Co-signed by the likes of Trippie Redd, Lil Yachty and Destroy Lonely, BigSmokeChapo’s new visual for “10 Bitches” lifts his May album to new heights.
At the heart of the “Snake Pit,” Clayton County, Georgia’s BigSmokeChapo has always had music in his blood. “My pops used to rap. I used to be two-years-old on stage turning up with him,” he revealed, not only uncovering the inspirations that guided him to the booth, but the struggle and strife it took for him to get there.
Touting close ties to both Destroy Lonely and Slimesito — who both appear on Chapo’s latest record Rich Snake — the “All Redd” emcee’s journey isn’t one without trials and tribulations. Finding himself in Clayton County jail at one point, it wasn’t until he was released that he started taking rap “seriously” — sharpening his pen at every chance he got. “No matter what I was doing in life at the time, I would still [be] rapping. I just didn’t take it seriously until I got out of jail,” he said. “Even before I ever made a song, I always was a leader and recognized that I was chosen.”
This “chosen one” energy is found all over Chapo’s third consecutive project Rich Snake (May 2022). Accumulating over 31,000 Spotify monthly listeners, the street-centric spitter’s new wave notoriety continues to rise by way of co-signs from Trippie Redd, Lil Yachty and most recently Lonely — who’s experiencing a rapid ascent to stardom following his scintillating LP No Stylist.
However, Chapo’s blistering rhymes and triumphant, hard-hitting soundscape all intersect at his core as a bonafide hitmaker. Combining elements of Atlanta plugg, New York drill and internet era hip-hop, the rapper’s potent performances on Rich Snake are complemented by a willingness to carve a path for himself — wanting people to “get to know me through this tape.”
“‘Rich Snake’ is just the introduction to a new me, a new level and the next level. I want people to get to know me through this tape. That’s why there’s so many different sounds on here, and why I only featured my real life people — Destroy Lonely, Slimesito and Fluhkunxhkos. I truly want people to know the real me and start buckling up because I’m about to go crazy. This is just the beginning.”
BigSmokeChapo on ‘Rich Snake’
Of the many highlights from the album — such as the Bill Withers-interpolated “RIP DMX,” “0100 In Dallas” with Destroy Lonely and the bombastic “10 Bitches” — Chapo’s personality is perhaps his greatest strength, which allows his bar-heavy cadence to shine brighter on each track. This victorious persona is not only what separates him from his peers, but is an integral piece to the “vision” he wants to show the world.
“I’m on some different shit. From my army swag to my voice to my beat selection, I’m in my own lane. I got my own vision that I want to show the world. I love music, it’s my happy place.”
BigSmokeChapo to OGM
Similarly, it seems that wherever Chapo goes, he’ll have “10 Bitches” following close behind. The track’s coinciding visual — which continues to build out the tantalizing emcee’s sonic world — showcases Chapo flexing with a dozen women scattered throughout the trap, flowing effortlessly while fanning his cash over the high velocity cut.
With Rich Snake now in the rearview, Chapo is looking ahead to showing the world the real him on his future records. Still climbing the ranks of the underground, there’s no smoke and mirrors when it comes to BigSmokeChapo — striving to bring “different sh*t” the game’s been desperately missing.
Listen to ‘Rich Snake’ below!
