NLE Choppa, originally known as YNR Choppa, is a prominent American rapper hailing from Memphis, Tennessee. His fame skyrocketed after the success of his 2019 platinum-certified single, “Shotta Flow,” which reached the top-40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In August 2020, he dropped his debut studio album, “Top Shotta,” which achieved a top-ten position on the US Billboard 200 chart and featured hit singles like “Camelot” and “Walk Em Down” (featuring Roddy Ricch).
Following that, NLE Choppa released his second mixtape, “From Dark to Light,” in November 2020, and his second commercial mixtape, “Me vs. Me,” in January 2022.
Born on November 1, 2002, NLE Choppa grew up in Southeast Memphis, Tennessee, specifically in the Parkway Village area. He attended Cordova High School, where he was actively involved in basketball. At the age of 15, he began freestyling with childhood friends, and his passion for music started to take shape.
NLE Choppa’s mother, Angela Potts, has been managing his rap music career since he first showed interest in pursuing it. His journey commenced in March 2018 with the release of his first song, “No Love Anthem,” under the name YNR Choppa.
This was followed by the debut mixtape “No Love the Takeover” in July of the same year. Later on, he gained significant attention after being featured in “No Chorus Pt. 3,” a cypher-style song by his group Shotta Fam. His standout performance in the accompanying music video and charismatic dance moves caught the eye of many, leading to an online buzz.
With the surge of popularity, NLE Choppa released the breakout single “Shotta Flow,” which amassed 10 million views in just one month. The track was lauded as “Song of the Day” by Pitchfork shortly after its release, praising his energetic delivery and captivating dance moves.
“Shotta Flow” made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2019, entering at number 96 and eventually peaking at number 36. The song’s success earned him a certified platinum status by the RIAA. In the following months, he continued to release hit singles and garnered considerable attention in the music industry.
Despite being offered multimillion-dollar deals by top record labels, NLE Choppa opted to sign with the independent distribution company, UnitedMasters, which allowed him to retain ownership of his master recordings and publishing rights.
This decision showcased his determination to maintain creative control over his music. In collaboration with Warner Records, he launched his own label, No Love Entertainment (NLE), and released the single “Free YoungBoy” in June 2019, a tribute to rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
NLE Choppa’s musical journey continued with a series of successful releases, including the singles “Camelot” and “Blocc Is Hot.” His debut EP, “Cottonwood,” was released on December 20, 2019, named after the area where he grew up. The EP featured hit tracks like “Side” and the remixed version of “Shotta Flow” with Blueface’s collaboration, along with a joint effort with Meek Mill.
NLE Choppa’s rise to stardom is a testament to his talent, hard work, and unique approach to the rap music scene. With his own label, he is expected to keep producing captivating music for his fans.