NLE Choppa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
NLE The Great
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NLE The Great in 2025
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bryson LaShun Potts |
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| Born | November 1, 2002 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2018–present |
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| Children | 2 |
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Bryson LaShun Potts (born November 1, 2002), known professionally as NLE Choppa (also called NLE the Great), is an American rapper and YouTuber. He is from Memphis, Tennessee. He became well-known in 2019 with his song "Shotta Flow". This song earned a platinum award and reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. After this success, he released his first extended play (EP) called Cottonwood in December 2019.
Potts later signed with Warner Records. He released his first studio album, Top Shotta, in 2020. This album reached the top ten on the US Billboard 200 chart. It included popular songs like "Camelot" and "Walk Em Down" (featuring Roddy Ricch). His mixtapes, From Dark to Light (2020) and Me vs. Me (2022), came before his second studio album, Cottonwood 2 (2023). A popular single from the album reached the Billboard Hot 100's top 30. This became his highest-charting song on that list.
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NLE Choppa's Early Life
Bryson LaShun Potts was born on November 1, 2002. His father is African American and his mother is Jamaican. He grew up in Southeast Memphis, Tennessee, in the Parkway Village area. He went to Cordova High School and played basketball there. At 15, he started freestyling with friends. By age 16, he began to take music seriously.
Career
Starting His Music Journey (2018-2019)
NLE Choppa's mother, Angela Potts, is his manager. She has managed him since he first showed interest in rap music. He released his first song, "No Love Anthem", in March 2018. He used the name YNR Choppa then. In July, he released his first mixtape, No Love the Takeover. In December, he was part of "No Chorus Pt. 3", a song with his Shotta Fam group. His part in the song and his dance moves in the video made him stand out. This created a lot of online buzz.
After gaining popularity, he released his hit single "Shotta Flow". The music video quickly reached 10 million views in just one month. Pitchfork magazine praised the song for its energetic style. They called it their Song of the Day. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2019. It eventually reached number 36. An official remix, featuring Blueface, was released in June. The original song was certified platinum by the RIAA.
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In February, he released "Shotta Flow 2", a sequel to his hit song. This video got 20 million views in two months. Billboard magazine noted his growing success. Around this time, many record labels wanted to sign him. Some offers were as high as $3 million. However, he chose to sign with UnitedMasters, an independent distribution company. This allowed him to keep control of his music.
In March, he released a new single called "Capo". Its music video premiered on Worldstarhiphop. He also appeared on Birdman and Juvenile's song "Dreams". In April 2019, NLE released another single, "Birdboy".
In May, Choppa released "Blocc Is Hot". This song was a tribute to Lil Wayne, one of his favorite rappers. Soon after, he performed at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis. Critics praised his performance in his hometown. On June 14, 2019, he released "Free YoungBoy". The music video has over 19 million views on YouTube. The title refers to rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, who had faced legal issues. This song was the first release from his own label, No Love Entertainment (NLE). He started this label with Warner Records.
On September 13, 2019, he released "Camelot". This song reached number 37 in the US. It became his second Top 40 hit. On December 20, 2019, Potts released his first extended play (EP), Cottonwood. The EP was named after his childhood neighborhood. It included "Shotta Flow" and its remix with Blueface. It also featured a song with Meek Mill. A short film with the same name was released with the EP.
Releasing New Albums and Mixtapes (2020)
NLE Choppa's first studio album, Top Shotta, was planned for early 2020. Several singles were released before it. He was featured on King Von's song "Message". On March 19, he released "Walk Em Down" with Roddy Ricch. On June 12, 2020, he released "Shotta Flow 5". This was the fourth sequel to his 2019 hit. The song "Narrow Road" featuring Lil Baby came out on July 30. One week later, on August 7, Top Shotta was released.
On August 11, 2020, Potts was named to XXL magazine's 2020 Freshman Class. On September 5, he shared his goal to stop rapping about violence. He wanted to "spread positivity and wake people up." On October 15, he announced a new project, From Dark to Light. It was released on November 1, his birthday. The mixtape's cover art showed him in nature with butterflies and a rainbow. This represented his new spiritual journey. On October 23, NLE released the music video for "Narrow Road" featuring Lil Baby. The video has over 30 million views on YouTube.
Latest Music and Projects (2021-Present)
Choppa hinted at "Shotta Flow 6" and "Walk Em Down 2" with Lil Durk in February 2021. "Walk Em Down 2" is on his fifth mixtape, Me vs. Me. This mixtape was released on January 28, 2022. It has 16 songs and features artists like Young Thug, Polo G, G Herbo, and Moneybagg Yo. "Shotta Flow 6" was also released on January 28, 2022, with a music video. It is the sixth song in the "Shotta Flow" series. In November 2022, he was featured on rapper Lambo40e's song "Self Esteem".
He released the single "Shotta Flow 7" in December 2023. In April 2025, Choppa released a children's book called Cricket Stop Cricking. He wrote this book to help promote reading among children.
NLE Choppa's Unique Musical Style
Potts is known for his lively voice and energetic rapping. He often uses strong tones, as heard in his hit song "Shotta Flow". His music has also been described as "melodic" yet "heavy-hitting." Jessica McKinney from Complex magazine noted his "wild and rambunctious" style. As a child, he listened to groups like UGK and Lil Wayne. He also enjoyed listening to local music from Memphis.
NLE Choppa's Personal Journey
On June 20, 2020, Potts became a father for the first time. He shared that this made him want to change and be a better person for his daughter.
In August 2020, Potts started a YouTube channel called "Awakened Choppa". On this channel, he shares his journey towards a healthier lifestyle. This includes eating vegan foods and gardening.
During a period in his youth, Potts spent time in a youth facility. He shared that this experience motivated him to improve his behavior. In his YouTube series The Rise of NLE Choppa, he mentioned that this time helped him and was an "eye-opener".
On August 16, 2023, he and Marissa Da'Nae welcomed their child. In December 2025, Potts announced his engagement to singer Erica Ravén.
NLE Choppa's Music Albums
Studio albums
- Top Shotta (2020)
- Cottonwood 2 (2023)
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 | Pauline Powell Burns |
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