rapgame by storm and simultaneously re-intro-duce Hip Hop to the unique sound of Miami.

DUECE POPPI

Duece Poppi | MySpace Music Videos
“The south is the origin of all Black music,”he explains matter-of-factly. “Now that the south got Hip Hop, we’re gonna put some soul in it.” A writer and producer, Duece didn’t pen his first real rhyme until 1999. “I was challenged to write it,” he remem-bers, a slow smile crossing his face. “I used to freestyle a lot. I was a fan of this shit first. So, when I was challenged to write, I rose to the challenge. I never wrote for fun or to pursue rap, but I was put into so many situations with so many raw artists I had to write.”That first rhyme turned out to be one of the biggest hits of 2000, “Shut Up” by TrickDaddy, for which Duece also wrote the hook. Slip N Slide/Atlantic signed him immediately and he soon became one of the label’s most respected in-house writers. While he hasn’t basked in the limelight like Trick and Trina, his presence has been invaluable. He wrote over half of Trina’s gold-selling debut, DaBaddest Chick, and some of her biggest hits including her verse on the smash single, “PullOver.” He’s also been featured as an artist on numerous popular releases, including Trick’s“N-Word” and “Let’s Go.”But now, it’s his turn to shine. With a sound that’s reflective of his diverse musical tastes and background, Duece is prepared to leave his imprint upon the Hip Hop landscape—namely, the streets. “When you’ve heard my shit, you’ve heard something that’s really put together,” he relays without a hint of conceit. “I want to, in some kind of way, leave my mark on the evolution of rap and Hip Hop. I want to be a mogul with it.” With his label, Rebel Music (and partners Official Records) and his group, NWM(Niggaz With Money) which consists of him-self, Nestle Quik Kodine and Carrio, he’s well on his way to realizing his aspiration. He’s also set to appear in two movies, Hustler’s World due later this year and Betrayed which is currently in production. Still, his primary focus is on delivering goodmusic. And he won’t be deterred from his vision.“My music is southern, it’s gangster,” he says animatedly explaining his sound, which is laced with hard drums, snappy percussion and grinding bass lines. “It’s for the niggaz that sleep all day and wake up late. It’s black ghet-to music. It’s progressive—it’s the sound track to the game right now.” He pauses and his gaze grows more intense.“I want to produce some shit that’s genuine-ly for niggaz. Like Marvin Gaye, he was right there, that’s where I’m at.”