NLE Choppa - Cottonwood 2 (Album)
Photo Credit: Gunner Stahl
Memphis hip-hop phenomenon NLE Choppa releases his highly anticipated album Cottonwood 2, which includes the viral and very NSFW hit single, “Slut Me Out,” which reached #1 on TikTok’s music chart, recently broke into the top 10 on US Spotify, and got an even racier remix featuring St. Louis' Sexyy Red.
With over 5.5 billion global streams, 13 certified RIAA plaques, and 26 million words read via his NLE Reading Challenge, Choppa’s worked hard to become a pillar of his community. Recently participating in a panel and performance at Grammy Museum’s “Grammy In The Schools” Festival, he’s leading by example, showing young people it’s never too late or early to live a purpose-filled life. In January, Choppa organised a peaceful “Skate For Tyre'' event in Memphis, gaining recognition from Billboard, Vibe and Revolt.
Since topping Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart for a record-breaking 24 weeks in 2019, cracking the Billboard 200 top 10 with 2020’s Top Shotta, and earning a spot on last year’s Billboard 21 Under 21 list, his name has become synonymous with the elite of the rap world.
Cottonwood 2 is a celebration of growth and follows the breakout star’s 2022 mixtape, Me vs. Me, which was a stepping stone to this moment. Combining nuanced reflections like “The Gender Song” with the electricity of tracks like “Jumpin” and “Shotta Flow 6,” Cottonwood 2 also includes "Ain’t Gonna Answer" featuring Lil Wayne. Recently, Weezy brought out Choppa to perform the track live at the Boston date of his Welcome to Tha Carter tour. Me vs. Me saw Choppa take his artistry to new and exciting places.
On top of this comes the fiery new single “Talk Different,” a pointed examination of how success changes people, all set to booming bass and echoing vocals. "I could show you how to go rags to riches,” Choppa raps over the rapid-fire percussion and atmospheric flourishes. The music video for “Talk Different” is confronting, depicting the young rapper in the finest fashions iced out riding through the streets of Los Angeles.
As well as new bangers like the infectious “Before I” and the piano-driven “All I Know,” as well as previously released hits “Mo Up Front” and “Champions,” with Cottonwood 2, Choppa levels up yet again with one of 2023's most ambitious and addictive albums.