NLE Choppa Gets Serious
“They said this shit wouldn’t work,” NLE Choppa reminds his doubters every time he performs his viral track, “Slut Me Out 2.” But right now, it’s working exactly how he wants.
A mean strut down the Rolling Loud stage in March 2024 and a call for “all the bad bitches to the floor” would introduce “Slut Me Out 2” as one of the year’s most salacious songs. As NLE Choppa debuted the track, the hook, “If I was a bad bitch, I’d wanna fuck me too/ I’d wanna suck me too,” rang out from speakers, stunning the crowd and social media alike. Sexually centered lyrics are not new to Choppa’s musical content, with the track’s predecessor, “Slut Me Out,” openly professing his big dick energy. However, its sequel is even sluttier, taking on the perspective of a woman who is attracted to Choppa. At the top of the first verse, he leaves no room for misinterpretation and ever so bluntly asks, “Bitch, is we fuckin’ or what?”
Choppa’s jarring lyrics were met with quivering legs, pelvic thrusts and even more suggestive and sporadic dancing in an official music video. The freedom of his movements, in tandem with the song’s explicit content, garnered significant attention and served up his confidence unapologetically. This dramatized interpretation tapped into Choppa’s overtly sexual bravado and emphasized his cartoonish facial expressions, taking his strut from the stage to the stairs as he traveled through a dreamy mansion full of women. The overarching theme of self-love resonated with the masses, quickly solidifying “Slut Me Out 2” as an anthem that highlights where Choppa is in life: loving himself and those around him.
Born Bryson LaShun Potts, 21-year-old NLE Choppa was raised in east Memphis, Tennessee, an area he’s described as dangerous, though he attributes his strength to the rough environment. His animated, carefree persona hides the realities of that troubled upbringing, one he says left his parents uncertain about his future. But now Choppa has transitioned from troubled teen to grounded adult to zealous father, and today he’s in tune with himself, spiritually, emotionally and physically, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given the provocative and reassuring lyrics of his music.
For Choppa, who is of Jamaican descent, staying connected to his roots is easy. His momager Angela Potts, affectionately known as “Momma Choppa,” and his grandmother, “Grandma Choppa,” are both from Kingston, but have since moved to the United States. “I keep my mom and grandmother around me daily, so I always feel close to my roots,” he says, speaking of the influence Jamaica has on his daily life and music. “I’ve always been able to explore it. I’ve always been able to let people know this is a part of me, and it’s beautiful because a lot of people don’t even know that about me.”
His song “Catalina” represents that desire to show more of his connection to Caribbean culture, and features Yaisel LM, a Latin reggaeton artist from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The bilingual ass-shaking track blends Yaisel’s vibrant Latin energy with Choppa’s jaw-dropping bars about sex and women over a hypnotic dembow beat. In 2023, Yaisel also featured Choppa on the remix for his song “Boy Boy.”
A foray into Latin music isn’t too far-fetched for Choppa, who has embarked on several different creative pursuits during his short career. In 2020, he began documenting holistic practices on his YouTube channel, Awakened Choppa. To fans, the shift might have felt like a stark 180 for the rapper whose popular songs like “Shotta Flow” and “Walk Em Down” centered on crime and violence, but for Choppa, it’s just a natural inward progression. “I realized around 17 or 18 that everything was way deeper than I thought,” he says. “I’m still realizing that, going through certain tests, journeys and walks.”
In a short time, Choppa has identified his purpose: being a testimony and a testament. “I’ve realized it’s not about being the most righteous person. It’s about turning your pain into champagne and inspiring other people going through the same things you’ve been going through,” he says, continuing with passion in his voice: “Someone who wins through triumph so other people can feel like they can win, too. That’s the spiritual journey, for real. It’s not all about getting some crystals, it’s a lot more serious.”
With his new mixtape Slut SZN and new endeavors in fashion and entertainment, NLE Choppa is getting serious about it all, allowing himself the space to be free and officially declaring that his time is now.
You’ve been in the industry since your teen years. Now that you’re 21, what’s your perspective on the current state of music?
It’s whatever you make it, for real, and the amount of work you put in. The blessings come back tenfold. How positive you stay through the midst of the storm is important. Just stay deeply rooted in what you know and want to do, and have the utmost confidence in yourself because you got there. No one came looking for you, you feel me? You put yourself in a position to be seen. That’s the thing to always carry. I got here, so now it’s time to stay here, thrive here and dominate. I’m just staying consistent with that.
You released “Slut Me Out” in 2022 and then followed that up last year with a Sexyy Red remix. How did that come about?
Man, I was just going with my gut. It was around a time when Sexyy had the “Pound Town” song going, but a lot of people wasn’t hip to who she was. A lot of people heard that song, but when it’s your first hit song, some people may know the song, but they may not know your face. I was like, “You know what? I want to reach out to her and put her on the ‘Slut Me Out’ remix. I feel like it’ll make sense with the record I stumbled across.”
And it was funny because many people was like, “Oh, you don’t want to get this person on the remix or that person?” I’m like, “Nah, I want to put her on it. It makes more sense.” You know, it was other people where they felt made more sense, or like the big artists at that time. And I was like, “Nah, she’s perfect for it.”
What do you think about the response women rappers get when they make more explicit or sexual music, and how it differs from men like yourself?
It’s about picking your poison, you feel me? Everybody has their thing, but I think it’s about picking which one you want to rock with. Sexyy Red is probably one of the first artists where I felt like she was rapping about sex, but she made it so fun. It just was different. I don’t know if it’s the beat selection, but it’s something about her. When she raps about, “My pussy this, my pussy that,” it’s not like, ugh, you feel me? It bops, she’s just got a niche.
Yeah, I’m always here for the girls talking about it.
People gotta understand — just because it’s not something that you play in the car does not mean it doesn’t have an audience. I’m a firm believer that there’s never a bad song. I’ve seen songs, in my opinion, where I’d be like, “Okay, this is the worst song I’ve heard,” but it’s got a plaque, or it got streams. So, over time, I realized it’s just not my preference. You know it’s not something I rock with, but it has its audience. So once people realize that’s how you’re supposed to approach art, it’ll be a better place.
“Slut Me Out 2” is a crazy record. You premiered it at Rolling Loud earlier this year. How did you know that was the moment to debut that song?
Man, it was funny, because I was really unsure. I didn’t know what song I wanted to preview. I had three other songs and a few people were like, “Do that one! Do this one!” and I just leaned towards “Slut Me Out 2” because it felt like the more fun song to perform, you feel me? So I came out and did the walk. All of it was natural. I wasn’t even thinking. I was just going with the flow and we made a big moment out of it.
During the catwalk, there was this freedom about you, and it’s easily become an anthem for self-love. What inspired it? Did you know it would hit?
The inspiration was simply to have fun. I went into the studio and I was having fun. I’m a person who loves myself and, as a male, it’s not deemed normal. I’ve never really created a record that speaks volumes about just loving oneself.
Within the process of making a song, it’s been a spiritual battle. I’ve been questioning myself because I’m always a person that is extremely enlightened. I’m always coming back to God, like, “Do you support me when I do things of this nature? Do you support the raunchy? Why am I so successful with this type of music?” When at the end of the day, I pray three or four times. I give all the glory and praise to Him. I was always trying to find a why.
And he came and spoke to me. He was like, “Don’t overthink it.” Because at the end of the day, no matter what you do, people are going to critique and judge you. He also said, “No matter what you do, you’re always gonna inspire.” I started to realize after I released that song that there was certain fans I would see coming to the show, and that song gives them confidence. It makes them feel good. It’s all types of people in the crowd: you got white people, you got Black people. My fans are diverse. You got skinny people, you got people that are slim thick. There’s all these different people, and when that song comes on you can’t tell me that nobody in there don’t feel sexy.
You’re definitely inspiring people to be comfortable in their skin, to be confident, to strut and to show up how they want to every day.
And be yourself. I feel like somewhere along the lines, we’ve been taught as males to be so overly masculine. Everyone has masculine and feminine energy. The right side holds the masculine and the left side holds the feminine, and you’re supposed to make them one. Once people realize that, they’ll learn to love themselves and create a balance.
After releasing the song, you received a lot of support from the LGBTQ community and some people began to speculate about your sexuality. What are your thoughts on that?
It’s a beautiful thing, because the amount of people who had something to say is what fuels me to stay deeply rooted in my purpose. The beauty of it is that it gave me an opportunity to say, “Oh, y’all feel like I’m this way? Okay, let me give y’all some more reasons to feel that way, even though I know I’m not. Let me show more love to the people that y’all are saying I’m aligned with because we are all humans at the end of the day.” Everyone is fighting for some type of acceptance, and I think the most important part is accepting yourself first.
The looks in the “Slut Me Out 2” video were very reminiscent of Prince and Rick James. Was that intentional?
It’s funny you say that, because Rick James from the “Give It To Me Baby” video was actually the prime inspiration. I was in the studio with my director Big Mark, and we was just playing the song and I was like, “Yo, I know what vibe I want for this. I want to give Rick James all the way to the tee.” We put up the music video on the big screen and just played the music. It was so funny how every scene aligned with the lyrics I was rapping, just certain stuff he was doing. Like when I say, “Is we fucking or what?” Rick James was in her ear and it looked like he was saying it. I was like, “Yo, this is alignment.” I said, “Let’s do this, but let’s make it modern and a version of me.” Rick James, Prince, a little bit of MJ, it was all in there.
While we’re on the topic of fashion, who are some of your fashion influences?
I gotta go with me right now, first and foremost. I’ve been really putting certain things together. I’ve got my own shoe, the Duck Boot, out right now, and I’ve got another color coming. Shoutout to Virgil; he made a lot of noise from a design standpoint, not just from wearing clothes.
I love what Winnie Harlow has done in the fashion space. Also, Omar [Bailey], who I made the Duck Boot with. He’s worked with Lady Gaga, Jay Z, and most profoundly, Kanye.
Do you want to venture further into fashion and sneakers outside of the Duck Boot?
Yes, for sure. With sneakers and clothes, I’m all for it. I’m working on a luxury clothing brand behind the scenes. I’m doing a lot of stuff that is deeply rooted in fashion. I’m taking it seriously.
You’re a father of two now. How has fatherhood impacted your outlook on life and music career?
Man, it changed it a lot, because now it’s not all about me. I’ve got two little other me’s I gotta take care of. It makes me go harder, and be more thoughtful and considerate. I gotta factor in the kids, their moms and the family as a whole. So I’m always thinking about everyone and being a team player. It helps me be even more deeply rooted in that. I ain’t gonna lie, they’re my biggest inspiration. I want to keep providing and building out a legacy for them to fill. It’s really one of the best things that could’ve happened in my life.
You’ve been bringing your parents out on stage with you during your performance of “Slut Me Out 2.” What does it mean to you to have them on stage with you?
It’s beautiful because I remember when the days weren’t bright when I was younger. It was like, “Okay, what is he gonna do? This boy is crazy.” So, being able to pay them back in that space is a beautiful one, because I remember the days when I told them, “I’m gonna pay y’all back one day, I promise. All the pain that I’m causing will be reciprocated,” and I really stood on it. And God was molding me and watching over me the whole time, and it came true. So to be able to have them with me is always a blessing.
Right now, regional music is getting an even bigger spotlight, especially with Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” making waves. How has being from Memphis influenced your music and sound?
It’s influenced me a lot.It’s influenced me to be different — to not go with what everyone has been influenced by and to go against it and create my own lane. I peeped what was going on and was like, “Okay, everybody’s doing this. Let me do this. Let me be the only one,” and it worked for me. I ended up blowing up out of my city. You’ve got Pooh Sheisty and Glorilla. Before those two, I was the last to come out, as far as big names.
Recently, you’ve praised Glorilla and seemingly shot your shot. Would you like to collaborate with her in the future?
I would love to. I actually sent her something, so I think we got something brewing.
Are there any other Memphis artists you feel people should pay more attention to?
The girls, for real. They got a thing going. You know, K Carbon, Gloss Up and Slimeroni. Also, producers like HitKidd, DMac and Tay Keith.
Are we going to get a “Slut Me Out 3”?
It might be, it might be, you feel me? I got a treat. I got a remix to “Slut Me Out 2,” people are not going to expect it. I have a short film that’s releasing with the song, with a lot of good people in it.
I was trying to find a way to show love to the LGBTQ community because of the love they showed me. I couldn’t perform at a Pride event this summer because it was a little too late. So, I got Relly B. to be in the movie. He’s a dope guy, and he’s extremely funny. I got Sukihana and Yaisel. I got Tra Rags and Lou Ratchet, comedians like that. So it’s gonna be real dope. I know everyone’s gonna receive it well. It’s extremely funny, too.
Is there anything else you can share that’s upcoming?
I have movies and TV shows coming. I just wrote a children’s book.
I imagine your kids inspired the book. How was the writing process?
It was beautiful. It was easy, like writing a song. I want to write more. I’m gonna start working on another one soon. I wrote it in my notes on my phone and just sent it over. They got it printed out. I’m actually looking at it right now. It’s called Cricket Stop Cricking.
How do you practice self-love and self-care amidst all this? Why is that important?
I think the most important part is affirmations: talking to yourself, pouring into yourself and treating yourself good. Treating yourself as if you’re in a fetal state. Talking to yourself the right way, praying, always being grateful and always looking at progress. Just work on yourself, put yourself first.
Order NLE Choppa’s special-edition 40th Anniversary zine here
Photography: Sarah Pardini
Styling: Jenny Haapala
Grooming: Hector Paredes
Makeup and prosthetics: Hatti Rees
Set design: Payton Newcomer
Photo assistants: Tom Lipka, Devin Szydlowski
Styling assistants: Lauren Walker, Berlin Ventura
Styling intern: Daisy Lopez
Production assistant: Ricardo Diaz
Production intern: Sophia Martinez
Editor-in-chief: Justin Moran
Managing editor: Matt Wille
Editorial producer: Angelina Cantú
Music editor: Erica Campbell
Zine and cover layout: Callum Abbott
Story: Mikeisha Vaughn
Publisher: Brian Calle
“They said this shit wouldn’t work,” NLE Choppa reminds his doubters every time he performs his viral track, “Slut Me Out 2.” But right now, it’s working exactly how he wants. A mean strut down the Rolling Loud stage in March 2024 and a call for “all the bad bitches to the floor” would introduce…