NLE Choppa

Bryson Lashun Potts[2] (born November 1, 2002), better known as NLE Choppa (formerly YNR Choppa), is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame with his January 2019 single "Shotta Flow", which was certified platinum by the RIAA and peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was featured on his debut EP Cottonwood.

Not to be confused with Choppa.

NLE Choppa
NLE Choppa at Icebox in 2019
Background information
Also known as
  • Baby Mexico
  • YNR Choppa
  • Top Shotta
  • Menace
  • Dennis
Born (2002-11-01) November 1, 2002[1]
Memphis, Tennessee
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2018–present
Labels
Associated acts

Potts released his debut studio album Top Shotta on August 7, 2020. The album contained the singles "Camelot" and "Walk Em Down", which reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.[3]

Early life

Potts was born to a Jamaican mother and an African-American father.[4] He was raised in Memphis, Tennessee in its Parkway Village neighborhood and attended the Cordova High School where he played basketball.[5] He began freestyling with friends at the age of 14 and started taking music seriously at 15.[6] During an unspecified time, NLE Choppa served time at a juvenile detention center.[7] He has never revealed what he was arrested for, but he claimed his time in detention motivated him to turn his life around. In an episode of his YouTube series The Rise of NLE Choppa, he said that being in detention helped him a lot and was an "eye-opener".[7]

Musical career

2018–2019: Mainstream debut and Cottonwood

NLE Choppa's manager is his mother, Angela Potts, who has been managing him since he started expressing an interest in rap music.[7] He released his first song, "No Love Anthem", in February 2018 under the name YNR Choppa. On July 22, he released his debut mixtape, No Love the Takeover. In December, he appeared on "No Chorus Pt. 3", a cypher-style song by his Shotta Fam collective. His opening verse and his dance moves in the accompanying music video made him stand out from the group, earning him an online buzz.[8][9]

After the surge of popularity, he released his breakout single "Shotta Flow" a week later. The video amassed 10 million views in a month.[10] A few days after its release, Pitchfork highlighted the track as its Song of the Day, praising his energetic delivery and adding that "he hits a new dance move every time the camera cuts back to him".[11] The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2019, debuting at number 96.[12] It later peaked at number 36. The official remix, featuring Blueface, directed by Cole Bennett, was released in June, shortly after the original song was certified platinum by the RIAA.[13]

In February, he released the song's sequel, "Shotta Flow 2". The video received 20 million views within two months, prompting Carl Lamarre from Billboard to say that his "recent dominance has silenced any detractors".[14] It was around this time that it was reported that Choppa had sparked a bidding war between a handful of top record labels, with bids reaching a reported $3 million.[15] He turned these offers down, however, to instead sign with the independent distribution company, UnitedMasters, while keeping his master recordings and publishing.[16] In March, he released a new single called "Capo", with the music video debuting on Worldstarhiphop.[17] Also in March, he was featured on Birdman and Juvenile's song "Dreams".[18] In April 2019, NLE released another single called "Birdboy", produced by SGULL.

In May, Choppa released a new single, "Blocc Is Hot", produced by ATL Jacob.[19] It was made as a tribute to his favorite childhood rapper, Lil Wayne.[20] A few days later, he made his music festival debut by performing at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis. Bob Mehr of The Commercial Appeal praised his act, saying that he "did much to seize the opportunity on the big stage in his hometown" and that "his career is likely to see plenty more memorable Memphis moments."[21] On June 14, 2019, he released the single, "Free YoungBoy", produced by CashMoneyAP. The music video has achieved over 19 million views on YouTube. The title of this song is a reference to rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, who was arrested for shooting and because he violated his parole. This song was the first release from his own label No Love Entertainment (NLE), which he launched in partnership with Warner Records.[22] According to Billboard magazine, No Love Entertainment is slated to release new music from NLE Choppa.[22] On September 13, 2019, NLE Choppa released a new single titled "Camelot".[23] The song peaked at number 37 in the US, becoming his second Top 40 hit, following "Shotta Flow".[3]

On December 20, 2019, NLE Choppa released his debut extended play titled Cottonwood.[24] The EP, named after the area he grew up in,[25] features the previously released singles "Side" and his breakthrough hit "Shotta Flow" with its remix, featuring Blueface. The EP also consists of a collaboration with Meek Mill. To accompany the release of Cottonwood, a short film of the same name was released on the same day.[24]

2020: Top Shotta

NLE Choppa's debut studio album, Top Shotta was initially set for release in early 2020,[4] and was preceeded by multiple singles.[26] On March 19, he released the album's lead single "Walk Em Down" with Roddy Ricch. On June 12, 2020, he released "Shotta Flow 5", the fifth sequel to his 2019 single "Shotta Flow".[27] The single "Narrow Road" featuring Lil Baby released on July 30.[28] One week later, on August 7, Top Shotta was released. On August 11, 2020, NLE Choppa was included on XXL's 2020 Freshman Class.[29]

Musical style

NLE Choppa is noted for his "animated vocals" and energetic rapping, which he notably employed on his breakout single, "Shotta Flow".[30] His sound has also been described as "melodic", albeit "heavy-hitting".[31] Jessica McKinney of Complex magazine stated he usually has a "wild and rambunctious" delivery in his verses.[32]

Personal life

On June 20, 2020, NLE Choppa welcomed his first child[33], a daughter named Clover Brylie Potts.[34]

During an unspecified time, NLE Choppa served time at a juvenile detention center.[7] He has never revealed what he was arrested for, but he said his time in detention motivated him to turn his life around. In an episode of his YouTube series The Rise of NLE Choppa, he said that being in detention helped him a lot and was an "eye-opener".[7]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Top Shotta 10

Extended plays
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[35]		 US
R&B/HH
[36]		 CAN
[37]
Cottonwood[38]
  • Released: December 20, 2019
  • Label: UnitedMasters
  • Format: Digital download
 572064

Mixtapes
Title Details
No Love the Takeover
(as YNR Choppa)

Singles

As lead artist
List of singles as a solo artist, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[3]		 US R&B/HH
[40]		 US
Rap
[41]		 CAN
[42]		 IRE
[43]		 NZ
Hot
[44]		 UK
[45]
"Shotta Flow"
(solo or with Blueface)		 2019 361412427540—
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[46]
 Cottonwood
"Nolove Anthem"[47] ——————— No Love the Takeover
"Shotta Flow 2"[48] ——[upper-alpha 1]————— Non-album singles
"Capo"[51] ——[upper-alpha 2]—————
"Birdboy"[53] ———————
"Blocc Is Hot"[54] ———————
"ChopBloc"
(with BlocBoy JB)		 ———————
"Stick by My Side"[55]
(with Clever)		 ———————
"Free Youngboy"[56] ———————
"Shotta Flow 3"[57] —[upper-alpha 3]—[upper-alpha 4]————— Top Shotta
"Camelot"[60] 371714357810—
"ChopBloc 2"
(with BlocBoy JB)[62]		 ——————— Non-album singles
"Forever"[63] —[upper-alpha 5]—[upper-alpha 6]—————
"Dekario"[64] ———————
"Famous Hoes" 8336—95———
"Side" ——————— Cottonwood
"Exotic"[66] 2020 ——————— Non-album single
"Go Stupid"[67]
(with Polo G, Stunna 4 Vegas and Mike Will Made It)		 602920289717— The Goat
"100 Shots" ——————— Non-album single
"Walk Em Down"[68]
(featuring Roddy Ricch)		 3816144965
[69]		985 Top Shotta
"Shotta Flow 5"[27] 54232051—15—
"Narrow Road"
(featuring Lil Baby)[28]		 —[upper-alpha 7]46———19—
"Make Em Say"
(featuring Mulatto)		 ———————
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
R&B/HH
Main.
[70]		 US
Rhy.
[71]		 NZ
Hot
[72]
"Hit the Scene"
(White $osa featuring NLE Choppa)		 2019 ——— Non-album singles
"Beef"[73]
(9lokkNine featuring Murda Beatz and NLE Choppa)		 ———
"Get Like Me"
(Bhad Bhabie featuring NLE Choppa)		 ———
"Zombie"
(Kodak Black featuring NLE Choppa and DB Omerta)[74]		 ———
"Hit Yo Dance"
(Rubi Rose featuring NLE Choppa and Yella Beezy)		 2329—
"Holy Moly"
(Blueface featuring NLE Choppa)		 2020 ——32 Find the Beat
"Grim Reapa Flow"
(30 Deep Grimeyy featuring NLE Choppa)		 ——— Non-album single
"6locc 6a6y" (Remix)[75](Lil Loaded featuring NLE Choppa) ——— 6locc 6a6y

Other charted songs
List of other charted songs, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[76]
"Matrix" 2019 35 Cottonwood

Guest appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other performer(s) Album
"Dreams" 2019 Birdman, Juvenile Just Another Gangsta
"Double" Smokepurpp Lost Planet
"Dance" HoodRich Pablo Juan, Key Glock BLO: The Movie
"100 or Better" Stunna 4 Vegas Big 4x
"Time to Shine" Young E.Z. Time to Shine
"Hittas" Yella Beezy Baccend Beezy
"Poles" Quin Nfn 4Nun
"John Gotti" B. Lou Bow

Notes
  1. "Shotta Flow 2" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number nine on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
  2. "Capo" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 10 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
  3. "Shotta Flow 3" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 19 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[58]
  4. "Shotta Flow 3" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number five on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
  5. "Forever" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[58]
  6. "Forever" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[49]
  7. "Narrow Road" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[58]
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    References
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    3. "NLE Choppa Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
    4. Richards, M.T (January 23, 2020). "NLE Choppa: Young Memphis Rapper Tops Emerging Artist Charts". Memphis Flyer Newspaper. Memphis,Tennessee,USA. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
    5. Smith, Courtney (October 22, 2018). "4 observations from Cordova's open gym workout". Prep Hoops. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
    6. Seabrook III, Robby (February 20, 2019). "THE BREAK PRESENTS: NLE CHOPPA". XXL. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
    7. Jessica, McKinney (October 2, 2019). "Everything You Need to Know About NLE Choppa". Complex. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
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    34. https://twitter.com/Nlechoppa1/status/1271984294307811330?s=19
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    44. Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
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