Pueblo, Colorado rapper Chops joins Mile High Minute for an exclusive interview about his journey in Chicano rap, growing up around Pueblo's street culture, and building a name for himself in the Colorado hip-hop scene.

Chops shares his thoughts on Lefty Gunplay appearing on Kendrick Lamar's album, the impact of Lil Travieso on Colorado rap, and his experience traveling to Los Angeles for an interview with American Cholo. He also discusses visiting King Von's mural in Chicago, connecting with West Coast artists, and why expanding beyond your hometown is essential for independent artists.

Throughout the conversation, Chops opens up about his early days as a music promoter, working with Mr. Capone-E and Sad Boy Loko, his breakout song "Colorado Riding," and the motivation behind taking his music career seriously.

Topics discussed:

• Lefty Gunplay's appearance on Kendrick Lamar's album

• Lil Travieso's legacy and influence on Colorado hip-hop

• Growing up in Pueblo, Colorado, and its street reputation

• Chops' experience on the American Cholo podcast

• Visiting King Von's mural in Chicago's O'Block

• Chicano rap and the next generation of Latin hip-hop

• Working with Mr. Capone-E and Sad Boy Loko

• His breakout single "Colorado Riding"

• Building connections between Colorado and California

• Advice for independent artists trying to expand their audience

From Pueblo to Los Angeles, Chops explains why artists need to step outside their comfort zones, build connections, and take opportunities when they come.

Follow Mile High Minute for more exclusive hip-hop interviews, artist stories, and conversations covering Colorado and the national music scene.

Lefty Gunplay sits down with Mile High Minute for a wide-ranging conversation about his rise in Los Angeles hip-hop, working with Kendrick Lamar, the current Latino rap scene, Houston rappers, his relationship with Colorado, Lil Travieso, Chops, OTR Records and his journey from prison to becoming one of the West Coast’s fastest-rising artists.

Lefty speaks on why he believes he and Peso Pluma/Peso? are among the biggest names moving Latino rap forward, his opinions on Houston’s rap scene, controversy surrounding previous shows in Colorado, and why Lil Travieso became one of his favorite artists. He also breaks down how his record deal came together, investing his money into stocks and real estate, working with major artists and what it was really like getting into the studio with Kendrick Lamar.

Topics include:
• Kendrick Lamar studio session and collaboration
• Houston rappers and the Latino rap conversation
• Lil Travieso’s influence and legacy
• Chops and the Colorado show controversy
• Colorado, Denver, Pueblo and Colorado Springs
• OTR Records and signing his record deal
• Prison, paperwork rumors and his past
• West Coast and Latino hip-hop
• Working with major LA artists
• Investing in stocks, property and his family
• His rise after getting out of prison
• Future music, performances and collaborations

Watch the full Lefty Gunplay interview with Mile High Minute for the complete story.

General Norrad of Tha Homeboys and AK Love of Black Hole Posse sit down with Mile High Minute to tell the story of the birth of Denver hip-hop. General Norrad takes it back to the early 1980s, from breakdancing and discovering artists like Run-DMC and LL Cool J to meeting rappers from Brooklyn in Denver in 1986 and forming HBO—Home Boys Only. He recalls Denver’s earliest freestyle sessions, ciphers, rap battles and contests, and the pioneers who helped establish Colorado’s hip-hop foundation.

They break down Denver’s earliest rap groups and artists, including Living Legends, Legion of Doom, Black Hole Posse, BMW, Fresh MC’s, Most Illanest B-Boys, Keith McD, MC Boom and Boogie Bass. Norrad also recalls Living Legends releasing what he describes as one of Denver’s first hip-hop records around 1984–85 and explains how Tha Homeboys eventually began recording with Steve Roll’n of Tag Team, years before “Whoomp! (There It Is)” became a massive hit.

General Norrad also tells the story of Tha Homeboys opening for DJ Quik in Denver in the early ’90s and witnessing the infamous chaos surrounding Quik’s Denver performance. They discuss DJ Quik’s later references to Denver, how the city reacted, and why Norrad still considers Quik an influential producer despite what happened decades ago.

AK Love breaks down “Denver Love,” while the two pioneers remember a period when Black Hole Posse, Tha Homeboys and BMW were among Denver’s premier rap groups. They discuss battling each other before eventually joining forces years later, the difference between recording music in the ’80s and today, Denver’s gang era, and why Colorado struggled to receive national recognition despite being a major touring market.

The conversation also connects Denver’s pioneers to later generations. They discuss Trev Rich, MNLD, Interstate Ike, Young Doe, Kofax, Denver’s evolving sound and what the city still needs to reach the next level. General Norrad also shares stories from his years in Nashville, including working around Young Buck and meeting Jelly Roll before his rise to fame.

In this interview:

• Birth of Denver hip-hop in the 1980s
• Tha Homeboys / HBO history
• Black Hole Posse
• Denver’s first hip-hop records
• DJ Quik’s infamous Denver show
• Tag Team & Steve Roll’n
• “Whoomp! (There It Is)”
• Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
• Kool Moe Dee
• Denver Love
• BMW & Sabotage
• Denver rap battles & ciphers
• Gang culture changing Denver hip-hop
• Why the music industry overlooked Denver
• Trev Rich & Cash Money
• MNLD, Interstate Ike & Young Doe
• Young Buck & Nashville hip-hop
• Meeting Jelly Roll before the fame
• Denver’s modern rap sound
• 40 years of Colorado hip-hop history

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