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Rasheed Chappell Interview: Project City, Industry Heartbreak, & Hip-Hop Redemption
Growing Up in "Project City" & Early Influences
- The Aspen Place Projects: Rasheed grew up in the Alfred Speer Village projects in Passaic, New Jersey. He nicknamed it "Project City" because it had everything internally (laundromat, school, groceries, basketball court), which kept residents from ever leaving. He wrote a song about the window bars being designed to keep residents in, rather than keeping outsiders out.
- The Birth of a Performer: Originally obsessed with R&B group New Edition, Rasheed's desire to perform was sparked in 2nd grade when he read MLK Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Moving his teacher to tears, he realized the immense power of words.
- Family Hardship: Rasheed's mother had a million-dollar record collection but lost it to addiction during the crack era. With his mother going to prison and his father struggling, a teenage Rasheed cared for his sister. By age 17, his girlfriend became pregnant.
- Straight Edge Lifestyle: Rasheed has never drank or smoked in his life, a strict personal boundary he set after watching addiction ravage his parents' lives.
Knowledge of Self & Early Emcee Days
- The Nation of Islam: In high school, his father introduced him to the Nation of Islam. Rasheed joined at 15 and became a Junior Minister by 16 before moving on. His father named him "Rasheed," meaning "the righteous or one who leads to the right path."
- The Worst Rap Alias: Rasheed started writing rhymes at 14 under what he calls the worst rap alias ever: Baby Squirt. He later became The Prophet before using his government name.
- The Writing Challenge: Inspired by local project legends World Renown signing to Warner Bros., Rasheed began battling. Early on, his uncle challenged his skills by forcing him to write a complete rhyme without using the words I, me, my, or mine.
The Industry Rollercoaster: Sony, Rawkus, & Kenny Dope
- The Near-Misses with Majors: Shopping his analog demos from 1995 onward, Rasheed landed meetings with Trackmasters and Loud Records. By his mid-20s, a Sony A&R loved him but hated his beats, suggesting a collab with producer Chops that never panned out. Later, a track he made with Jacques Slade (now a massive sneaker influencer) blew Sony away, but the deal fell through.
- The Rawkus Heartbreak: Rasheed was finally promised a deal with indie powerhouse Rawkus Records—only for the legendary label to suddenly shut down operations entirely, taking his contract with it.
- The Kenny Dope Era: In 2008, Rasheed aligned with iconic producer Kenny Dope. Rasheed rapped over production masterpieces originally meant for Raekwon, creating their acclaimed album Future Before Nostalgia. Raekwon wanted to sign him, but logistics failed, leading to an independent release before Rasheed and Kenny split due to differing career visions.
Manager DJ Eclipse & A Legendary Legacy
- Iconic Collaborations: Now managed by DJ Eclipse, Rasheed has cemented himself as an underground giant. He has released two albums produced by 38 Spesh and collaborated with icons like De La Soul, Pharoahe Monch, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Roc Marciano, Rome Streetz, Che Noir, Da Beatminerz, Lil Fame, Slaine, and Peter Rosenberg.
- Old New York Love: Rasheed also discusses his track "Old New York Love," which tells the true story of meeting his girlfriend at one of his live hip-hop shows.
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