JSong's Blog
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10 Yr Old Eco-Rapper: Cute, Green and Serious
- Posted on 04.13.09
In a world where the grown-ups are busy playing real-life pirates & hostages, committing murder-suicide in record numbers and going down like flies for corporate mismanagement, a ten year old boy has stepped up to the plate and is leading a call for twenty-first century social responsibility.
"Lil Peppi" (ne Cardell Hopkis of Tampa FL) is making a name for himself with an "eco-rap" single called "Melting Ice:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjXuldy-Ilw In a refreshing departure from the current zeitgeist of external blame for the status quo, Lil Peppi raps: “What’s the solution? We’re the solution. So stop with the excuses and make a contribution.” With its catchy beat, easy rhythm and admittedly adorable performer, the single is popular with Peppi's peers but also speaks to an adult demographic desperate for simple optimism.
Lil Peppi's YouTube video for another single, "Mother Nature's Crying," so inspired a Whole Foods representative that she invited him to participate in their "Whole Earth Generation" environmental series. He was flown to New York city last year to film his part in the series. Peppi also performed at Earth Fest 2008 in Miami, won the 2008 Sierra Club Outstanding Achievement Award for the Environment, was chosen as the United Nations Environmental Program Hero of the Month this February, and was featured in the Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay Times and REAX Magazine.
Appropriately enough for such a young over-achiever, Peppi's nickname came about at birth, when a nurse in his maternity ward dubbed him a "peppy baby." He was only three years old when he began collaborating with his father (Anthony Hopkins, an Air Force dental technician) to write songs and music. He cites Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, R&B, Rap, Hip Hop and "not cheesy" Pop among his musical influences. He has already met his musical hero, Miami artist DJ Laz, who not surprisingly, returns the youngster's admiration.
In addition to doing his part for the environment, Lil Peppi promotes education (he is himself an A student), and the young Canes fan hopes to attend the University of Miami. Folks can catch Lil Peppi's next performance at the Earth Day Kids Fest 2009 in Atlanta on April 18. Details for the show, as well as downloads for all his songs, can be found at Lil Peppi's website: http://www.lilpeppi.com
