Rapper, photographer, dancer and creative director: Soda Supreme does it all. Donning a black leather jacket accented with hand painted lettering and Vans with painted flames, he surely looks the part of a multi-talented artist.
While he does a little bit of everything, Supreme says music is his one true passion. “I’m into a lot of different things. I try to use my gifts to the best of my abilities, but music is my love for sure,” he said.
Born Marcel Chambers, Soda Supreme hails from Brooklyn Park, a northwestern suburb of Minneapolis. An 80s baby and hip hop scholar, Supreme cites artists he grew up listening to, like Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Nipsey Hussle as inspirations.
While music has always been a part of his life, it wasn’t until he turned 15 that he decided to try his hand at rapping. He was inspired by his older cousin, a musician in his own right, to pursue a career in music.
Recording on a home studio setup he built himself, the then 15-year-old Supreme dropped his first project in 2011, titled “First Impression.”
In the three years that followed, Supreme began experimenting with his sound. According to longtime friend Bryan Crudup, it wasn’t until Supreme’s senior year of high school that he really found his path. The physical manifestation of his growth as an artist took form in his 2014 LP, a tape Supreme describes as his first “official” project, “BP,” which stands for his hometown, Brooklyn Park.
His origins are important to him. Supreme says coming from Minnesota has shaped him as an artist, making him hungry for success, causing him to work harder.
To say Supreme is a hard worker would be an understatement. He’s dropped three albums in the past two years, in addition to maintaining a host of different side hustles. When he’s not working on his own music, he divides his time between writing for the record label Track Or Die and making cover art for local artists at Art Really Works.
At the end of the day, Supreme is a rapper’s rapper. He is a musician with a focus on lyrical quality who is committed to staying true to himself and those around him.
“I’ve always been a person that wants to tell my story … I always wanted to make sure the message I’m putting out in the world is, you know, my truth,” he said.
On his latest album, “Rank Up Now,” a motivational album featuring track titles like “Marathon of Opportunity,” “Dreams to Catch” and “Playing for Keeps,” Supreme maintains his signature style with a focus on lyrics with substance.
Fans can expect his upcoming album, “Painting With Words,” which Supreme says is dropping in November, to follow the same lyric-centered approach of his past projects.
According to him, “Painting with Words” is his best project yet. Supreme says he feels like he’s finally found his place. “I feel like I’m comfortable. I’m the most comfortable I’ve been making music. Period,” he said. Supreme wants to see his name on concert rosters in 2020, but for now, he’s putting off shows in order to focus on his music.
