The CO-OP Biography
About the Artist
The Co-op is a conglomerate of hip-hop producers, groups, and solo artists who work together as a family to form the strongest rap alliance in Charleston, SC. The unique production and distinct rhyme flow of each member has captivated audiences across the country, fans in their hometown of Charleston, SC frequently call them the Wu-Tang of the South. These seven MCs and producers have dominated the underground hip-hop scene in Charleston and continues to find new ways to reinvent their signature grimy style of raw lyrics over their own original production.
Inspired by The Golden Era of hip-hop, from KRS One to Scarface to Black Thought, The Co-op is known for taking their love of the traditional boom-bap and adding extra layers of grunge, grooves, hard hitting drums and thought-provoking lyrics to create the legendary “Op” sound.
Background
Originally named the Legion of Funk (L.O.F) when founded in 1992, the Co-op had as many as 20 MCs and producers on the roster at one point. Over the years, the Co-op has taken the stage with: Andre 3000, Big Boi, Lil Kim and Junior Mafia, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, AZ, 95 South, and many more. Member of The Co-op have participated, attended, and performed at music conferences and have even competed in the legendary Blaze Battles.
The Co-op has rocked stages across the south and up the east coast. They have blessed mics in venues such as The Gillard Auditorium, King Street Palace, Bus Boys and Poets, and have displayed their lyrical prowess for fans in countless nightclubs and lounges throughout southeast. With an unmatched presence and undeniable skills, The Co-op is a musical force that has always embodied true hip-hop at its core.
What’s Next for The Co-Op?
The Co-op is set to release a barrage of new albums in 2022. Starting with the now available, first release, “The Conductor Vol. 1” from the production team of Mr. Matthews and Nicky Brazwell a.k.a. The Beat Hoarders. The Co-Op has a new album planned for each month through Jan 2023!
The next release in March was the long-awaited second offering from King Nappa called, “Superhero Music”. In April, Tom Dirt releases the much anticipated, “Late Bloomer”. In May, step into the dojo when Ron Johnson, a.k.a. The Blunted Koala blazes through the scene with his debut release, “Highly Koala-fied”. The Co-op intends the keep the summer hot with a second Beat Hoarders album in June, and during the hottest months of the year, The Co-op brings the heat with Tipical Lee’s, “Theoreticallee Speaking”, and Ed Guy’s “Edceptional”. In September and October, King Nappa and Tom Dirt come back with their currently untitled second albums. We keep it hot through the winter as Ron Johnson returns with, “Baptized in Fire” in November, and Ed Guy and Typical Lee release their untitled albums in Dec and January 2023.
