What is The Chop Shop?
The Chop Shop is a video podcast created by Birmingham-based content creator Big Choppa in October 2019. The platform is primarily an outlet for Midlands-based musicians, content creators and sportspeople, although it has featured guests from elsewhere too.
The Chop Shop can be credited for providing a platform to allow Birmingham Grime and Rap artists an outlet to share their local scene’s unique history, as it lacked the established media resources to document much of this information until the 2010s.
The Chop Shop has featured Grime artists including Vader, Sox and Dapz on the Map. Birmingham rappers including Stardom, Mitch and Miss LaFamilia have all been interviewed on the podcast.
The Chop Shop’s episodes are released in visual format on YouTube.
The Chop Shop Format
The Chop Shop recordings take place in a studio location and feature the hosts with guest(s) in casual conversations. Each episode usually features the hosts asking the guest about their life and career.
The laidback questioning style from the hosts has meant guests often elaborate on stories extensively. For example, the podcast episodes featuring Vader, RasNado and DJ Big Mikee have given insights to the progression of Grime in Birmingham in the 2000s in a way that can’t be found anywhere else online.
The Chop Shop Example Episode
The following is an example episode of The Chop Shop featuring Choppa and Akeem in conversation with DJ Big Mikee.
The Chop Shop Hosts
DC / Big Choppa
Big Choppa is the founder of The Chop Shop. He recorded the first batch of interviews alone as the sole host, before introducing Prince Akeem later down the line.
Many interviews imply DC has a personal connection to many of his guests separate to their respective careers, for example with Grinch. DC is familiar with a lot of up-and-coming Rap musicians in Birmingham since the early 2000s up to present times, as well as the 2003-2015 waves of Grime in the city.
Prince Akeem
Prince Akeem was introduced to the podcast in occasional conversations from its inception. The Chop Shop After Dark was introduced in August 2020 as an outlet for Big Choppa and Akeem to have conversations, aside from the main guest episodes of The Chop Shop. Following on from these occasional episodes, Akeem became a permanent co-host of The Chop Shop with Big Choppa in January 2021.
Akeem tends to ask supplementary questions on the podcast, rather than leading the conversations. Collectively Choppa and Akeem are known as the Gruesome Twosome.
The Chop Shop Guests
The Chop Shop is primarily a Birmingham-based platform. As such they have featured lots of West Midlands talent.
Find the complete list of The Chop Shop interview guests below:
- Stardom
- Jaykae
- Grinch
- Tempa (audio only)
- Zimbo
- RK
- Trillary Banks
- Sox
- Armani TakeRisks
- Twisted Revren
- GLondo
- Lil J and Gohan
- Kenny Allstar
- Loz
- Ricky Tru
- Bozer Boss
- Fox
- Miss LaFamilia
- Flama
- OG Niki
- Shakan Pitters
- Mowgs
- BassBoy
- KB
- Vic Santoro
- C4
- Brixx
- Mayhem NODB
- RS
- BluetickSB
- K Dot
- Fidz
- Mya Remi
- MC Buskin
- Vader
- MacLOTR
- Bobby Kasanga
- Tricky
- Adam McKola
- Mitch
- P.A.P.
- Craig Pinkney
- HotBoiiTrizzy
- Sinko Ceej
- DJ Big Mikee
- S Maverick and Anastasia
- Just G
- Smiler
- Ahkmed Yakoob
- Brazzius
- Young Don
- SB2Times
- Deadly
- RasNado
- RA
- Grim Sickers
- Sideman
- Tyson Leon
- The Express Truth Podcast
- LizzyBoyKeemy
- El Synpo
- Mel Grace
- DJ Gzee
- Dapz on the Map
- Ddroid
- The Grape Vine Podcast
- The Melanin Moods
- Troy Deeney
- Greggor Grey
- Skippa Don
- Shorti (Crowd Response) and DJ Remmy
- Theo Johnson
- Tana
- Bianca
- Marnz Malone
- Sophie Bennet
- Tia Living Life
- Billy the Goat
- MC Bassman
- Terrance Wallen
- Mimi Mxnroe
- Double Impact
- Sty7er
- Munchie Bless
- Shorti
- Troopa Traloopa
The Chop Shop After Dark
A supplementary podcast series was launched by The Chop Shop team in August 2020, featuring Big Choppa and Akeem. It ran until December 2020.
The complete list of The Chop Shop After Dark guests can be found below:
- KillaKay
- Gigi Petite
- Chef Walla
- DJ Biggos
- Superempress007
- DJ Shaq5
- BiggzTV
- Dylan Duffus
- Jah Digga
- Castillo
Chop Shop Live Shows
The Chop Shop has been adapted for a live format. Their shows have been conducted in secret locations in Birmingham.
- October 2021
- September 2022
