Ever wonder what it’s like when a rapper actually tells an authentic life story of his life? No frills, no bragging with altered stories and just the plain honest truth?
Meet SneakerBox Chock, an indie hip hop artist out of Camden, NJ. At the age of 18, SneakerBox Chock was sentenced to 20 years in state prison, in which he served 2 months shy of 10 years. Since his release, he has been grinding in hopes to make up for lost time. In 2008, he released his first mixtape, Minority Report which generated a buzz in the South Jersey and Philadelphia metro area. Shortly after, he joined forces with Screwface World Music, an indie label owned by Traxx Trigga & Devinwade.
Check out Nah Never
Over the years, SneakerBox Chock has released several singles, projects and videos. He released a mixtape hosted by DSkee (High Tops or Low), he has collaborated with Skyzoo, Meek Mill and other up and coming emcees. Two projects released, were collaboration projects with label mate Bueller Da Don who make up the duo called, The Running Matez.
Check out P.Y.E. With Traxx Trigga
This year has been a busy one for SneakerBox Chock. Fresh off of performing at SXSW in Dallas, Texas, he’s been performed at CMJ and the Apple Store in So Ho. He also got a call from BET as he performed in BET’s Music Matters at S.O.B.’s. in NYC.
SneakerBox Chock caught up with The Source and caught us up on his movement in Camden and discussed his journey:
The Source: When did you start rapping?
SneakerBox Chock: I would write stuff during my preteen years but, wouldn’t really let no one hear what I wrote. I use to be scared to death to say that I could rap (laughs). But, after hearing “Only Built for Cuban Link…”, I went into a whole new zone & that was pretty much, the birth of me as an emcee.
The Source: What gives you the most joy in rapping?
SneakerBox Chock: It’s a bunch of things. The actual creating process is really dope. Taking an idea and seeing it turn into a song is crazy. Then the response of the record is dope as well. I find myself writing in the car, in the house, jotting down a bar or 2 while at the doctor’s office, etc… So, to have people be receptive of things I wrote in random places, is always surreal. And, I think more importantly… is being able to share my life experiences.
The Source: Tell me about your team?
SneakerBox Chock: I’ve been very fortunate to have a group of talented brothers in my corner. I’m an artist on an indie label “Screwface World Music”… which is owned and ran by Traxx Trigga and Devinwade, who are also artist on the label as well. I was added to the roster a few years after the label was up & running but, i’ve always been treated like I have been there from day one. Currently on the label, you have Traxx & Dev who forms a group called “Sunday Down”. Myself. Bueller Da Don. And, we also link up on our Rae and Ghostface shit, as “The Running Matez”. Then you have MidniteAction, which is a Hip Rock group & Nyce Daytona, a solo emcee who brings the heat. We all work diligently side by side to bring the best out of each other and to make the label stand strong. Then there’s my extended team. My homie Jim-E-O who is also making noise in the industry. We are all working together in hopes of being in a space in the near future.
The Source: Who in Hip Hop inspires you?
SneakerBox Chock: I am a big Joe Budden fan. I admire his honesty and his “could give a fuck what you think” attitude. Jay-Z of course. My team and that’s pretty much it. I mean, it’s a lot of people in the industry who I watch and get motivated by things they’re doing. But, Budden & Hov really inspire me to be better at my craft.
The Source: What new projects do you have brewing?
SneakerBox Chock: I just released an album on February 24th titled “Because of Yesterday”. It’s available via iTunes and my website. I dropped four videos for songs off the album and a few more will be dropping over the next 2 or 3 months. Currently, we’re working on a Screwface compilation album which is still untitled. And, I’m working on an EP called “The Book of Chock” that will drop in September.
Make sure to follow SneakerBox Chock on Twitter @SneakerBoxChock
Check Out Sneaker Box Chock’s Because of Yesterday Album on Soundcloud:
