Hip-Hop Rap artist Cochiese sheds light onto the Underground Rap movement as a unique Hip-hop idol

Cochiese's philanthropy presents to the Hip-hop community a new perspective on music

Though the Underground Rap movement has been on the rise for the last half decade or more, it has by definition been a struggling one. Despite the breakthrough successes of a handful of artists (Bone Thugs n Harmony’s “Crossroads” is a memorable favorite for all of us who grew up in the 90s) it comes as no surprise that an artist like Cochiese has presented himself on the face of Underground Rap with his new single “Crazy” to be published on his 2009 album The. Though the musicality of the single and possibly the entire album is quite unique and deserves its own independent discussion, I would first like to speak to the impressive background which this rapper has personally brought to my attention.

Born in Detroit, Michigan but raised from the age of ten on the Westside of Atlanta, Georgia, Cochiese’s older brother would be arrested and sentenced to fifteen years in jail at the age of twenty; Chochiese was thirteen. Despite the odds, however, the young aspiring musician did not follow in his brother’s footsteps, and went on to graduate from the CSB Conneticut School of Broadcasting with a degree in Film and Broadcasting in 2005. Though today he actively produces music in the Hip-hop community, he still remains true to his roots, and is the Vice President and Co-founder of Skate-Lanta, LCC where he plans to build a 50,000 square foot skate park in downtown Atlanta, and is also a motivational speaker at his alma mater where he has in the works an inner-city garden for local residents. An impressive display of philanthropy no doubt, Cochiese’s history as a community organizer is on its own quite remarkable.

This, of course, speaks volumes to the music which Cochiese has written and recorded. Claiming influences from several of the Underground Rap community’s most prominent figures (including Hieroglyphics and Dj Quik) as well as some of the Hip-hop and Rap community’s most important crossover artists (including Outkast’s Andre 3000 and Lupe Fiasco), Cochiese’s music features some impressive musical attributes. Using a Caribbean influenced track for his single “Crazy,” this uniquely tropical flavor added to the Dre 3000-esque flows which the rapper sports, creating a sort of fusion between new and old that is quite unique. Coupled with the single’s subtly melodic hooks, Cochiese’s “Crazy” stands as a swift fusion between Hip-hop beats and Rap-styled hooks that has become increasingly more popular in the last few years. Add to it the philanthropy that this musician stands for, and Cochiese’s anticipated 2009 album The, though oddly titled, seems hard to resist. A refreshing relief from the Sex/Drugs/Rock and Roll style of musician that Rap, Hip-hop, and all of Popular music has, does, and always will exhibit, Cochiese presents to the music community a kind of philosophy  that the world truly needs more of. I don’t know about you, but this man has certainly earned my support because, though changing the world is rare, doing it with music is near impossible, and Cochiese has made impressive gestures to do so.

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Thanks for reading!

David Woo, Oakland Music Examiner