A Music Hall/Music Without Borders Co-presentation, supported by WFUV
We are thrilled to welcome Citizen Cope back to the Music Hall. Rolling Stone wrote, “…Cope melds hip-hop with folk, soul and blues…and ‘feels’ this combination deeply….Cope’s uncommon chords and harmonies combine delicate dissonance with unexpected flashes of beauty…” And the Washington Post called him “the city’s most soulful export since Marvin Gaye.” Citizen Cope’s compositions have been recorded by artists as varied as Carlos Santana, Dido, Pharoahe Monch and Richie Havens. He was initially the DJ for Washington DC based hip hop group Basehead. In 2000, Citizen Cope signed with DreamWorks and released a self-titled album in 2002. Shortly afterwards, Arista Records pursued the songwriter, prompting Cope to buy his way out of his DreamWorks contract. In 2004 he released The Clarence Greenwood Recordings, which he also produced. Upon hearing it, Vibe magazine called it “flawless throughout,” noting that Cope “makes music that feeds your soul…this is one of those CDs you hear at a friend’s house and rush out to buy.” Every Waking Moment followed in 2006 (also self-produced), and debuted at #69 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2010, Cope decided to found and run his own record label, Rainwater Recordings. The move allowed him to exert full creative control over his music and career, free from the marketing entreaties of the major record labels he previously had been signed to. He released The Rainwater LP that year, producing the entire album. The Rainwater LP was critically acclaimed and newfound fan Ellen DeGeneres invited him to perform “Healing Hands” in April 2010.
