Imani Coppola Is Gangsta
Maybe you have heard of this chick and maybe you have not. No matter what, it’s never too late! Imani Coppola, known for her 1997 hit single “Legend of a Cowgirl” (off of Chupacabra), ditched Sony and refuses to let anything get in the way of making her (own) comeback.
Coming from a musical family, Coppola picked up the violin at the age of six. She began practicing vocals and writing her own songs. Studying orchestra and studio composition at the State University of New York, by her sophomore year she acquired a record contract. Coppola was on her way to become the next popstar.
By 1997, she released her debut album, Chupacabra. Most critics agreed that Coppola did not receive enough credit for its brilliance. Fusing her hip-hop influences (i.e. Digable Planets), jazz roots (i.e. Neneh Cherry), and her own funk-iness, Coppola has a style unlike anyone before.
Her second album, Afrodite, was released seven years later on Mental Records. Fans and critics claim Coppola opens up a little more by getting dirtier and down-to-earth.
Wrapping up her summer tour with Peeping Tom, Mike Patton of Faith No More’s new band, Coppola just doesn’t stop. She’s tagging along with The Who as the opening act for the duration of their tour in the northeast.
On Coppola’s upcoming album, she successfully experiments with punk rock, hip-hop, and soul. She is more than just an independent artist. “Damn it feels good to be a gangsta,” exclaims Coppola on her site.
Be sure to check her out on Myspace and listen to her tracks, especially “Hey Hey Hey.”
Comment by Aric Barlow
Imani Coppola should seriously be winning grammies; she’s the best hip-hop artist there is out there, so unique and talented.
Also, you forgot to mention that Imani has made several other albums (4 or 5 actually) apart from Afrodite and Chupacabra, which are all equally as good.