chapter

The Chapter

Slater Thorpe Interview 18 February 2005

The philosophy behind our group and the album is this: We are all children of the hip hop movement. We grew up when rap was blossoming but we were all students of the "old soul" our parents listened to while raising us. I loved The Jacksons, Al Green, Earth Wind and Fire, The Commodores, Cameo, The Gap Band, along with some gospel favorites like Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Clark Sisters, Take 6. I also enjoyed the likes of Phil Collins and Genesis, Duran Duran, and George Michael.

The Chapter is just a huge GUMBO of different R&B Styles. The ingredients of gumbo can be eaten and enjoyed seperately but when you place them together, it's something good and unique. Just like our album: We could all entertain solo careers and be successful but we bring something unique to the table when we get together.

I have to admit, we didn't get together and say, "Let's do a soul album." We didn't even name the album until weeks after it was finished. But the character of my bandmates and myself breeded a soul album. We are all spiritual people and we pray together and for each other on a regular basis. We pattern ourselves after those old groups who are still stomping, still evolving, still doing it. Then we add our experience to that. We're a perfect mix of old and new. That's why this is a good time for us. People have a lot of choices to make in terms of music today. There are genres of music that we have yet to discover. People just want a mix of what's good. That's why hip-hop is blowing up even more. It's the R&B hooks over catchy lyrics. It's the mix.

Reaction to the album has been fabulous, but the greatest reaction is the love we're getting from the UK. I've never been there before so imagine reading all these great reviews from people you don't know and who are not even from the same place as you. It's MIND-BLOWING to say the least. At the same time, it's extremely humbling. Like I said, people have a wide variety of music to choose from. When they choose yours, you just have to say "Thank you."

We've also been gettin some love in New Orleans, New York, Cali, Florida, and even Japan! I say to them "Ari-Gato". (I hope I didn't offend anyone with my sucky Japanese )

It took a while for the CHAPTER to get off of the ground. The group had the wind knocked out of us because we really had high expectations from our former group (Phat Cat Players). I remember when I had to go back to a regular job afterthe well ran dry with the Phat Cat. I was working at Wal-Mart Until I finished school at Florida A&M. I was like, "How the HELL did i get HERE????" We all were a bit defeated for a while. Then Doc called me to the studio one day and played this track that was WICKED, MON!! We wrote some lyrics and that later on became "GOT LOVE". We kept at it and everyone got into the groove again. I moved to Atlanta but was still coming to Florida on the regular to record. It took about 3 years but we finally finished it.

Our live show is an energy-packed showcase of the group's talent. You'll hear the abilities of each member. We do a few covers too, just to let people know who our influences were. It's really too much to type. You gotta see it!

The core of the group is Patricia, Doc, Taurus, Mike, Ace, and myself. We were basically the people who performed together as "The Phat Cat Players". We all met each other doing a live show in Tallahassee, FL called "Phat Cat Live". Mike, Taurus, and me were all in "The Marching 100" (Florida A&M's World Reknown Marching Band), Patricia was a member of an all-girl trio, Doc was the premier producer in Tallahassee, and Ace was a solo artist who was actively involved in building his own label. (Mo-Ral Entertainment). We were all recruited to perform at The Phat Cat, which was the hottest musical venue in North Florida. From there, we did an album with the Phat Cat, did some major touring, and later defected to form our own group. We were first called, "Second Chapter", as in the 2nd chapter of the Phat Cat but we wanted to start fresh and establish our own identity. So, we dropped "second" and started calling ourselves "THE CHAPTER". We've been that for about 2 years.

We all have regular jobs right now. I work for Sprint PCS, Ace works for Greyhound, Patricia is finishing school and works for a community service organization called "Volunteer Florida". Doc produces in his "D-Real" studio, Mike tours with the Georgia Mass Choir, and Taurus plays a regular gig on a Carnival Cruiseline. (Ughhh, I'm getting seasick ) However, we don't expect to be at these respective jobs for much longer with the continued success of this album.

As for me, YES, I was a drum major at Florida A&M. I think it is one of my greatest accomplishments yet. It was a childhood dream of mine and I worked hard to attain it. I actually went to FAMU on a band scholarship playing the saxophone. Currently I'm trying to learn the CORRECT way to play piano (I play a little in my own, wrong way) and I'm dibbling in guitar. I noticed that the people who influenced me to sing were not just singers. They are musicians first. The better of a musician you become, the more you really open your ears and become a better singer.

I was touring last year with the UniverSoul Circus. I performed with a live band that traveled with the group (singing and playing tenor sax) but the bulk of what I did was being a drum major with a group of guys from the movie, "Drumline". What can I say? I LOVE THE BAND and I'm a Drum Major for LIFE!!!

What is The UniverSoul Circus, you ask? It's a circus geared toward an urban audience. They have some elements of a traditional circus (like clowns and elephants) but with a twist. They incorporate live music and HEAVY audience participation. However, I could no longer stand the smell of passing elephants everyday, so I had to give it up.

I am originally from Jacksonville Florida. My mom moved us to Atlanta when I was in the 2nd grade and Atlanta has been my home for a long time. I graduated from FAMU with a BS in Sociology/ Music. I've done some acting work, including a stage play called, "Love Don't Live Here Anymore". I even did some modeling a few years back, for a national culinary magazine.

I'm the son of a military man (of whom also I'm named after). My dad is a retired Air Force Master Sgt. My mom is a legal secretary for Omerga Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. I have 3 younger brothers (22,15,13) that I'm CRAAAAZY about.

I'm basically your "home-body" type of guy. I love TV. American Idol is one of my favorite shows because of all the TERRIBLE people who think they can actually sing. It's HILARIOUS!!! I also like Law and Order, Trading Spaces, and The Price is Right! TV is EDUCATIONAL, MAN. (Yeah, right.)

I think that covers everything, partner. E-mail me if ya need anything else. Again, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Slater Thorpe

And a few bits more from the others:-

From Patricia Whitfield

- who are you're influences

My influences are, Aretha Franklin, Karen Clark-Sheard, Whitney, Bilal,Kim Burrell, Donnie Hathaway, Carl Thomas, Rachelle Ferrell, and of course my mother.

What was the Apollo like, what did you do there, your own showcase or support?

The Apollo was fun, it was an experience within itself. How I came to be on the show, me and a friend won the local Apollo in Tallahassee Fl., and they sent us to NY to perform at the Apollo Theatre. We performed "Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This", (Rachelle Ferrell & Will Downing), we didn't go on for a second week but came very close.

From Darius Baker:

Darius "Doc D" Baker does the productions?

Yes, I produced the album with creative input from the entire band. The Chapter is a "feel" that I couldn't re-create with another act if I tried. I along with the rest of the band did work on "Make IT Phat Baby" The Phat Cat Player's album. You can DEFINITELY see the growth between the two album and actually with that album we basically were hired musicians who were under that name. We now as "The Chapter" have total control of our music and it shows throughout this project.

I Really like Prophet Jones who he helped.

Yes, Prophet Jones was a group formed around an artist who I helped get that deal, the lead singer P. Rowe. I have been speaking with him a lot lately and there may be a solo project in the works (shhhhhhhh !!)

.and the boxing connections

My boxing connections come from working with Roy Jones and Henry Akinwande. Henry was in the family of a 10 year old rapper I found and put with another 10 year old to form the group "LEGITZ" Roy gave me a major opportunity out of high school (years ago) to be a sole producer on his label, in which then he didn't take that seriously. He won his title back from Montel Griffin with a track we did together entitled "Enough Is Enough". He is now taking his label and music very seriously and with the success of Mr. Magic and Body Head Bangers Compilation, I know there will be better things to come.

What other things has he done

I am currently working with numerous entertainment companies, grooming artist and producing. Teaming up with some of the industry's most talented writers and operating a studio here in Tallahassee, FL.

From Teresa:

There are a lot of hot artists out there that Darius and I are working with. Once we establish these relationships for The Chapter, people will know any music coming out of our camp will be great music.

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