Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Choppa" in Portuguese language version.
Added fellow Southern artist Young City [aka Chopper]: "We never thought it was going to hit like that. I lost my grandma. Some of my friends died."
The victim was the New Orleans rapper (and reality-TV veteran) known variously as Young City or Chopper, an aspiring star who joined loads of established ones inside the Philips Arena for a concert called Heal the Hood, a hip-hop fund-raiser for -- and, in a few cases, by -- victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Working on a freelance basis in 2001, he had produced tracks with a local rapper named Choppa. (At the time, the song "Choppa Style" was No. 1 on the New Orleans hip-hop station.)
Formed in 1994, the flagship company of BBWEG is Bad Boy Records. Other artists include B5, Boyz N Da Hood, Mase, Carl Thomas, 8Ball & MJG, Mario Winans, and promising up-and-coming artists such as Choppa from Da Band and Cheri Denis.
When Chopper (a.k.a. Young City), formerly of Da Band, was debating which label to sign with after leaving Bad Boy, his decision came down to one thing. When he was down and out, Chopper said, fellow New Orleans native Baby of Cash Money Records provided for him.
Chopper donated $150,000 ("Out of my personal account, forget the business account," he noted) and has traveled to Houston and surrounding areas to aid in relief efforts. He's also written a song about watching his city crumble; "Crescent City Crisis" will appear on his forthcoming album.
