Detroit has long be lauded as a breeding ground for music elite. Berry Gordy and the illustrious Motown Records, the trailblazing production of James “J Dilla” Yancey, the rabid and equally sharp-witted rhymes of Eminem; these men are but a drop in the bucket when surveying the musical legacy of the Motor City. But now in the wake of a crippled auto industry, a crumbling economy, and a failing education system the city is ripe for new unfaltering heroes. Backed by heavy bass lines, resonant horn samples, and gritty snare drums the erstwhile Derek Cooper, 28, is ready for his place in the rap pantheon. The East Side resident, who released his debut—A Pipe Dream And a Promise—earlier this year, recently spoke to URB about his troubled city rebounding, what it’s like working with Prince Whippa Whip of the folkloric Grandwizard Theodore & The Fantastic Five, and what change he’ll bring to the expanding hip-hop landscape.
URB: A select few artists have had a J. Dilla beat on their album, let alone their debut; how did “Heat” come about?
Finale: Well “Heat” was originally supposed to be on my first 12” single I was working on a while back. I recorded four songs over beats I picked off of the CD’s Dilla sent me. I was introduced to him through mutual friends after my name was passed around the scene. When he found out that I was looking to release my first single with him he was down to work with me, but when the deal didn’t end up being finalized I kept on building with him. I ended up only using “Heat” for A Pipe Dream And a Promise and adding the crowd audio recording after he passed away.
URB: Prince Whippa Whip also makes an appearance on Pipe Dream, another legend in his own right; what’s the back story behind that?
Finale: Whip actually lives in Michigan and he used to drive all the way up from Romulus, Michigan every month to host an event that me, Invincible and House Shoes used to promote. It was called Quality Control and he was always there to support the cause. Whip has given me a lot of advice over the past few years and it’s an honor to be able to get direct advice from a person who was actually there. I don’t have to speculate, assume, perpetrate or guess; I can just go ask whip, Awesome Dre or Motsi (Detroit’s Most Wanted) for the real story. Whip has been connected to everyone on the Detroit hip-hop scene including Awesome Dre and Proof, so it’s actually dope to show that connection that the circles in hip-hop actually overlap and it is possible to work together.
URB: Detroit, much like the rest of the country, is hurting right now. A crumbling economy. Widespread poverty. A failing education system. What’s your take on it all? Are you hopeful?
Finale: I know what Detroit’s capable of and this is far from the end. Most of us who actually grew up in the city come up thinking that if we get a job at the plant then we’ve finally “made it” in a sense. But now that the auto industry is on its last leg a lot of families have to readjust their focus and priorities. But on a more positive note, this actually puts us in a position to showcase the other talents we have. Detroit has been a breeding ground and leader in the music industry for years, so as artists we have to learn how to maintain the “business” as well as the “musical” side of our careers and we can show the world that cars and Berry Gordy’s vision aren’t the only things we’ll ever be known for.
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