USING SOULJA BOY’S STRATEGY TO BECOME A STAR IS CHANGING HOW ARTISTS REACH THEIR AUDIENCES


Claude Thompson
CLAUDE THOMPSON                                      “Popichil’o”

USING SOULJA BOY’S STRATEGY TO BECOME A STAR IS CHANGING HOW ARTISTS REACH THEIR AUDIENCES


Music and technology — two words that go together like Simon and Garfunkle and Peaches and Herb.


Claude Thompson, aka Popichil’o, is using his My Space page to
introduce his own brand of musical genre and reach audiences with a
wider net, specifically the Internet.  He calls his music, Rythmatic
Soul — a unique blend of Rap and Soul Music that creates its own hip
sound.  “I would say my music paints a picture.  It paints a picture of
things I see that I like to convey — a message or an emotion.”

Taking a page from the Soulja boy strategy book, social networks, like
My Space are a popular medium to express oneself and keep in touch. The
social innovation further illustrates that the Internet is a powerful
vehicle that enables artists to get their music heard — particularly
upcoming new artists.


Popichil’o said he been writing lyrics in his teens. The music became a
way to express the things he felt. “I can’t sing, but I can rap so that
is my way of conveying a message through my spirit, my heart and my
soul to people I am trying to reach.”

Influenced by a wide range of musical artists from Marvin Gaye to Tupac
to Common to Twister, Popichil’o’s music continues the heated debate
about the direction of hip-hop.  He cites the artist Nas’s “Hip Hop Is
Dead”, for creating some consciousness within the community.  “I give
Nas credit.  When Nas made the album I think he woke up the
consciousness in a lot of artists to really look at ourselves and ask
‘Am I really contributing to this or am I taking from it?’”

Popichil’o envisions his musically legacy adds to the cache of Chicago
artists on the map and will be around long after he has gone. “I love
my city.  I talk with a lot of artists who feel they have to leave
Chicago in order to make it.  I feel you can make in Chicago.  You have
to be true to yourself and at the end of the day believe in what you
do.”

For more information visit  www.myspace.com/popichilo or [email protected]

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