We were lucky to catch up with Cøøg Lopez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cøøg, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve always known I wanted to work in music, even from a young age. My appreciation for hip-hop started back in 2002 or 2003, and it’s only grown deeper over time. In 7th grade, I started experimenting with writing—verses, poetry, anything creative. It was fun, even though when I started rapping in high school, I quickly realized I wasn’t very good. But the creative process itself hooked me.

By my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I fell in love with covering music that my friends and I were into. I even started a blog on Tumblr, which became a creative outlet for me. By the time I was a senior, as I was applying to colleges and thinking about my future, I realized the only thing I truly loved doing was running my blog, The Daily Note.

In college, I took it a step further when I interned for a collective called Stay Silent in Providence, Rhode Island. Watching them curate events and create experiences that reflected their vision and values was inspiring. It was a turning point for me. I realized I could curate shows and experiences for like-minded people too—and that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue being a creative as a profession.

Growing up, I didn’t think it was possible to turn my ideas into something that could actually pay the bills. But seeing people from my city succeed in doing just that completely changed my perspective. The first time I paid a bill with money I earned from my creative ideas? That’s when I knew this path was not only possible but real.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

When people ask about me, the first thing to know is that I’m from Providence, Rhode Island, and I really love hip-hop. It’s my first love—outside of my son and family, of course! Hip-hop has shaped how I see the world, and everything I do stems from that passion.

What you see in me today is who I’ve always been. My personality, my stubbornness, my eye for fly things, and my overall vibe have been consistent my whole life. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’ve always stood out in the best ways. I’ve never had to force anything—being different just came naturally.

I got into this industry by following what made me happy and connecting with like-minded people. Early on, I realized there was a gap in the event scene for people like me—people who didn’t vibe with the typical club scene or just wanted to hear the music we love in the right setting. Once I saw that void, I decided to fill it by curating my own events.

What sets me apart is my upbringing. Growing up in Providence but also spending time in Georgia gave me a unique perspective. These two completely different environments taught me how to hustle in diverse ways and helped me connect with a variety of audiences.

What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built in two different places. Every show we put together feels like a reunion of creative, talented, and like-minded people. Seeing familiar faces come back every time lets me know we’re building something special—a tribe of people who value culture and creativity.

For potential clients and collaborators, know this: I don’t half-step anything. I take this craft seriously, and when it’s time to work, I’m all in. I’m not here to make friends; I’m here to push the culture forward and elevate it to new heights.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Easy answer. Thinking of an idea and executing it.

Seeing an idea that started in my notes app or just a casual conversation come to life is my FAVORITE. I’m learning one of my favorite parts of the process is planning. Which is weird because I’m not the most organized person in my real life??

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

GO OUTSIDE.
GO TALK TO PEOPLE.
BE CONSISTENT.
POST FLY SHIT.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO SPAM THE FLY SHIT YOU POST.

I know I’m yelling but its because that’s all it takes. Social Media is honestly one of the easiest parts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tdnforever.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedoncoogi
• Twitter: https://x.com/TheDonCoogi
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TDN401

Image Credits

@DopeConceptsMedia
@CortezJr_
@Sde_Images