Every once in a while we as humans search for or create new starts as we progress and overcome our circumstances. For some, that can be a change of location, new relationship, or a new look. For some people, the change is more drastic, closer to life and death. For some, it's the escape to allow them to be greater than they ever imagine. For one, in particular, it meant cutting his locs, a significant gesture connected to separating the streets from his heart, and picking up the pen to redirect his path.
Chino Cappin', a 19-year-old artist from Fort Valley, Georgia spent the majority of his life with the ability to express himself through words. With a blend of rap and silky melodies, he's been able to grow his expressiveness into a career. Switching from the streets to the studio, he's found solace, peace, and a therapeutic exercise in his own creations. He's also welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world, giving him further reason to travel the journey he just recently embarked. With his music as his tool, Chino exercises his right to storytelling inspiring his city to see the better in themselves.
While he may carry an image and grit and edge, he's a sweet, goofy young guy full of laughter and promise. For Chino and literally everyone, it's really about what's on the inside. After dropping his third album Things Done Changed August 21, 2020, he opened the gates to his interior allowing his fans a look inside. The album has since reached the charts and placed him on various lists across the blogs, a major feat, but for Chino, it's really about just getting better and better at his art. With so much time left and so much promise, it's no telling where's his going next.
When did you start getting into music?
I started writing when I was like 12, but I made some music when I was like 16 but I don’t really count ‘cause I ain’t do it the right way. I really say I just started doing music like two years ago for real.
12-years-old is a young age to really consider even the concept of music and a career in it, so what made you change your mind two years ago and say let me just do this full throttle?
My team, they was behind me. They really was just going so hard for me and so it only made sense. For them to go so hard this shit gotta be lit, it means something. So I was just like let me take it serious, I’ma run with it. Stop doing whatever it is I’m doing, and just be serious about this.
What was your life like during your younger years that forced you to put pen to paper and search for an outlet in writing and music?
I don’t think most kids realize, but at a young age I realized my mama, she had six kids so I just knew that we weren’t rich but we weren't having either. I just used that to motivate me to really do music and go hard at whatever.
Fast forward to now, you just dropped a new album Things Done Changed, what was the most exciting part about it?
Dropping it for real, for real.
What did it feel like for you? What was the emotional connection to the album once it was dropped?
Once it was out I was just happy. I got tired of just listening to it for myself, so I was really just happy it was out. I know a lot of folks that want to feel like they're part of my life or be in my business and that’s what my album was really about, just putting it out about me.
What’s your favorite song on the album?
Oh my God, my favorite song? I don’t know ’cause I really like every song but the song that just stood out for me probably be “Letter to the Streets” cause I really feel it, like I cried writing this song, I put my all into it. “Forever” and “Hood Lullaby” [too] but “Letter to the Streets” for real.
With “Letter to the Streets” you said you cried writing it, what pushed you to that limit to release those tears? What came up in you to move you to express emotions most Black men are thought to hide and ignore for the majority of their lives?
It wasn’t really a shocker, I’m good at expressing how I feel but not to people because people don’t really listen. So when I just sat down there and was writing it, I just realized like I’m really saying some of the stuff I'm saying and putting it this stuff that I’m putting on paper. Just looking at it like, I really go through a lot but I’m really still here. So really it ain’t nothing that I can’t go through without getting through type shit.
That’s the beauty of art, getting to step outside of yourself for a second, it’s like therapy. With that being said, how do you see yourself now? How would you answer, who is Chino Cappin’?
I am a goofy, happy [person]. From Fort Valley, Georgia. I’m a young kid, 19. I feel like people where I'm from, they see me as an inspiration.
What do you want for your career in the future as an artist?
I just really want to become the best artist I can be. Best person and the best father. I just want to better myself and everything I do no matter what it is.
What do you want your art to say about you?
I want to be able to touch the people after me. Like where I’m from, not even just where I’m from but I know it’s a lot of people who go through the same stuff that I probably went through, so whatever it is you’re going through I know it’s probably the same people going through the same shit. So I just want motherfuckers to know that you really can do whatever you want to do if you put your mind to it.
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