Meet Kaire ‘KaiChopSki’ Neal | Sample-based Producer | Advocate for Transformative Sampling

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaire ‘KaiChopSki’ Neal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaire ‘KaiChopSki’, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
From the beginning I knew I didn’t just want to make music. I wanted to own what I created. I’d heard enough stories about artists not getting credited, not understanding their contracts, or losing their publishing. I didn’t want that to be my story. I wanted to move different.

That’s what led me to reach out to a business counselor at the Small Business and Technology Development Center here in North Carolina. They walked me through everything from how to register a business to what it really means to protect your work as an independent creative. That’s how Samurai Sound Entertainment LLC came to life.

At first it was about keeping my name on my work. But it quickly became something bigger. I realized I was slowly building a platform for how I want to do music. Now and in the future. I don’t just want placements. I want structure. I want a catalog. I want control.

Samurai Sound represents that mindset of blending the feel of old vinyl with the vision of where sound is headed. Owning my business means I’m not just creating in the moment. I’m investing in the future. And to me, that’s what being a creative entrepreneur is about..

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Growing up in Memphis, most people around me were listening to trap music, but my dad grew up in Brooklyn. I was drawn to that East Coast sound but still loved the Southern Soul. It wasn’t easy making those kinds of beats in Memphis where that East Coast sound wasn’t always embraced. But one of the things I learned early on was to go with what felt good and sounded good to me. The music always finds who it’s meant for. Learning to trust myself and my sound gave me the confidence to stay in my lane, even when nobody else was feeling it.

I started out producing on a Chromebook using BandLab. No equipment, just hunger and curiosity. I worked and saved, picking up gear piece by piece. I learned how to take and apply feedback, and how to keep showing up every day even when it felt like no one was listening. That mindset is what got me to where I am today professionally.

What sets me apart is the way I approach sampling and my sound: sound: Southern heart blended with East coast soul. A lot of producers use samples but I use them to tell stories, flip expectations, and carry the legacy forward in my own way.

One of the things I’m most proud of is launching the Transformative Sampling Act, a petition that calls for a fair licensing system for producers like me who make new art out of old records. I couldn’t afford to clear samples, and that barrier pushed me to look deeper into sampling laws, connect with my mentors, and speak up for artists who don’t have major label backing.

You can read more and sign the petition here:

www.change.org/transformmusic

What I’m most excited about right now is being accepted into Grammy U. It’s giving me a chance to connect with other creatives, learn from industry pros, and be in rooms I’ve only dreamed about. I don’t take that for granted. As a non-student member I know I represent a different kind of sound and story, and I’m excited to keep showing up as myself in every space I enter.

What I want the world to know? I’m not just here to make noise. I’m here to make an impact. Samurai Sound Entertainment LLC is about creativity, legacy, and ownership. I’m building one record, one flip, one breakthrough at a time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting, our first stop would be The Pour House in downtown Raleigh. Between the vinyl upstairs and the live music downstairs, it’s one of my favorite places to catch inspiration and connect with the culture.

We’d probably go the Morgan Street Food Hall. It’s got a lot of food options and the energy is always good. For something that reminds me of home, I go to Red Hot & Blue. That Memphis-style BBQ always hits.

We definitely making a quick trip to Myrtle Beach. Take in the sights, walk the boardwalk, eat some good food, maybe bring the portable setup and make some beats with the ocean in the background.

Depending on the weather, we might run some pickup games at the park. But honestly, the core of my world is at home in the stu. Once my people head out it’s right back to flipping samples.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the vision, the patience, and the resilience to keep going. I’m also grateful to my parents for always believing in me and supporting everything I do.

I have to shout out my mentors: Emmy Award-winning producer and entrepreneur Sonny King, and legendary Hip-Hop producer Ski Beatz. They’ve both played a major role in helping me sharpen my production skills and bring the Transformative Sampling Act petition to life.

Big shoutouts to the producers who paved the way and continue to inspire me: J Dilla, Nujabes, 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Ski Beatz, Kanye, Drumma Boy, MF DOOM, Pete Rock, Hi-Tek, Madlib, Vitamin D, Nottz, The Neptunes and many many more. These shoutouts could go on forever!

And my final shoutout goes to Hip Hop: the culture that raised me, shaped me, and gave me a voice before the world knew my name. I honor it in every beat I flip. I’m not just influenced by Hip Hop. I am part of its legacy.

Website: https://www.kaichopski.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kaichopski

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaire-neal-091b2632a?trk=blended-typeahead

Youtube: https://YouTube.com/@kaichopski

Image Credits
Kaire Neal