We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lamont Nanton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lamont below.

Lamont, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

Some of the most unexpected problems in the music industry is how a lot of the radio and media outlets who play urban music tend to only play music form black Hip Hop artist that promote murder, drug use and misogyny. There is no for room made for rappers who make clean music with a positive message. Its almost as if the only rappers that exist are artist with negative messages. Program directors and curators for platforms that market to the black community only present negative images to our community and there is no balance in what they play when it comes to hip hop. This is a false narrative of who we are as a people and very detrimental to the youth in black communities nationwide as Hip Hop is the most influential genre of music in the world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Lamont Popp Nanton is a 20+ year veteran in the music industry. Born and raised in Opa Locka, FL At the age of 15, he discovered a special bond with the genre of Hip Hop when he was first introduced to the television show Yo! MTV Raps in the early 90’s. As a teenager, he began to study and mimic his favorite Hip Hop artists. Eventually rapping and dancing developed into a personal passion of his and he adopted the stage name “Popp Da Rippa”. Popp has opened for many renowned national hip hop and R & B artists such as Doug E. Fresh, Craig Mack, Cuban Lynx, JadaKiss, Pretty Ricky, Pitbull, H-Town, Rick Ross and Trick Daddy, just to name a few.

Popp started his own independent label in 2004 called Vishous Vibes Entertainment, which produced various styles of music unfortunately including music that promoted negative lifestyles and behaviors. However after years of submitting to intense training and mentorship Da Rippa had a spiritual awakening accompanied by a newfound sense of responsibility to use Hip Hop music to advocate for positive change in our culture. It was at that point in 2009 that Ice Squad Records was born and the movement began to promote the I.C.E. principles in the music industry; INTEGRITY, CHARACTER & EXCELLENCE. After the release of several underground projects he decided to broaden the scope of the label and in January 2015, re-incorporated and re-branded as I.C.E. Squad Entertainment.

With a vision to expand into various aspects of the entertainment industry such as event services, media and streaming, Popp Da Rippa has truly found his purpose and is now on a mission to bring the I.C.E. principles to the masses. He is also a public speaker in prisons, Schools and Seminars teaching a curriculum called the I.C.E. Principles of success as well as the weaponization of Urban Music and the damaging effects it has in black culture. He is an executive member of the Circle Of Brotherhood, a non profit grass-roots organization of primarily black men from all walks of life determined to solve their own community problems through community activism, youth mentorship and social economic programs. His favorite hashtags are #ChangeTheCulture and #ChangeIsComing. The latest release from Popp Da Rippa is an LP Entitled END GAME The Final Chapter. He is also an active member in the Hip Hop Band that simply goes by the name ICESQUAD.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

What the music industry can do is create a level playing field for artist that do not want to contribute to the negative messaging that is being promoted on urban platforms to black communities. They can intentionally make space for positive hip hop music so young people can get a more balanced view of black music and black culture. We are more than just Killers, Gangsters, Thugs, Goons, Pimps, Sluts, and hoes. We are not ignorant we are intelligent people with morals and integrity but that is not displayed when it comes to the type of music that is played on urban music platforms. It’s forcing young aspiring rappers to feel the only way they can get support in the industry is to present that same negative image that is being saturated throughout all our black media outlets.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

What drives me is my mission to change the culture for the next generation. To give up and coming artist hope that they don’t have to compromise their integrity to be successful in the music industry. To bring positive hip hop to the forefront by promoting the ICE principles INTEGRITY, CHARACTER & EXCELLENCE. The youth need to see this example in the industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.icesquadent.com
• Instagram: @icesquadent1 @icesquadrap @poppdarippa
• Facebook: Lamont Popp Nanton
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamont-popp-nanton-51ab49166
• Twitter: @icesquadent1 @icesquadrap @poppdarippa @lamont_popp_ceo
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/ICESQUADENTERTAINMENTvideos

Image Credits
Credit: Ice Squad Entertainment