Stop Sleepin: Chip Tha Ripper

From 10 Emerging Artists to watch in 2010:

Chip Tha Ripper recently received a large amount of buzz from features on Kid Cudi’s debut album, Man On The Moon: The End of Day.

Following that release, Chip put out the critically acclaimed mixtape, The Cleveland Show, and is currently pushing forward at the height of his career.

The fan base he’s been cultivating over the years with hits like “I’m Fitted,” coupled with the recent buzz and quality music, leads me to believe that 2010 will show a lot of love to Chip Tha Ripper.

Also, there’s word that a collaborative album between Chip and Kid Cudi is in the works.  If that album ever sees the light of day, Chip’s career will surely benefit.

This aforementioned relationship with Kid Cudi runs deep, and the two friends even formed a group together: The Almighty GloryUS.  In fact, they both performed at a sold out show last night.

In case you haven’t heard it, Here’s the duo’s track “Hyyerr,” which samples Lou Rawls’ “Early Morning Love.”

Chip was one of only six featured artists on Kid Cudi’s impressive debut, and his flow outshines Cudders on the track’s slow and laid back beat.  I’m looking forward to the track’s remix with Snoop Dogg and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony!

Building off the buzz he received from being featured on Kid Cudi’s album, Chip and his camp decided to drop The Cleveland Show on December 1st, 2009.  So far the reception to the project has been great, impressing even Chip himself!

With The Cleveland Show, Chip Tha Ripper set out to make music the way that he would enjoy listening to, personally.  That perspective is important to keep in mind while listening, as he’s stated that all his music before the mixtape was made in an effort to give people what they wanted.

After learning pro tools from Hi-Tek, Chip got busy working on his latest project, recording all of The Cleveland Show in his bedroom!  Let’s get into a couple standout tracks:

Chip Tha Ripper – “Wake Up Fool.”

Chip’s ability to capture a listener with a story, as well as effortlessly change the feel of a track by switching his flow, is displayed in the hook-lees “Wake Up Fool.”

The first 45 seconds of this song has Chip spitting rapid verses about a larger than life fight that’s taking place in his dream.  However, this quick tempo is abruptly slowed down and relaxed with:

“Nope,
That was just a dream,
Now I’m woke, Thank ya Jeez,
Wipe the crust out my eye,
Brush my teeth, iron my jeans,
Then spark them trees that I need to succeed,
That Trojan ganja got no seeds-a!
Then after all that, I give them hoes a call back,
Nah on second thought maybe I’mma fall back,
Cause all that riff-raff ain’t even whats happenin’,
Just go wake up Mr. McNair and ask him,
More love, less blastin.”

Those lyrics are my favorite part of the track, but maybe the Steve McNair reference was a bit too soon.

Chip Tha Ripper – “Feel Good.”

There’s something about the track’s production and cocky lyrics that have me coming back to it over and over again in my playlist.

Here’s Chip telling us how he feels:

“Bitch I feel good, don’t I look tremendous?
Damn I feel so splendid, I walk up in your shindig,
Higher than the ozone, damn I could flow home,
Just call me when you want some,
I’m out here by my lonesome,
Pack a Bay jacket for the winter,
Polo v-neck for the summer,
I’m a young hood boss, I do what I wanna,
If you trynna fuck with me, then you better have some commas,
I be with them old g’s,
I’m probably stuntin with your father.”

The way he says “don’t I look tremendous?” is hilarious!

Although Chip’s been in the game for a minute, having originally been signed to Atlantic Records at the age of 18 and receiving an early sponsorship by DC shoes, things are finally looking like they’re about to get major for the Midwest emcee.

Follow Chip on Twitter:@Chip216 and check out Slabup.com for the latest updates!

If you want to hear more, here’s the rest of The Cleveland Show: