Alley Coop
Alley Coop puts a little bit of everything into his music. Growing up with a pop influence, the Oklahoma City native blends together hip hop and rap with lofi pop, indie, and, at times, funk undertones. Making an impressive solo debut in 2019 with 6 singles and an album, Winter, the artist's top notch lyricism shines through his high-quality instrumentation. Hits like “Move Like That” and “Frank Ocean Playing in Heaven” (his most recent) show off Alley Coop’s versatility as an artist. He credits his father for his music taste, saying “[his father] just knows quality when he hears it.” We recently spoke with the up and coming artist about some of his biggest musical influences (including how he got his start), what he’s got planned, and more!
How did you start making music?
In middle school, I was introduced to Mrs. Miller; she saw in me what every music teacher had failed to see before. She kind of filtered me through all of the art staff at the school and hoped to keep pushing me to see just what I could do. If it weren’t for her, my path would look a lot different. Basically, it started off as a choir thing mixed with me just writing funny bars about Call of Duty and stuff on the side. Eventually, the two merged and I started writing and recording my own stuff in high school. It just kind of took off first between the private schools because that’s where I was at. Then, the public schools started liking it too. Ethan (from o2) basically recruited me into O2 with the homie Rip who I was making beats with/going to school with at the time. Next thing you know, we’re seeing numbers we’d never dreamed.
Who was your biggest influence as a musician?
Frank Ocean inspires me both in music and just life. Literally just makes me want to be a better person, a better songwriter, and a deeper thinker. Me and the homies all feel the same too like he’s just it. He’s the best artist of the generation and literally allows people to transcend…
Favorite non-music activities?
I watch cartoons and have been trying to take more pictures as of late. I just feel like I need to document more before I look back and regret how little content I have from my past.
Who’s your choice for a dream collab?
Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, Thundercat, Brandon, Lucky Daye, Kaytranada; like, I know we could make some cool stuff in the studio. I guess I just have to convince them now. At the end of the day though, if all those people were standing in front of me I would choose Frank.
Every artist has a dream venue. What’s yours?
I haven’t really thought about this. There’s an O2 arena that would be great to host an o2 concert. Don’t have to do much explaining on that.
Take us through your process in writing “Frank Ocean Playing in Heaven”.
So I wrote “Frank Ocean Playin’ in Heaven” during first semester of my senior year of high school, so late 2019. I was tryna rap like Earl on “SRS”. If I really was trying to make hip-hop like that, that’s what it would sound like. Just that broken down soul. Modern day spirituals. I was just trying to write about stuff that really mattered to me. My parents and my spirituality and conversations that had been held in the past. I wanted to write about my parents and our differences but portray it in a way that shows how great of a job they’ve done. Also.....our creator doesn’t just not like gay people. That’s one of the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard and no one will ever convince me otherwise.
What does the future hold for your career?
We’ll see. A lot of music for sure. I plan on switching my sound as well. There will be lots of versatility and soon I’ll be keeping everyone on their toes trying to guess what’s coming next. I can’t wait to see where I am a year from now. Regardless of the work it takes. Most of the time this doesn’t even feel like work to me. Right now I’m working on the project that will come after my next. Can’t wait for everyone to hear these new sounds. I’m constantly evolving.
