Woop

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“Florida’s most talented prospect…” – HYPETRAK

“[Woop is] a fluid and stylistically interesting rapper, one as likely to confront his own paranoia on his songs as he is to trumpet his successes” – Stereogum

“Woop’s nimble verses weave between [Zaytoven and Sonny Digital’s] plodding beats in a way that few other rappers ever attempt.” – Pitchfork

“Woop’s delivery is somewhat reminiscent of Young Scooter, and his recent Woop Nation tape is impressive for a relative newcomer” – The FADER

It’s been said before that “it takes a village to raise a child” and to say that Chuck “Woop” Ford’s West Orlando neighborhood has influenced both his music and outlook in life would be a tremendous understatement. “My neighborhood, well our part of the neighborhood, it’s like its own world,” Woop explains. “It’s 700 block, Malibu & Ivey Lane. We got our own ways. That’s why it’s 700 Ways.” Referring to the popular hand gesture now being widely thrown up around Florida (a combination of the surfer “hang ten” on hand and holding up five fingers on the other hand), what started as an ode to Woop’s 700 block has now become a visual counterpart to his initial soundtrack to the streets, Woop Nation and the successful follow-up, Woop Lingo.

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His breakthrough hit “Pussy Nigga” paved the way for 100+ paid shows throughout the entire Bible belt, and popular follow-up’s “Go Away,” “HMC,” “Solo Dolo,” and “Fuck Nigga Fee” have kept his music bubbling ever since. Industry co-signs and cameos have come rolling in as Woop’s constantly growing list of collaborators already includes the likes of Migos, Yo Gotti, Kevin Gates, Plies, Bobby Shmurda, Ca$h Out, Young Scooter, PeeWee Longway and more.

Having only been rapping since mid-2012, some might say the former 2-way Pop Warner football star and D1 college basketball standout should have hung up his jersey a long time ago and picked up the mic sooner. To Woop, music wasn’t even that serious: “I really only did it fuckin around, jumpin on my homie shit. I didn’t think about it like that, but you start seeing some money off it. People start reaching out, that’s big.” Speaking in a lower tone that offsets his energetic vocal presence on records and on stage, only Woop’s reputation, and that of his family, preceded his music. Woop, whose name was bestowed upon him by the block and is local slang for “robbin and hittin licks”, grew up with his biological father and stepfather known as major players in the dope game. “Kingpin man. Always had the cars and the bricks. My stepdad had went to jail and when he got out, I guess someone was looking for him,” Woop describes slowly. “He got shot in the head.”

No stranger to trouble with the law himself, it was eventually-dismissed charges that would derail Woop’s college basketball scholarship and send him back to 700 block. In somewhat of a full-circle realization, the real-world turmoil throughout his life would cement Woop’s history in his city. “Orlando has no secrets. They know what’s real. Everything I rap about real life.”

As “Pussy Nigga” traveled from the car stereos to club sound systems, popular rapper PI Bang reached out to Woop and would connect him with Lift Off Management and CSR Promotions. Studio sessions with proven hitmakers such as Zaytoven (Gucci Mane, Usher), Luney Tunez-N-Yo Area (Rihanna, Future) and KE On The Track (Rick Ross, Chief Keef) followed and Woop’s audio output has taken on a life of its own. Having already accomplished more in his young career than many rappers do their entire duration, Woop will continue to hone his homegrown talent and culture for the world to see. Woop’s takeover-mindset is bigger than just himself: “I wanna show people what Orlando is really like, not their idea. This keeps me outta trouble. I want to own a label to, get my people out of the streets.”

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Press Releases

MP3: Woop – “Go Away” Remix Ft. Migos (Prod By Haz On Da Beat)
Premiered by HotNewHipHop, the West Orlando Rapper Introduces a Side of the City That “the People In Disney World Don’t Want You To See
Premiered by Noisey With An Interview, the West Orlando Rapper Introduces a Side of the City That “the People In Disney World Don’t Want You To See”

Press Photos

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